Yesterday I was dinged at the concours for not having a firing order decal located on the air cleaner of my 1996 6 cylinder XJS. Mine was the only 1996 so there were no other cars to compare with. I purchased the car when it only had about 24,000 miles and everything seems to be original in all other aspects. Let me know if the decal is really missing or if it was originally not placed on the car by the factory.

Submitted by leerunr@pacbell.net on Sat, 10/06/2012 - 14:51

Dave,

I also have a 1968 Bonanza mini bike with the 5 HP Tecumseh engine. You are 100% correct - firing order 1. I was confused without the firing order decal but I managed to figure it out.
Lee

Submitted by woebegone@mind… on Sat, 10/06/2012 - 14:00

I used to see a fair number of these cars in shop settings back when they were not all that old. I saw just about every V-12 with a firing order sticker, but I cannot ever recall seeing a six with it.
I mean, how hard is it to do a six?
But, a V-12 was a bit more intense.

I am wondering if it was more of a specific set of countries and/or regulatory bodies that required it.

If so, I am surprised those countries/regulatory bodies didn't have firing order mandated on a Briggs and Stratton lawnmower.
"Firing Order: 1-1-1-1-1-1".

I suppose at this point in time it may be a tad difficult to dig out the reason some had it and some did not.

I am following this, one of those things to add to the storage in the little grey cells.

Submitted by leerunr@pacbell.net on Fri, 10/05/2012 - 04:15

Since it was questionable whether the 1996 XJS had the decal or not, the Judges eliminated the deduction.

To end any further doubt, I have sent a request to JCNA Authenticity to do additonal research.

Lee

Submitted by leerunr@pacbell.net on Sun, 09/30/2012 - 15:25

Dave - Good one. Put a smile on my face.

I sent the thread of comments to the judges. They have responded and are now re-evaluating the ruling. When I have a definitive answer I will post it.

Lee

Submitted by woebegone@mind… on Sat, 09/29/2012 - 12:55

Lee- Let us know what transpires. I would hate to think the rule is if it's in the parts manual, it's in the car applies, but you never know.
I cannot imagine the trouble that attitude would cause. Right now, I'd need to find an automatic transmission, a posi-lock diff, an overdrive 4-speed with controls, and possibly a steering column lock to haul around in the boot for judging events.
Dave

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Fri, 09/28/2012 - 19:28

Lee here is the best advice I can give you. You have already been "dinged" as you put it. All of this discussion has not fixed that. It has also not made you immune to future possible "dings". So as the ruling on the field can only be overturned by either the entrant providing documentation or an appeal. I suggest you politely protest the ruling. You should do that at the club level (chief judge) and see where it goes. Failing at that level make it a formal protest to the protest committee--just remember there is a time factor (60 days I think) Discussion on this forum will not solve the issue--best of luck.

Submitted by leerunr@pacbell.net on Fri, 09/28/2012 - 18:49

I was able to locate another owner of a 1996 XJS, 99.9 last concours. He checked his car and found it did not have the decal either. For fear of a Judge dinging him for no decal I told him that I would not disclose his name. His car like mine are original low mileage specimens, I would think that since neither have the decal it was not placed on the 1996 model. Placing a decal where it should not be would not be authentic.
Lee

Submitted by SW05-50996 on Thu, 09/27/2012 - 16:15

Gentlemen,
Back to the Guide:

The foremost purpose of the JCNA Concours is to encourage the owners of Jaguars to
preserve, maintain, and present their Jaguars in as clean and authentic condition as possible.

Champion Division is the most demanding JCNA Concours Division. It challenges its
Entrants to research, prepare, and present the judged portions of their cars in their original,
authentic, factory-delivered configuration, and condition.

So, I did some research, online-style. SAJNX2744SC198235 , a 1995, is pictured in xjsdata.com, and is the ONLY example of an air filter with any decals (not readable, but maybe you can contact that owner) I could find in the hundreds of engine detail pics of '95's and 96's. SAJNX2741TC226249 , a 1996, is typical, without any decals. In fact, I saw no decals anywhere on any other 6-cyl engine in any of those 100 or so I just perused.
Absent concrete evidence, and faced with apparent conflicting evidence (near-zero presence in the pics), maybe that item should be 'un-judged' until there is consensus.
Was there anything about that Jag 6-cyl firing order that was unusual that could have led to a decal to be placed by Jag mechanics at later dates to avoid mistakes or confusion, or maybe something to do with emission control regulations?
Steve T.

Submitted by woebegone@mind… on Thu, 09/27/2012 - 13:11

Parts manuals show overdrive transmissions, too, but not all were so equipped (different models), and column locks (not all equipped), and automatic transmissions (not all equipped).
Shows wire wheels and disc wheels.
Like "Jaguar" script and displacement on the boot lid of a MK2, yes, "all MK2's shall have" except one model.

Did the assembly line worker have a bad day? Did the plant run out of stickers?

Me? I'd be looking for fade in the paint on the place it should be, or shininess of the aluminium, and for a spot that was different. Not sure as a judge I'd hit them for that.
Dave

Submitted by leerunr@pacbell.net on Wed, 09/26/2012 - 20:26

Steve, I would like to provide documentation but if the decal were not there from the beginning, how do you document "nothing there'? I have shown the car previously and there was no mention at that time.

Judging from your exerpt, you must have access to books and memos that I do not have. I hope it is not asking too much to locate a document stating that the decal was supposed to be there on a 1996 XJS. If it should be there, I am more than willing to stick it on but as I stated in a previous note, if I put it on and it should not be there - dinged again.

Submitted by peddlarbob@gmail.com on Wed, 09/26/2012 - 19:34

I looked after a 1996 XJS 6 cylinder car for an elderly couple who had had the car from new. The decal was not on the air cleaner of that car. I also contacted a friend of mine that also owns a 96 and he tells me that his does not have one either. In addition the picture in Steve Kennedy's book "the classic mark" also does not show one.

Not sure how you would attempt prove beyond doubt that that model year did not have one attached.

Submitted by dougdwyer1@com… on Wed, 09/26/2012 - 19:34

Edited on 2012-09-26 19:34:59

".......the Judge is free to draw his/her own conclusion ....."

Judges vary. I would be very reluctant to ding an entrant for this item unless I was *certain* all the cars did indeed have it when rolled off the assembly line.

Cheers
DD

Submitted by SW05-50996 on Wed, 09/26/2012 - 19:10

Edited on 2012-09-26 19:11:00

On this page:
http://www.jcna.com/library/concours/Rule%20Book/Chapter%20IV%20-%20Inst...

reads the following:

4. Providing Documentation
If an Entrant anticipates that a Judge may question the authenticity of particular features
or components of their Entry, that Entrant should, where feasible, bring official
documents to validate those items. If there is some aspect of their Entry that is unusual or
difficult to imagine being authentic, it is incumbent upon the Entrant to prove its
authenticity beyond a doubt. If the Entrant does not provide a convincing document or
explanation, the Judge is free to draw his/her own conclusion (see Appendix C).

Steve T.

Submitted by leerunr@pacbell.net on Wed, 09/26/2012 - 12:02

The judge was not 100% positive for the 1996. I have been checking through the internet and have not been able to get a definitive answer.
Thanks for the part number. I wonder if I get it and put it on, another Judge will ding me for having a decal that was not on the car originally!!

Submitted by dougdwyer1@com… on Wed, 09/26/2012 - 09:17

Part number EAC5620 "Firing Order Chart" decal is indeed shown in the Jaguar parts catalog for the 4.0 XJS.

Was it used on all 4.0 XJSs, all the time? I dunno. The judge was obviously sure, though :-)

Cheers
DD