Rear End

Art,

My Ser. II has a 3.54 rear end also. They fitted them in the later 4.2's because of the loss of power due to going to the dual Strombergs from the triple SU's. Americans like that off-the-line kick, so they lowered the gear ratio to make up for the loss of power in the engine. When I get on the highway, I'm always tempted to shift into 5th gear.... except I don't have one. I can imagine with a 2.88, the car would be perfect. 1st gear is so low that the car would still be quick off the line, but would really feel great at cruising speed. I've heard of others going to a 3.11 and being very happy with it in the Ser. II E's.

Again, it all depends on what you want out of the car and what you want to use it for. Someday maybe I'll swap the tranny on the Ser. II for a 5-spd. I'd love to do that on the Ser. III car as well. Then I'll change my name to Pascal and drive off into the sunset and never miss another track day again. ;-)

Steve Weinstein, JTC-NJ
'72 E-type 2+2
'70 XKE FHC

Note to Steve,
A friend of mine put my old 2.88 in his 6cyl E Type, it was good for 1st gear ( without over revving ) in the slalom, ( same as me ) and it gives him good cruising on the freeway.......When I had the 2.88 in Silver on the road, many moons ago, I got over 20 MPG at around 60 MPH, gently does it.
Believe this, after my gear change , before I attended a local slalom . I had the car on my open trailer, filled the gas tank to the top, after making my 5 runs, including some engine warm up before I put the pedal down at the JCNA slalom, I returned to the same gas pump, it took 5 gallons IMPERIAL to fill, perhaps that is one reason the car is aas fast as it is??????

Art Dickenson.
1983 XJS GT \"Silver\"""

Karl,

Just out of curiosity, what are you trying to achieve? Improved 0-60 times? Art's car is for racing, so he's maximizing accelleration. If you are using the car as a driver and plan to do much time on the highway, you're looking at killing already bad gas mileage. I had an '89, and with the stock 2.88 rear end, I could cruise comfortably at 70 or 75 mph and eeck out 15, 16 mpg on a trip. Put in a 3.54 and do the same thing and I bet you'll be luck to get 11 or 12 mpg.

My Ser. III E-type (V-12) has a 3.54, and it is not very quick off the line and does not get great gas mileage on the highway, when you're cranking 3500 rpm or more at cruising speeds.

I guess it comes down to what you intend to do with the car.

Steve Weinstein, JTC-NJ
'72 E-type 2+2
'70 XKE FHC

Hi,
I put a 3.54 in mine, all rear end shops should have a set to instal. Some of the later 6 cylinders had a low ratio rear end in them also I believe, Art

Art Dickenson.
1983 XJS GT \"Silver\"""