Thanks Pascal. I received a note from a Jaguar mechanic, apparently does restoration work, and his reply was: "we just add cooling and ignition/starter modifications as well as engine machining
specs
Replace 4 speed with our 5 speed, . it is in the build quality.
This will be a new car but a 40 year old design..... I twill be a $100k
car that is for fun... If you use it for work that is a waste of time...
Upkeep on the car is minimal.. once you do the work it is done end of
story.. of course if you skim on it then you will be eaten up by the
costs.."

What do you think about what was said, and if you needed to do some shadetree mechanic type work would you be able to do it?
The car would be used 5 times per week at 50 miles per day. It seems that parts would be readily accessible considering how the bonnet lifts up to expose the engine. Any experience with this. The reason I ask is if I can do it I would prefer to repair it myself. Are parts expensive? How much research did you do before you bought the car

Submitted by pascal@jcna.com on Wed, 06/18/2003 - 17:11

correct... we couldn't find an alternator that fits backward on the V12 so we installed on where the air pump used to be. that meant having a custom tensioner for the water pump twin belts. this has been a source of problem with the bearing failing... that's why I had a spare tensioner and was able to change in on the side of the road :-)

the shop ( Jaguar Doctor in boca Raton) has recently found an alternator that mounts in the stock location, backward, with the right fan etc... it mounts using the stock bracket.

give them a call, ask for Thierry 561 362 7464, I know he sold a few already. that's what's going on the car as soon as I get a chance to.

Pascal Gademer
72 E-type 2+2
00 XKRCoupe
99 XJR

Submitted by rgolden@datecinc.com on Wed, 06/18/2003 - 17:02

Pascal,

I noticed you referenced a Delco alternator as a upgrade choice. What alternator did you use for the V12? I noticed that you had a problem with the the unit on the return trip from Lime Rock. I have been trying to find a alternator that will fit the backwards arangement on the V12 - any luck.

Rusty Golden
72 SIII

Submitted by mcload@ev1.net on Sun, 06/15/2003 - 11:45

Oliver:
You really need to keep in mind what you're getting into with any E-Type, be it a perfectly restored driver or one altered with all kinds of refinements. These are 30 year-old sports cars, and in particular, the V-12 which is a very complicated machine. They require preventative maintenance above and beyond the typical Ford Taurus. These are not "drive, park, and forget" cars; if you do this, odds are good that you'll get bitten. All kinds of problems can and do develop with these and any classic from the sixties and seventies. So unless you're willing to spend some time under the bonnet inspecting, lubricating, and fine tuning, then I'd advise a newer Jaguar or some other sports car. I fully understand the desirability of owning and driving an E-Type, but it must with a commitment to learn and understand the various systems, and keeping them in good working order. I've heard of owners who never changed out the brake fluid in their E-Types (probably original from factory), so when the caliper cylinders rusted and the brakes wouldn't work, they complained that the car was "unreliable". Huh?!

Yes, plenty of folks have had great reliability records with their V-12's but there are also just as many who have not. Most if not all of the folks who post on these forums have a good mechanical sense and repair their own cars. To me, that's what owning a sports car is all about...getting out there and tinkering with the car and making improvements. But if you don't think this is something you want or are able to do, then I'd probably steer clear of the E-Type, especially the V-12. You might consider a Series 2 six-banger to start with. They are less expensive to get into, and the components are easily accessible from both sides of the engine. Anyway, I don't mean to preach, but I just thought I'd throw in my two-cents, and the issue of "reliability" is always a relative one.

Patrick McLoad
1966 E-Type, Right-hand Drive Roadster

Submitted by omegadya@chla… on Sun, 06/15/2003 - 00:47

Thanks, I do really appreciate, the suggestion. Thats a really fabulous looking jag. but I have my heart set on the series III. I just wish I come across someone who needs to unload one thats at least as nice at that one. I am a still a little gun shy, because I remember as a kid that some of the people I knew that had one, complained about having to take it to the garage most of the time, for one thing or another electrically related. Haven't gotten around to any face to face discussions about these cars, but will eventually get around to it.
Will have to look for a good size British car show here in SoCal and look around, who knows, I might even find one that might be too hard to resist. Well, I can dream can't I?
Cheers

Submitted by NE52-32043 on Fri, 06/13/2003 - 12:15

I have a Ser. 3, V-12 as well. I had the car up in Lime Rock a couple of weekends ago, running the track with Pascal. My car is more stock than Pascal's. I have the standard ignition system, automatic transmission, stock suspension, brakes, etc. I find the car to be very reliable. The trick is to drive the car regularly (they are cats, they need exercise) and keep up with routine maintenance. On the ride home from Lime Rock, the car was "stumbling" a bit, felt like I wasn't getting gas. Well, I wasn't. I had forgotten to change the fuel filter for three years, and it was clogged. Changed it, and now it's fine.

The one modication I did make is to put in an aluminum radiator. I'd highly recommend that to anyone who seems to have an overheating problem with an older Jaguar, where everything else is in proper working order. The car runs on the cool side of NORMAL now on the gauge, and even running flat out on the track at Lime Rock didn't get the needle to go beyond the R in NORMAL.

As far as a gear reduction starter, I'd only go for that at the point you need to change the starter. There are a number of good suppliers for these. I'll opt for one from SNG Barratt or Terry's Jaguar when the time comes to replace mine. (NAYYY, just a customer).

I don't use my car as a daily driver, but I do drive it alot in the nice weather. I've driven it to Tennessee, Canada, Lime Rock a couple of time, on lots of day and weekend trips. I ran good enough for me to win the JCNA Class E Slalom Championship last year, and for my girlfriend Carol McKenzie to take second. No, it's not a modern car. Old cars are not as dependable as new ones, for the most part. But new ones are not as much fun to drive, IMHO, as old ones. So I'll keep driving my daily driver (Lexus) to work, but drive my E-types on the weekend or whenever I want to have FUN!

Steve Weinstein, JTC-NJ
JCNA Slalom Committee Chairman
JTC Slalom Chair
'72 E-type 2+2
'70 XKE FHC

Submitted by omegadya@chla… on Fri, 06/13/2003 - 10:22

I would like to know if anyone has converted a etype so that it is
reliable or am I nuts. I know that most of the time these jaguars were in the garage more than on the street.
What was unreliable?
Considering todays technology, and Ford's ownership, can those things that make the car breakdown be replaced with reliable components?
I like the body style of the V-12 convert. and would like to make it reliable for more than just a Sunday car and not haveto worry about it breaking down. I am not interested in showing the car, but my work on other types of autos have resulted in cars good enough to show in just local events. I haven't bought one yet because I would like to get opinions from the experts.