New year in the new workshop – workshop update

What a joy it has been coming back to our new workshop after the Christmas break. In the old workshop, we would be returning to a cold, slightly damp and dark environment which would take a few days to get back to a comfortable temperature again. In our new building, we were straight back into a well-insulated and dry environment. Our air source heat pump heating combined with solar panels keeps the building at a comfortable working temperature and has the added bonus of being just about the most sustainable way of heating a large building like this possible. The biggest difference though has to be the lighting. Having good light makes working so much easier and that is particularly apparent during these dark winter months. Having a nice working environment makes such a difference to productivity and we are confident that this new building will benefit our customers as well as our staff.
In this update, we take a close-up look at some chassis corrosion, carburettor rebuilds and some unusual fuel tank debris. We also sing the praises on the XK140 fixedhead, check in with a restoration and talk MKII wiring.

Jaguar XK140 storage

We restored this Jaguar XK140 many years ago. Despite covering many miles touring since restoration and being enjoyed as intended the car still looks fantastic. Every year the car returns to us for winter storage and is then serviced in the Spring before being returned to the customer. This ensures that the car is stored in a dry and clean environment over the winter months keeping it in top condition throughout. The car is then thoroughly checked over, serviced and recommissioned ready for another year of use. This year the owner also requested that a few other jobs be attended to whilst the car was with us. As the car was here with us in storage we were easily able to squeeze it into the workshop schedule as and when we had the opportunity.
As can be seen in the photo the bumper has been removed for a minor repair and to be re-chromed. We are also investigating an electrical fault which was causing fuses to blow intermittently. Finally, we are discussing options to improve the windscreen wipers and are likely to fit our upgraded wiper system to the car.

Jaguar E-Type fuel starvation

We have gained something of a reputation for working on Series 3 E-Type in recent years. Many garages shy away from the V12-powered E-Types as they are perceived as difficult to work on. With the right skills and knowledge, these E-Types can be kept in good condition and are wonderful machines to drive. Clearly, they have a very different character than the earlier XK-powered E-Types but as a GT car, the Series 3 E-Type is hard to beat.
The V12 E-Type which can just be made out in soft focus in the background of this picture came in with a running problem. It would start up but then gradually run worse and worse before cutting out. A common fault on the Series 3 is the ignition system breaking down when hot so we started by testing this but quickly found that the car was getting a strong and consistent spark. Next, we checked the fuel system starting but checking the fuel pressure. It quickly became apparent that the fuel pressure was getting lower and lower the longer the car ran and that the pump was having to work very hard. After further investigation, we found that fuel additive pellets had been put into the fuel tank. One of these pellets had broken through the filter in the tank and was blocking the fuel pickup. Additionally, the tank was not in good condition so a lot of rust was being picked up from the tank.

Jaguar XK120 chassis repair

Jaguar XKs don’t generally suffer from chassis corrosion. The bodies of original cars were quite prone to rust, especially if not looked after, but with modern restoration techniques, this is thankfully no longer a problem. When we do see chassis corrosion this is most commonly around where the front suspension mounts to the bottom of the chassis. This XK120 presented some quite bad rust in a rather less commonplace.
Pictured here is a section cut out of the chassis to allow us to investigate the extent of the rust. This area is below the b pillar just ahead of where the chassis goes up to allow for the rear axle. After careful assessment of the extent of the corrosion, the metal was cut back to where the chassis was strong enough to weld to. With the car appropriately supported new inner and outer sections were then fabricated, welded in and painted to ensure they stay rust-free for many years to come.
Sometimes what appears to be a small rusty area can be the outward visible sign of more significant rust hidden below. It is therefore very important to properly investigate signs of rust, especially in structural areas such as this. Every car which visits us is inspected to ensure that is safe and solid.

Jaguar MKII rewire, five-speed gearbox and engine rebuild

This Jaguar MKII saloon first came to us quite by chance. After experiencing some reliability problems on the way to the Goodwood Revival last year we were pleased to be able to help the owner to get the car fully operational again by resolving a fuel pump issue. We are conveniently close to Goodwood and often find ourselves helping Classic Jaguar owners back on their way. One year we had a V12 E-Type come in which had ripped its exhaust off on a hotel speed bump.
When the MK2 was with us in September the owner asked us to give it a thorough inspection and recommend work to improve the car. Amongst other items, we noticed that the wiring in the car was particularly poor. It seems to be common on Jaguar Saloons that when they are restored the wiring is not replaced, presumably as this is a time-consuming and expensive exercise. As a result, many cars have their original decades-old wiring with crumbling insulation and little or no colour marking left.
Off the back of our recommendations and having taken some time to consider matters the customer has brought the car back to us for a full rewire. He has also requested that we upgrade the car with a five-speed gearbox and build a fast-road specification engine whilst the car is with us.

SU carburettor rebuild

Recently we featured a set of Stromberg carbs which we had rebuilt for a V12 E-Type so we thought it was about time we had a look at a set of SU carburettors. Pictured here is a set of tiple 2-inch SU carburettors. This set-up or similar was used in many Jaguars over the years and is probably best known for its use in XK-engined E-Types. 
This kind of setup had its production car debut in the Jaguar XK150 S. In the latter years of XK150 production, the race was on to get more and more power from cars, pushed on particularly by V8-powered American cars. To complete Jaguar released the S version of the XK150 with many improvements including a straight port cylinder head and triple carburettors. In 3.8 litre form this power unit was what went on to power the early E-Types and the very early cars even share an identical inlet manifold.
The set of carburettors has been stripped, cleaned in our specialist cleaning machines and rebuilt using ethanol-resistant components. They are now ready to be fitted but can anyone out there guess what classic Jaguar they are going on?

Jaguar XK140 FHC

We have looked after this Jaguar XK140 fixedhead coupe for many years now. The XK fixed heads are often overlooked in favour of their convertible siblings, but we believe they have a lot to offer. One of the biggest upsides is that they are great value for money. They can be brought for significantly less than the equivalent drophead or roadster and therefore offer an opportunity for those with a smaller budget to get into an XK. In terms of performance, they offer the same wonderful driving experience as the convertibles and arguably are a little stiffer as a result of the roof.
The XK fixedheads are also a very pleasant place to be. A nicely lined roof and winding windows make them a comfortable car to drive. The XK140 FHC also has longer doors making them easier to get in and out of. Given the British climate, there really is a lot to be said for a fixedhead, particularly for your first foray into the XK world.
The car pictured here is a nice right-hand drive example we sold a few years ago and is back with us for a service. It features some sensible upgrades making it a very usable and reliable car.

Jaguar E-Type ignition system

For most upgrades we have our own tried and tested systems which we know to be reliable and discreet for XKs and E-Types. Sometimes though customers have specific upgrades in mind for their own reasons. Where we are able to and we believe it will be an effective upgrade we are always happy to work with customers to undertake this kind of bespoke work.
The Jaguar E-Type pictured here came to us as it was cutting out due to an ignition fault. It had an old Lucas Sports coil and an old electronic ignition conversion in the original distributor. This is generally accepted to be a rather unreliable combination by modern standards. Our usual upgrade to the ignition system on an XK engine would be to use a 123 distributor with a flame thrower coil. These have proved to be a very reliable combination over the years and look very close to the original set-up. In this case, though the owner asked for an MSD multi-spark system to be fitted as he has this set up on other cars. We have fitted plenty of these systems on race cars but they are not commonly used on road cars.

Jaguar XK120 OTS restoration

This XK120 OTS or roadster has featured in our posts a few times over the past year. It has been undergoing a full nut and bolt restoration and has been tastefully upgraded along the way. The car now features disc brakes to the front, a five-speed gearbox and rack and pinion steering. Additionally, the car has electric power steering, an alternator upgrade, electronic ignition and an electric cooling fan. The engine has been built to a fast-road specification and the suspension has been upgraded with polyurethane bushes, adjustable shock absorbers and an upgraded anti-roll bar so the handling will match the power delivery. When put together this package of upgrades will make this XK120 reliable and fantastic fun to drive. The XK120 in standard form is a wonderful thing to drive but modified like this they move up to the next level.
Pictured here the car is on our four-post ramp being prepared for start-up. All the unions, nuts and bolts will be checked and then fluids will be put into the car. The brakes will be bled out and then the car can be started and tested before being trimmed.

Sound, heat and vibration

Jaguars were very refined cars for their time but our tolerance for noise, heat and vibration in cars is far less than it used to be. We have all become accustomed to hugely refined, quiet and insulated cars. Part of the joy of classics is experiencing that raw and connected driving experience but we believe that our classics should also be a comfortable place to be. Fortunately, technology has moved on a long way since our cars were first built and there are some great products out there to reduce noise, vibrations and heat.
Generally speaking, these products usually address just one of these three problems meaning you either need to lay multiple products on top of each other adding thickness and weight or you have to choose which issue to prioritise in which area. The product pictured here being installed into an XK150 ahead of a retrim comprises of three layers addressing vibrations, noise and heat ingress in one 4.5mm thick sheet. We fit this to all our restorations (unless it is a concourse car) and it can be retrofitted to cars. If you have drumming doors, hot floors or feel your car needs ‘dampening down’ please get in touch.

Jaguar XK150 restoration

We restored this Jaguar XK150 about twenty years ago and I think you will agree it still looks great. We are proud to be able to show how well our older restorations last. It is a testament to the work of the fantastic team who put them together that the cars stay so good for so long. When we restore cars our team take every care to ensure that at every turn the car is put together with care and attention. Every nook and cranny is painted and we wax inside cavities as we assemble components to ensure that the cars remain rust-free. As we have said many times before our ethos is that our cars are built to be driven and with that in mind, we ensure they can stand up to the elements.
This XK150 has recently changed hands and the new owner brought the car in to us for a service and to attend to a couple of minor faults. These included the passenger door not closing properly and the boot being difficult to open. With these items addressed we hope this car will give its new custodian many years of enjoyment.