Engine Rebuild recomendations for series 1 4.2

[jag68]

Hi Tony Some of the optional things may not be optional once you have the engine stripped down and can see it's condition. For example the line hone of the block or heads may be necessary depending on their condition. I wouldn't do an upgraded clutch unless you were hopping it up - and you aren't. Make sure the damper is sound before reusing it - they are 50 year old metal elastic pieces and the rubber can deteriorate. The flywheel should be resurfaced - that's mandatory in my opinion, and then balanced with the clutch cover installed on it. I agree that there is nothing wrong with a properly installed rope seal, and wouldn't change it. I've done more that a dozen engines with it over then last 25 years with no problems with it. I would certainly replace the con rod nuts and bolts, but would use new Jaguar supplied ones - ARP bolts on a stock engine are unnecessary - unless of course they don't cost more than stock ones. I'm not prepared to take a chance that somebody in the past didn't over torque the bolts and stretch them. Certainly if they are the old style with cotter pins they have to go.

Terry Sturgeon

[christopher storey]

Full balance is worth doing in my view. Don't touch the rear seal upgrade, even with a wire brush and dettol - 4 out of the 5 I have been concerned with have failed, necessitating a new crankshaft . Steer clear of camshaft/valve/porting "upgrades" as most of them will merely move the torque curve up the rev range and totally ruin the charm of the engine , which is its steam train like torque in standard form . As far as the rest are concerned, they are not really "options" e.g. the waterways either need welding or they don't

[pmansson]

I have 2 engines which they did for me last year, via CMC. One has a loose exhaust valve seat bucket and the other had a 4mm metal particle that stuck on the relief valve in the oil filter housing. CMC are assuming full responsibility, (and will not use them again), but their attitude is terrible vis a vis the end customer. The metal particle might be from a reused split pin by the looks of it.
Very annoying. Yes, I know that most of their thousands of customers are happy and their prices reasonable, but what I experienced is unacceptable.

[christopher storey]

Peder : are you referring to the same engine rebuilder ? - the others are talking about CMES which I understand to be in Bedfordshire - and I thought CMC used another very well known rebuilder rather nearer to them

[pmansson]

I am/was referring to VSE. They had done many engines for CMC in the past, but these two monkey jobs has made them change their mind (at least that is what they tell me).?
Peder

[Gfhug]

http://cmesuk.com/contact/

Berkshire, not Beds, but still south of Watford Gap

[TonyChile]

Dear All,

just a short note to say that I dropped my engine off at CMES on Thursday



They certainly seem to know their way around an engine. Mine is 3rd or 4th Jaguar straight Six in line.

Will keep you posted on how it goes.

[NickJ]

I have just fitted a rebuilt 3.8 E engine in my Series 1. I knew when I obtained the car that it was not matching numbers and it transpired that the block came from a Mark X. The original engine block was destroyed by frost when the car was laid up for about 16 years. I decided not to rebuild this engine but find a proper E Type one.
Graham Williams at Classic Car Engines near Malvern obtained a 3.8 E engine and rebuilt it for me. It was only fitted the other day so I have not run it in but it started first time and seems very quiet and powerful. Everything was balanced including the clutch and it was also good to see that the Moss box was the correct one as fitted in May 1962.
I would thoroughly recommend him. His attention to detail was very good and he delivered it in very good time and to an agreed price, which I thought was reasonable
nick J