1965 Mk2 Jaguar - progress goes "boink"

Thanks for the heads up - weekends are pretty busy at the moment, so I don't think I'll be able to make this one - maybe later in the year.

The tow rope was one my brother in law used when off-roading - so pretty stout - it did snap in the end but not after doing plenty of damage!

oil pressure: drops to nothing under load, or at idle?

what is it supposed to run at idle? 8-15?

under load? 40ish?

I put a gauge in the wifes Passat and glad I did....runs about 8 at idle hot and 40-50 while driving.....

I would have thought for a car of this vintage, there would be plenty of room under the bonnet...but maybe I'm thinking this side of the pond!

JP

So, update time!

I've been gently running in the Jag following its engine rebuild for the past six months or so - the running in requirements were to use a running in oil for the first 500 miles, and last week we got to nigh on 500 miles! I won't bore you with the tales of woe, of the damn thing cutting out at random (turned out to be dicky fuel pump and cr*ppy fuel lines)!

Anyway, last Sunday I found myself with some time to do some work on the Jag, so I think to myself - a couple of hours that should be more than enough time to change the oil and filter! (cue manic laughter!)

I had bought some Valvoline Racing VR1 20W50 in bulk some months ago in preparation for this very day. I even went out and bought a 10 litre oil drain tray as my old one was only 5 litres and the Jag holds either 6.25l or 7.5l - depending on who you believe (more on that later).



So I pulled the Jag out of the garage (the garage is literally 5mm longer than the car!) jacked up the front put it on ramps for safety.



Checked we have the required oil filter in stock plus rubber o ring.



Check

So slot the drain tray under the car, carefully position it to catch the oil which will come out sideways from the drain plug.

Get out the 7/8 spanner for the drain plug (for a change I actually picked up the right spanner first time - I usually have to try half a dozen until I find one which is more or less right) gently undo the drain plug and oil starts to dribble out into the tray -



slowly wind it out until plop it drops into the tray and a jet of oil shoots out horizontally, completely missing the tray! Great - re-position tray to catch most of it and apply oil soaking stuff to mop it up.



So, the jag has a cartridge type oil filter which is not my field of expertise - undo the nut on the bottom of the filter housing and oil starts to dribble out, keep going until the whole thing comes off and pour oil into the drain tray.



For those of you who haven't fallen asleep the filter housing is the thing in front of the sump.



The filter element looked a bit squished - not sure if its supposed to look like that, and looks nothing like its replacement!

I checked the manual and it says there should be a spring inside the housing - I can't see any spring! - hmmm, give the housing a shake and out falls a large round washer, have a poke around and the washer is on a springloaded plate which doesn't seem to come out - so all is well!

Anyway, lets change the filter - stick the new element in the housing, and stick the new rubber o-ring into the bottom of the oil pump


Its the round bit at the bottom of the pic (hmmm looks like there is a dent in the housing (RHS)).

Put some oil in the filter housing as I figured its best to pre-fill it, even though the manual doesn't say so.

Push the whole lot up into place and turn the nut on the end by hand - does it go in? Does it heck! But a bit of wiggling and perseverance it starts to wind into place, so I tighten it up with the appropriate socket (5/8) and all is well.

Don't forget to replace the sump plug!

So out with the trusty funnel and in with some oil.



The manual says - 6.25l capacity for re-fill and 7.5l total capacity - great so which is it? Does 1.25l of old oil lurk in the engine when you do an oil change? Who knows! So I measured out 6 litres figuring I would check the dipstick.

In it goes, let it settle and check the level - not bad, add a smidge more and we are up to the mark.

Time to start it - fingers crossed.

Oil pressure!

And no oil pouring out!

How is it all jobs on this car are a pain in the proverbial?

The aftermath:-



Was it worth it?



Probably!

Test run to the chip shop for tea, and all seems well (touch wood).

So now I need to get it rolling roaded to set it up properly, as it currently pinks on full throttle.

Novatech who I had been intending to use as they understand 123 distributors, now seem reluctant and have recommended CCK Classic Cars in Kent - anyone used them?

cheers folks.

Yeah, it was the one in Slough - although he did say he's not doing any rolling road work at the moment due to the hot weather, and basically said he had not tuned a mk2 Jaguar with a 123 Distributor so I might be better speaking to someone who has. I'm fine with that.

cheers

Cortinaman

I like MK2 and yours looks good. A friend of mine has an XK140 and recently converted his oil filter setup to a modern spin on filter. I assume it is also available for your engine

Peter

Thanks Smokem - I have heard of Sanspeed - I may well give them a call.

Interesting people