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240 questions

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Darel

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Hi guys,


Not really new to Jags or Brit cars in general but I've never had a saloon. I am going to look at a 240 this week. I have a couple questions.


1. Engine ID - how do you tell the difference between the 2.4, 3.4 and 3.8?


2. Engine swaps - right now there are two junk 3.8S and a MkII on CL nearby for cheap. Would the 3.8 engine be a direct drop-in for the 2.4 in the 240?


3. Along those lines, the car I am looking at is RHD. Would either of the above (3.8S or MkII) work as a donor for a LHD swap?


4. Suppliers for Ambla upholstery kits and carpet sets for the 240s? From all the pictures this car's interior looks to be in GREAT shape but I know that carpets and upholstery more than even 5-10 yers old just look worn, no matter how good of shape they are in.


5. Major watchouts? Again, I do the old-British-car thing a lot so I am well aware of the usual issues, rust, etc. I mean things maybe more specific - check x part for wear because it costs $5000 sort of thing.


6. What kind of compression numbers would you expect from the 2.4?


7. Who normally deals in parts for these cars? Oddly it seems most suppliers cut off saloon availability at the end of the '67 MkII range (Welsh), if you can find anything for XK saloons at all.


Thanks,
Darel
 
Engine numbers. Above the oil filter. Matching the number on the back of the cam chain area of the head, and the body tag inside the left wing.
2.4's are shorter in deck height, over square (bigger bore than stroke). 2.4L had downdraught Solex, 240's had side draught.
3.8's are convertible, trying to recall if the bell housing is different or not.
Later full synchro transmissions used a different flywheel, I've been told, and clutch, than the Moss box.
Why convert from RHD? Not too many RHD's stateside, and I tell ya true, they are a REAL conversation starter.

2.4's have a manual sliding choke on the dash next to the speedo/tach, not so on 3.4 and 3.8. 240's, since side draughts, no manual choke.
Dash sections readily transferrable.

To get needed power, 2.4's and I'm guessing 240's, have a VERY low geared rear....you'll need to update a full rear end to match your bigger engine.
And proper speedo.

The wiring behind the centre instrument section will need to be cut apart, wires moved, as all 4 instruments reverse for LHD. You will need a LHD panel under them to tell what the switches do (which also reverse orientation).
You'll need a LHD steering box, LHD throttle linkages, new pipes for brakes and clutch.
E-brake needs the bits to put it on the left side.

I looked at doing mine..once...and decided I really like the RHD configuration.
If you want to do this right, you need the whole donor car, for proper boot badges, fan shroud, maybe exhaust.
2.4's had single, no shroud. No Jaguar script on the boot, no displacement on the boot.
You'll need the grille emblem, for colour and displacement.

Windscreen wiper needs to be modified. I know how. LHD arms. The motor "parks" the blades by reversing. You need to reverse the field, arms park to left in LHD, right on RHD, different bends (if you do go LHD, send me your RHD arms!)
Hopefully your donor has Lucas FogRangers, plus the four-position headlamp switch.

Bumpers off a donor...much bigger for a MKII than a 240/340...if you want to fool folks.

I THINK the 240/340 eliminated the "picnic tables" behind the front seats. See if the donor has all that stuff.

Look into front springs to handle the bigger mills.

Dave
 
Thank you for the great information! The conversion only popped in my head because nearby listed on CL in addition to the car I am considering, are a 3.8 MkII and two 3.8S cars, each listed for $2500. I could upgrade to the 3.8 engine with any associated parts, and perhaps have pulled off a LHD conversion.

Believe me, I think it would be neat to have a RHD car, but if I ever wanted to sell it down the road I think I'd have a hard time finding a buyer and probably take a big hit on value. "Neat" doesn't exactly open up the wallets.

You're right about the eliminated picnic tables...though I'd probably not go so far as installing them because it would probably involve a complete seat recover, which then wouldn't match the rest of the interior, which I'd then have to redo everything, then that wouldn't match the dingy carpets...yadda yadda...you know the rabbit hole I speak of.

Thanks again!
 
The seat frames should be the same, should have all the fitting points. The pop out back cover on the front seats should give you access. The donor car will have the card shape you need.
You might just have enough material to do it with.
I never think about resale value of my cars. I just drive them.
However, one or two members here have RHD vehicles. Drew seems to have an addiction for them.


I wouldn't buy any S types for donor cars.
Not unless you only and specifically needed those parts that fit between the two.
Dave
 
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