The 'E' Type Forum

I received this email today from an E-type Member and wondered if anyone on the forum might be able to help him track down this part?

"I am wondering if anyone can help identify per Image 8 in the link below (the first engine bay shot) if the spare spark plug holder/caddy was a Coventry issued part that is available? (Note its position on the firewall left of the air breather). My 1967 XKE FHC car appears to have the firewall mounting for it but I have never seen a caddy such as this . . . I would like to know what years this part was installed by Coventry if at all or if it was dealer installed in either the UK or USA . . .

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dea ... 79970.html"

Many thanks!
The E-type Club

The link does not work as the car referred to has been sold. In any case there was no spare plug holder for the E-Type although the C-Type and D-Type did, simply because some races required the driver to not seek outside assistance in the event of problems away from the pits. The very early 3.8 round tool box did include a spare spark plug but these were omitted from the subsequent tool roll. Sounds like an after-market fitting to bling up the engine bay

Thanks I will pass that information on.

I managed to find a cached version of the page and extract this image to illustrate the exact part the member was looking at, but I think you've already answered his question now anyway.

Many thanks!

That's definitely home-brew and not the C-type part. Never seen one on a D.

The reason for spare plugs was not so much for breakdowns (irrelevant on short circuits and normal sprint races) but usually to swap complete plug sets. it is/was the norm back in the day to use a soft (hot) set for warmup or the drive to the circuit (to avoid fouling) and then switch all six to a hard/cold set for the event (to avoid detonation) once the piston clearances had closed up and fluids were up to temp.

The repeated 'VROOOM-baarp, VROOOM-baarp' you hear in classic racing car or bike paddocks before the day's first practice or heat isn't just to psych-out the opposition, though it doesn't hurt! They do it to warm the beast up fully before battle. You see less switching to race plugs these days because modern plug heat ranges are wider and modern multigrade oils are low ash. It used to be a nice ritual with straight R40 weight castor oil: N4 or N5 for warm up, N3 for the racing. Getting quite nostalgic even thinking about it :-(

Pete

PeterCrespin wrote: a nice ritual with straight R40 weight castor oil: N4 or N5 for warm up, N3 for the racing. Getting quite nostalgic even thinking about it :-(

Pete

Kept you regular , did it, Pete ?

:-)

Funny you should say that. I always used to think that anyone who suffered constipation should try lining up for the start of a classic scramble. Five minutes before tangling handlebars at the first corner, it's all you can manage to stay continent. You need Immodium or kaolin and morphine more than a spoonful of castor oil. :-)

Pete

just noticed this old post whilst killing time in lockdown…
Try the RROC in USA or RREC in UK they were used on quite a few RR models over a number of years, if its still required.
Pete