New owner from Truro Cornwall needs advice

[Philip D]

Hi I am Phil from Truro Cornwall and I have just taken delivery of my series 2 FHC American import. It's in a right state mechanically and looks overwhelming tbh but I am up fr the challenge. I am used to working on my old MG and familiar with where to go for parts etc. I guess I know nothing about this for the Jag beyond the internet.

With the MG I found the parts catalogue from Moss was both a great tool for ordering parts but also explaining the way to put things back together properly. Is there such a catalogue with exploded parts for the Jag ? If so how do I get hold of one ?

Are there any Jag specific meets in the South West at all ?

I will include a picture or two if I can figure out how to do this.

Thanks
Phil
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[mgcjag]

Hi Phil...welcolm to the forum....bit of a project there but nothing that hasn't been done before....my advice would be to get familiar with this forum..especially the contents of the knowledge base section and the restoration section....every possible question you have has been asked befor so will be here somewhere....I would start with a Jaguar service manual and parts catalogue however these are in the Knowledge base section...Moss are a good supplier of parts as is SNGB, David Manners, SC parts etc....SNGB have a good website with diagrams as does Moss and SC parts....Worth looking g on ebay for a hard copy of the SC parts catalogue its very useful
...you can also get a hard copy SNGB catalogue...others will be along to chip In...Steve ps join a Jag club eg JDC or JEC.. then mention this when ordering parts...some suppliers will give you a discount

[politeperson]

Looks like a doddle to me.

I would start here, as Steve says,

https://www.sngbarratt.com/English/uk/F ... 2%20FHC/84

about the best resource there is, apart from this forum of course.

[mgcjag]

Note also in the Knowledge base section a series of articles on LHD to RHD conversion

[malcolm]

The Jaguar drivers' club have a Truro area, they meet in Blackwater Truro on (I believe) the first Tuesday of each month. The area rep is contactable at jameschristopher2@sky.com
If you join the JDC, you will also have access to an E type expert in John Burton. You can get his phone number after joining the JDC. By the way, I'm not a recruitment officer for the JDC!

[Gfhug]

Phil, a bit of a long drive from Cornwall and only next weekend but if you get yourself to the Silverstone Festival
https://www.silverstone.co.uk/events/si ... e-festival 22nd to 24th August

You’ll find both the JDC and the Jaguar Enthusiast Club there with lots of Jaguars (many E Types) where you’ll have a chance to learn what the Clubs can offer you both in advice and membership benefits. E.G. discount on parts from SNG Barratt.

Geoff

[Philip D]

Thanks so much to Steve, Politeperson, Malcolm and Geoff. I appreciate every ounce of help I get !

I will start to trawl ebay for the parts catalogues and see what I can get.

I will follow the links posted PP as I need info and help.

I will try and get hold of the Truro Jag owners club and see if I can meet them.

There is little chance of me getting to Silverstone this weekend (shame I used to live about 9 miles away) but will be interested if there are any strong etype shows, gatherings where parts, knowledge and afdvice is offered.

I have a sneaky suspicion I am missing a fuel tank, think I should have two, only have one.....first part to locate might be a big one !

Hope to speak some more chaps and thanks for the early advice.

Phil

[mgcjag]

E type only has one fuel tank

[Gfhug]

Phil, get hold of Barratt’s E Type catalogue (from them, not eBay). It really will help you understand what you’ve got or are missing. The price is well worth paying and if you join the JEC or the JDC (JEC is a much bigger club) you’ll get discount on parts from Barratt’s. I suggest you get the catalogue before hunting for any parts or asking on here what might be missing.
We are all very happy to help, but you can answer so many questions yourself, then ask the more important ones on here. And the search is a very useful facility. Try it out and learn more about your car.

Good luck

Geoff

[Fuel.inj]

As you progress on restoration I would suggest to use as much of the original parts as possible if they are serviceable. Take plenty of photographs.

[Series1 Stu]

All great advice, but I would add that, at this stage, you probably have no idea what parts you are missing. Maybe the obvious things but it's the little brackets and fixings that you won't know about that will catch you out. A lot of us have been through the same.

Keep asking questions. The beauty of this forum is that nobody ever ridicules anybody for not knowing something. Although they might politely point us in the right direction.

You've got a lot of work ahead of you so enjoy the process and stay sane.

Regards

[Philip D]

Some great advice, I am going to get online to Barrats and find a catalogue, l9oking at my engine bay is both alarming and confusing.

One interesting point. The car was owned by an engineer in Rhode Island and he appears to have constructed his own wiring loom, unfortunately the key to it is like long john silvers treasure map, more than a little care-worn ! Thing it'll be new loom time before long!

Thanks again I'll keep you all apprised!

Phil

[Gfhug]

New wiring looms are available from https://www.autosparks.co.uk/
Probably easiest to get a complete new harness and start from a clean sheet.

Geoff

[Series1 Stu]

Also interesting is that it has triple SU carburettors and smooth cam covers where a USA specification Series 2 would have had twin Strombergs and ribbed cam covers. The previous engineer owner must have been tinkering with it. Did he make the wooden instrument panel too?

Regards

[Philip D]

Also interesting is that it has triple SU carburettors and smooth cam covers where a USA specification Series 2 would have had twin Strombergs and ribbed cam covers. The previous engineer owner must have been tinkering with it. Did he make the wooden instrument panel too?

Regards

Yep you're right and what's even weirder is that it came with a spare set of triple SU's on a slightly different manifold !

Yes I think he or his 12 Yr old son made the wooden dash panels..... Will be replaced !

[Philip D]

New wiring looms are available from https://www.autosparks.co.uk/
Probably easiest to get a complete new harness and start from a clean sheet.

Geoff

Yep I agree, I need certainty and some reference other than a wizards map. Might be an interesting job, or a nightmare !

[Mark Gordon]

Also interesting is that it has triple SU carburettors and smooth cam covers where a USA specification Series 2 would have had twin Strombergs and ribbed cam covers. The previous engineer owner must have been tinkering with it. Did he make the wooden instrument panel too?

Regards

It also appears to have a 3.8 L intake manifold.

[tonyabacus]

Hello Phil
Welcome to the Forum, I am not too far from you near Plymouth and also in the process of a LHD/RHD conversion.

One of the issues you are likely to come across is that the existing wiriring harness will not probaly reach the ignition switch when you have the column on the right hand side, so a new harness is a must. Secondly the upper column switch stalks will be on the wrong side. This can be altered but depending on what may have happened in the past will most likely require the help of a machine shop or someone with vertical drilling machine etc.

One very good book for wiring diagrams is the Coventry Auto Components book, they do a range of books covering all of the E Type variants, so check carefully when you order, as Jaguar seemed to carry over numerous bits and changes between the Series 1.5 and Series 2, so whilst the books are very good, you need to ensure you get the right one.

Time and patience will be required but it is not a difficult job, PM me if you wish to talk through any particular point
Tony

[Mark Gordon]

If you are going to completely replace the wiring I HIGHLY recommend the Moss Motors wiring manual. It contains schematics plus illustrations of where each of the dash wiring connects to its component.
https://mossmotors.com/31-0806-wiring-m ... t_products

[Gfhug]

Available here in the UK from Coventry Auto Components
https://coventryautocomponents.co.uk/st ... es-2-etype

Geoff