Introduction

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2012-03-15-004

Please note:

I’m no longer able to continuously check for any comments nor answer possible questions. Nevertheless, I decided to keep the site, as it may help others finding their answer for problems encountered during the restoration of their beloved Jaguar XK. 

During the restoration of my 1955 Jaguar XK 140 FHC SE and my 1954 XK 120 OTS SE, there were countless moments that I had more questions than answers. Although there are many excellent books on the subject of restoring a Jaguar XK (and I consumed them all), most of the time the actual information that I needed wasn’t there.

A lot of information, however, can be found by carefully analyzing the content of other, similar websites, or carefully analyzing the old parts that came with the car, and of course by looking at Jaguars that survived the decades in a more or less original state.

I tried to carefully note down all relevant information I obtained, thereby making thousands of pictures, writing documents and creating spread sheets when required. I also made sketches and drawings with the dimensions of missing parts as accurate as possible.

I can imagine that other XK enthusiasts have encountered (or will encounter) the same problems, in desperate need for additional information and answers to their questions. For that reason I started this website, showing as much information as I can, that will hopefully help others.

To make this information accessible I followed the structure of the Jaguar XK 140 Spare Parts Catalogue and refer as much as possible to Jaguar part numbers. When possible I also make a link to the supplier part numbers (such as LucasWilmot Breeden and Lockheed just to name a few) because in most cases this will make the search for those missing parts or additional information much easier.

 

16 thoughts on “Introduction

  1. Gary Seraphinoff

    As an XK enthusiast (I have five XK120’s but only one FHC) and seller of XK parts, I found your blog through Google while researching glass date codes. I must say thank you for the wonderful information you have selflessly shared on your site. You have REALLY been doing your homework and I bet you are an engineer of some sort! I looked two or three times to see anything more about you and the car itself to no avail. I am pretty sure you are in the Netherlands but that is all. It would be even more wonderful of a blog to include some pics and info about yourself. I have an interesting story on my blog (I noted the blog address under your entry of “Website”) about a recent XK120 I bought from the near-original owner if you you are interested. Its the second blog down from the top and is dated 2013, November. Again, thanks a lot for sharing your blog! Kind Regards, Gary

    Reply
  2. Rob Caveney

    Bob,
    I see many similarities between us, the greatest is our ’55, Xk-140 FHC. I also have one purchased in Hawaii, where I still live. That was in the early 1990’s. Since then I have rebuilt the engine, then swapped it for another engine; rebuilt all the mechanical things; swapped out the rear axil for an XK-150 axil with a much improved ratio, and hubs that would accept wire wheels, which the car had when new. Most of the time I just enjoy driving it as a daily driver. The best thing I did was install a new wiring harness. Reliability went from “extremely cautious to go anywhere”, to “I’d take it across the country in a heartbeat”.

    I will spend more time looking at your website at a later date. Until then, best of luck, and I look forward to hearing, and seeing more.

    Aloha, Rob

    Reply
  3. terry mcgrath

    dear sir,
    I must commend you on your web site it is very professional looking very sharp and clear.
    Even more on the fantastic material you have published many of the topics of great interest to me.
    For example I had seen a set of Reutter seats in an XK150 20 plus years ago and set out to get a set and we eventually did get a set that came out of an XK150 roadster that was sold new in Germany.
    I actally have another set of Reutter seats in my Facel Vega HK500 these didn’t come standard with them but the first owner was annoyed that a few days after buying his HK500 the Facel II was released which I believe has Reutter reclining seats as standard and HWM motors converted his HK500 seats with the Reutter system. If I was going to say anything I would say it was the short arm version this car was purchased in April 1960.
    I look forward to more great detailed stories on your web site.
    Maybe you could email me when you post somthing?
    regards terry
    Australia

    Reply
  4. John Blais

    I just came across your web site in researching Jaguar chassis plates. I have an early E-Type (#875177) and it has the XK150 D2 style chassis plate. A few of early E-Types on http://www.xkedata.com also have the XK 150 data plate. It’s not clear exactly when they switched to the E-Type plate but I suspect just about all the cars with outside bonnet locks had the XK150 plate.

    Cheers

    Reply
  5. Ger Jacobs

    Very good detailed information. I restored a 140 FHC SE BW (1956) from 1992 -1999 and after that a XK 150 DHC. and helpt a friend with an other one. I read quite some books before I started and I think that the book XK 140 and XK 120 explored by Bernard Viart, is a really complete information.

    Reply
  6. Jochen

    Hi, very nice and helpful site! May I kindly ask for your help: I am restoring an Bristol 41. Having the the Reutter front seat mechanism, same as you describe for the xk140. Mine are rusty and scratched so need rechroming and so dismantling to do so. I cannot figure out how to separate the two chromed halves which are connected with one axle on which the retaining spring is mounted as well. Could you explain how to split them and / or do you know of a re homer company that can do the dismantling and rechroming as they might have experience? Thanks for your help, regards, Jochen

    Reply
  7. Barrie Robinson

    Your dissertations are brilliant. I only wish you could do for Feltham built Astons as you have done for Jaguars. Do you know where I can get a Lucas generator 22462B/D ? Mine was not returned on my rebuilt engine…. the owner of the shop died and all people and parts scattered !!!! So I am missing that unit

    Reply
  8. Dave Schinbeckler

    Thank you for your exhaustive research into fan belts. Conspicuous in its absence are John Bull fan belts, particularly V529, shown in their 1962 catalogue. I am trying to determine the OEM fan belt for my ’61 E-type OTS 876024. Spare Parts Catalog J30 shows part number C15840, clearly illustrated as a notched belt. We know John Bull was the OEM hose supplier, and suspect they supplied the fan belt as well. Top contender is model 122, but I cannot find any documentation linking that belt to the E-type. Would you have come across anything in your research?
    Thanks,
    Dave Schinbeckler
    Ontario, Canada

    Reply
  9. Dicky

    Hi Bob, I was especially interested in your article about the later “steel tube” seat frames used by Jaguar in the later XK 140 DHC and FHCs. I have a March 1955 XK 140 OTS (and a December 1959 XK 150) and when purchased in 2007, my XK 140 was fitted with what I assumed to be “incorrect” XK 150 seats. The base frames of the earlier XK 140 seats are approx. 16.5″ wide, whilst the seat bases in my XK 150 are approx. 18.5″ wide. Could you kindly tell me what width the bases were of the later “steel tube” XK 140 seats? Regards, Dick.

    Reply
  10. Mike Abramson

    Hi Bob,
    Great effort & thanks for sharing your experiences and knowledge.
    (Have finally managed to refurb my DR1, thanks to your tips).
    Regards Mike.A
    South Africa
    ’55 XK140 dhc (wip)

    Reply
  11. Bob Richards

    Bob. Again Ive found some important information regarding a Lucas generator from your information. Thank you. I have a Special Equipment Lucas C45PVS/5 installed on my early build 1955 XK140. This Generator does not have the “Lucas script” cast on the end bracket and carries a phenolic insulator between “D & F”. It appears to be un-plated, but shows no sign of grey paint. The brass data plate is stamped “22462B. GC51” dated “9, 1952”. I’ve owned the car 32 years and never changed it out, so its original to me, and possibly evidence that Jaguar carried these forward into 1955.

    BR

    Reply

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