XJ6 series 3 distributor

[jingleycatjaguar]

I have, sitting on my bench, a distributor and amplifier from a series 3, 4.2 XJ6. The one in my series 1 4.2 E-type is worn. Can I just replace it with the XJ6 one. I assume that I will need to replace the coil as well.
Thanks
Steve

[abowie]

Simple answer is yes, although the advance curves are a little different.

[PeterCrespin]

The other simple answer is no. You don't need to change the coil, although of course I have no idea which coil you're using. I've fitted XJ S3 dizzies to several Es and older Jags and they have worked fine with whatever coil was on there at the time.

Pete

[JEP41]

I have the same setup on my e-type and Dave Butcher reworked the distributor advance to match the cams which he also sourced for me. Rob Beere recommends using the V12 coil with this distributor setup, he also supplies an uprated amplifier which is installed in the amplifier box, the setup works perfectly.

[christopher storey]

Neither of the "simple answers" are completely correct ! You also need the amplifier which is somewhere separate from the distributor ( I think on an inner wing of the donor car but I cannot really remember )

[steve3.8]

To get the best from this setup you need to use a 193 coil . The amplifier unit was originally bolted to the underneath of the inlet manifold .

Regards steve

[christopher storey]

Ah, thank you Steve

[PeterCrespin]

Neither of the "simple answers" are completely correct ! You also need the amplifier....

Au contraire Chris - in his first sentence Steve said he had the amplifier already Chris - it was a given.

The amp is fixed to the vertical front of the alloy S3 plenum casting, which acts as a heat sink. I would regard the standard coil and amp module to be more than adequate for a road car and there is no change in coil spec referred to in the Haynes manual between S1&S2 and S3 XJ (admittedly not conclusive evidence!).

The S3 was the most powerful XK engine Jag ever built and the CEI system is not a weak area in those cars. Therefore the S3 ignition system is more than adequate for a road-going E-type in my view. I've fitted it to several cars to good effect.

Pete

[jingleycatjaguar]

Thanks all for your replies, something to tinker with this winter.
Steve

[PeterCrespin]

The big power transistor does need a good heat sink, so mount the AB14 to a solid chunk of alloy with decent surface area in good air flow, to prolong its life.