I finally saw a Jag IRS setup

[RallySnake]

OldDog,

I can echo your concerns about the Jag rear end. It's taken a lot of time and money to get it right. The main thing is to reinforce the lower control arm tube where it is welded to the cast yoke that goes around the brake. I made 6 inch by 4 inch triangles out of 1/4 inch mild steel plate and welded them to the control arms. The rest of the story is below:

"When I built my car (1981), my budget was very tight and I used assorted parts from the local junkyards. The result was disasterous and almost killed me. The right lower suspension arm broke, shooting me off the road at 90 mph. Ten years ago, I went to CWI and learned a lot about the Jag setup and got the parts I needed to make a safe and good handling setup. Last November, I was fed up with the rear brakes not working and the gears making noise, so I took the whole thing apart and had Kurt Hamilton (818-943-2323) rebuild it all. I got a little carried away with vented rotors, new Dana gears, new u-joints, all new bearings and had him fabricate a stainless steel bottom plate that holds everything together. I have spent $3,400.00 to make it all that a Jaguar rear end can be. Now, I can throw the car into corners at ridiculous speeds and smile, knowing I'll live to tell about it."

My experience with live axle sports cars is not so good because they ride hard on rough roads. They tire you out pretty quick. The jag suspension gives a lot of travel and soaks up everything. I have driven the Arntz on 15 hour rallies and it's not too bad. If I were starting over and building a new chassis today, I would pick something more modern like the late Ford Thunderbird rear end. It's so much lighter and cheaper.

Paul