My New Stag

[Michael Ball]

After 20+ years of looking I’ve finally bought my Stag - a 1972 Mk1 in Saffron Yellow… my dream has finally become real…

I’m hoping for some advice to resolve a few things to put my mind at rest -


1) My headlights need adjustment

2) I don’t have a key for the boot lock, glove box & the drivers door lock doesn’t work properly.

3)Some electrical issues with passenger side ‘B pillar’ & footwell lights.

4) Fuel leaks around the pipe by the pump in the boot.

Trying to sort out these issues but where to start?


Any advice or recommendations would be gratefully received

Thank you!

[wilf]

Looks a bit Mk2 ish to me, (engine air intake, hood are clues) but they are not necessarily definitive. looks very nice anyway!

Headlights are easy to adjust, but in your shoes I would sort the fuel leak first!

[FrenchStag]

Looks in great condition, congrats

For the interior lights I would start by undoing the bulb covers and cleaning all the contacts/connectors including bulb holders with some emery cloth or wire brush. But disconnect the battery first as its easy to short them out against the metal of the car and blow the fuse. Also clean the on/off switch connectors noting which one goes where.

For the boot and glove lock if you don’t have the key you will have to change the barrels. Not done these before but expect not too hard.

For driver door, its off with the door card, read the Haynes for this, and you can then unbolt the whole door handle assembly to see whats going on. Its very fiddly and you may skin knuckles. I think the mechanism is different between a mk 1 & a mk 2, my mk2 has a strange little « fork » attached to the lock cylinder that moves the locking bar up & down when the key is turned. Never seen that part referenced at Rimmers and had to make my own.

If you end up having to buy a new barrel for this door, dont do what i did and pull the key out of the barrel before its fitted in the door handle. You wont get it back together again.

Can’t help on the fuel leak. Clips & hoses replacement?

[Mopo]

Picture no.5 just show’s the top of a mk1 door lock so in all probably it’s a mk1.

[ramjam2005]

Hi Michael

Congrats on becoming a Stag owner , and a lovely looking example of a Mk1 with some Mk2 embellishments.

Can't offer much detailed advice on your issues but I'm sure others will follow up soon on your post or check if covered in the technical guides on here.

1) If by Headlight adjustment you mean the beam angles, I can't recall if its 2 or 4 screw adjusters on each headlight, (?) accessible with the grille in situ. There are some old-school basic alignment checks possible if you search past posts here or see if a local MOT test centre would do it for a small fee as its normally part of an MOT. If any of the plastic screw adjusters are broken they should be available at the usual outlets and seem a common part across a few BL / Rover / Jag models (previous ones I bought some years back were in Jaguar branded packaging.

3) Again, issues & electrical gremlins with the B-post / Footwell lights have been covered a few times in past posts with the differing wiring circuit on the Mk1 & Mk2. Initially, check the function / earth of the door post switch and connections/wiring condition on the centre console on/off switch.

Good luck resolving the issues and enjoy your Stag.

Ray

[DJT]

Nice looking Stag. Welcome to the madhouse!

First registered October 72, so definitely Mk1, but with a Mk2 hood. The air intakes and cooling system had changed to Mk2 by then, so correct. The colour looks more like Topaz in the photos, which is a 1975 colour, but it might just be the way the pictures have uploaded.

I see the MOT expired in June. I know it is exempt, but as it has a full, clean MOT history it would be worth continuing it in my opinion.

[Paul Kelley]

Congrats on buying your Stag, looks lovely. 1st thing is to fix the fuel leak for obvious reasons. Do you know how regularly the car has been used? If it's been laid up or had little use (which always sounds good, but they need to be driven regularly!) then the two banjo washers (5 in the attached diagram) probably need replacing, and/or any cracked fuel pipes. Burlen fuel systems (www.burlen.co.uk) are a good place to know about re fuel pumps, parts, carbs etc. Enjoy your Stag but sort your fuel leak first! Paul

Stag fuel pump.jpg

[Michael Ball]

Nice looking Stag. Welcome to the madhouse!

First registered October 72, so definitely Mk1, but with a Mk2 hood. The air intakes and cooling system had changed to Mk2 by then, so correct. The colour looks more like Topaz in the photos, which is a 1975 colour, but it might just be the way the pictures have uploaded.

I see the MOT expired in June. I know it is exempt, but as it has a full, clean MOT history it would be worth continuing it in my opinion.

Hi, and thanks for the info… trying to rectify all the gremlins but it’ll take time & patience. I’m looking into the MOT with my local garage to try and do a ‘pre-MOT’ check which of course I’ll have to pay for but this could help to identify and the rectify any issues. My friend Brendan who has a ‘J’ Mk1 has helped me in my journey so far and seems to think my car was on the ‘cusp’ of the crossover between Mk1 & Mk2. This is because of minor things like instruments on the dash eg. I have no oil pressure gauge and of course I have the Mk2 wheels. I’m pretty certain my car colour is Saffron Yellow as Mimosa & Inca were brighter and Topaz wa# more orange and as you say on later models. All said I’m delighted with my Stag & I’m not going to give up - so I’ll persevere and get these issues sorted. But many thanks for your input and help - much appreciated. Michael

[Goldstar]

Lovely looking car Michael. Welcome.

what is that on your neighbours drive in picture 2?

[Lingen]

Michael.
Stags never had factory fitted oil pressure gauges.As the clocks were pretty unreliable, that was a good place to fit the gauge if you wanted one. Even better, if you could find one, those fitted to the TR6
were a perfect match with the other small Stag gauges.
Mike

[stagx790]

Re locks if you take them apart the key number is usually stamped on the barrel

[mole42]

Mk1 seats, Mk1 glovebox door…..alloy wheels were an option in ‘72 but stainless sill trims weren’t.

[Michael Ball]

Regarding my ‘fuel leak’ issues from a previous post (many thanks so much input from so many- much appreciated) I think I’m finally making some progress… I finally undid all the jubilee clips and removed the ‘offending’ piece of metal tubing - which incidentally no-one claims to have ever seen before! You can clearly see from the short video it has either been ‘added on’ or for some reason or the attempt at repair is diabolical. In any event this does not show up anywhere - either Haynes Manual; Rimmer Bros catalogue ( who have now told me they don’t even have the original ‘unmodified’ version available & I thought they were supposed to be the best?) or anywhere online. I don’t understand why there is a tube connected from this small pipe to the top of the fuel pump? ♂️ Unless anyone has any ideas it looks like I’m completely ‘stymied’ maybe a whole new assembly with new fuel pump?

[Michael Ball]

[Lingen]

Michael.. I couldn't find the short video, so haven't seen the small pipe connection to the top f the pump. The SU pump has a small metal spigot in the body of the pump solenoid behind the diaphragm. between two of the six attachment screws. Is that what you are referring to? If so, it is merely a small air breather and should "Open" with nothing on it. I think they might have a small hose on them if the pump is fitted under the car, as some are, to keep the dirt out. Goodness knows what the one you have is supposed to do!
Mike..