This section is for more general matters of interest and usefulness.
The Importance of a Good Earth
Click here to download an Adobe Acrobat PDF file of a fascinating article by Jo Atkins which was published in Car Builder in May 1992. Easy to read and comprehend, it's very relevant to DIY builders, and to owners who have to troubleshoot from time to time.
Latest Kenlowe fan fitting instructions
Click here to download an Adobe Acrobat PDF file of the latest model fan fitment instructions. There are some pertinent bits of advice highlighted in this document.
SVA Tips
We try to maintain a list of issues which have to be borne in mind, from others' experience of getting W152s through the SVA test. Click here to view.
Ease of maintenance
Dennis Baker suggests that captive nuts on the nose-cone mountings can make life much easier and avoid the need for an assistant.
If you haven't discovered RIVNUTS this RivNut tool is indispensible for the builder. You never need to use a self-tapper again. RivNuts are threaded rivets which give a stronger, more reliable and more professional fastening.
Wiring within wing stanchions
Carl Rasey gave us the tip that the wiring for the front lights can be tidied by feeding through the interior of the stanchions.
Where GRP panels meet, there is always the danger of them rubbing. A small amount of grease on the mating surfaces is just enough to stop damage and it will clean off to leave the panels like new.
Here's a good way to promote the Club and your membership of the RDC on your daily car, and do away with a stick-on GB sign at the same time. They cost about £27, next day delivery - click here to go to the ENP website.
SuperTrapps fitted to Tony Legon's car at Goodwood.
It's about the only way to get through today's DB tests.
Invaluable Products & Suppliers for the DIY Enthusiast/Builder -
Vehicle Wiring Products - You will not be able to build/maintain a Ronart without their catalogue of everything electrical. Good prices too.
0115 930 5454
Anthony Stafford Vehicle Components - another indispensible supplier from whom many of the standard Ronart lighting components are sourced.
01827 67714
Middleton Stainless Steel Supplies - an amazing source for stainless nuts, bolts, washers and other components in virtually every thread, size and variety. Stainless is expensive in the short-term but small quantity orders are no problem.
Car Builder Solutions (aka Neil Foreman) are stockists of an excellent catalogue of unusual tools and accessories essential for the builder/owner of a Ronart W152. They also design and build the Foreman CanAm (Ferrari-based) so are very experienced kit builders, and can provide a custom-project service for specific jobs, e.g. for Graham Hallett's W152 V12 - flock covering of rear-end interior; alloy louvres for the carbon-fibre bonnet. Highly recommended.
Brian Ball is more experienced with the W152 than anyone else outside the factory, having done gearbox conversions, engine rebuilds, and other major jobs for at least 7 W152s, mostly straight-sixes.
Basically he is a very experienced, independent Jaguar engineer based at home in Waterlooville, Portsmouth, specialising on the V12 engines with fuel injection. He also does Getrag manual conversions and is expert on the Jag rear axle.
Very high standards; very reasonable charges; very highly recommended !! 0774 804 1584
Speedy Cables (aka Caerbont (Smiths)) 01639 732213
Speedo calibration is routinely carried out by Speedy Cables (aka Caerbont (Smiths)) in Wales. They have some simple instructions to measure the number of rotations of wheels and at gearbox, and you send them your instrument and they routinely recalibrate it. Also they sell Smiths Classic instruments and can restore/rebuild any donor Jag instruments and recreate as D-Type replica instruments if required.
Orson Equipment specialise in splined hubs and wire-wheel spinners of the Jaguar two-eared type or the three-eared Borrani-style. You can define the engraving on the spinners, e.g. a Ronart logo.
SuperTrapps (extra silencers for trackdays), AP braking and numerous other goodies of a performance character. Excellent catalogue and VERY efficient and friendly staff.
McFarlanes. Specialists in alloy panels and complete bodies. They are believed to have built the body of Ulrich's V8 in Germany and the new body for Steve Beresford's V12 (still in build by Ronart Cars).
AVON Tyres Generally - Ronart has been in contact with Avon and confirmed that they no longer produce the CR28. They also do not have any remaining in stock. The tyre Ronart has used recently is the Turbosteel 70 Series 235/70 R15. Index 101V
Section Width 240mm
Overall diameter 711mm (28 inches)
Recommended Rim range - 6.00 - 8.00 inches
This is the tyre used for V12 cars.
The wheel used on the S6 models is 6J
The wheel for the V12 powered cars is 6.5J
The wide rim special wheels are 7J
The high profile aspect of 27 inches gives this tyre a reasonably period appearance. It is a more expensive tyre but the cost of the 235/70 R15 purchased from ourselves by Club members is £139 each + Vat.
So there we have the most practical solution, because we can be assured that these tyres look and handle well on the W152. There are of course myriad other makes, styles and sizes; for instance, Dennis Baker uses Pirelli P-Zero tyres on his much-modified suspension, and these handle fabulously, but they do look modern rather than period.
Origin Blue-i - surely the best GPS speed-check warning device. Updates from a central database of every Gatso, Truvelo etc static speed camera device. Blue-i displays your direction, exact speed, and warns as you approach. Totally legal because these devices are supposed to be safety rather than revenue-earning devices (really?!) and this simply warns you as you enter a hazardous area. Bravo!
