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I am new with my fist Jaguar

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Pete55Tbird

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Hello everyone. My name is Pete and I live in northern California near San Francisco. I just bought a 1963 Mark2 and I will be asking a lot of dumb questions. Please be patient as I have spent most of my life fixing Ford Mustangs and other lessor breeds. I purchased this car about 10 miles from home and on the drive back the electric fan stopped and the radiator boiled over.This was about two blocks from my house. I am truely a Jaguar owner. Some of my first questions are. Is there a dual mastercylinder conversion for the brakes? My car has the power steering box but no power steering pump. Is there a kit to convert to a XJ6 rack and pinion steering set up. Finally are the threads on these cars SAE and will regular nuts and bolts fit? Thanks in advance for your answers. Pete
 
Can't answer any of that as my Jag is a 2000 S-type and it's usually behind a tow truck headed for the dealer because it won't start (only 4 times in 27,000 miles). But as a 57 T-bird owner, I can guarantee you that it will be easier to work on your t-bird and you will have fewer problems with it. Good luck with your first Jag. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nopity.gif My other car is a 64 Austin Healey and it is also more reliable than the S Jag. Oh well, we buy these cars to learn something, Right???
 
Hi Pete, Jag's are like most British cars of the '60's, they are mostly SAF but things like the brake line system and a few fittings on the carbs will be Whitworth and almost all will be the same size , a 1/4 Whitworth and a 7/16 will fit most but just a little tight. I understand you wanting to upgrade some of the systems, and here's that but again, if you are going to show the car, Jag people tend to be purest and I understand that completely, but getting a good driver requires a few upgrades, if only for comfort and safety. The few I worked on back in the 70's have always made me want one and I will someday. Do check out you motor mounts first thing. Wayne
 
Hello Pete,

Welcome to the forum first of all and the wonderful (and frustrating) world of Jaguar ownership. I can't answer your questions but I can give you some links for reference to people who can. First I would get in touch with Moss Motors ( www.mossmotors.com ) for a catalogue and especially with Terry's Jaguar for their catalogue. Terry's has a great deal of info on the Mark II and their catalogue features a beautiful maroon Mark on the cover. I don't have it here in front of me, but the guys at Terry's can answer your upgrade questions and would most likely have what you need ( www.terrysjag.com ). If you haven't yet done so, read the model page at jag-lovers.org ( https://www.jag-lovers.org/saloons/ ) for your car and check out their tech tips. I am sure that someone has posted something concerning the steering issue... if not, you may make a few contacts by posting yourself.

The folks in this forum will be of great help (and encouragement) and I'm sure that some of our members have the answers you're looking for. Give them a few days to respond to your post. Jack Farrington is a great source of mechanical information (John S. Farrington). You may drop him a line. Use the email button, you'll find his name on many of the Jaguar technical posts in this section.

Enjoy the new car... I think the Mark II is one of the most beautiful cars ever made and hope to own one as well in the future. In the meantime, I am tinkering with a 1975 XJ6 Coupe. I think that getting a set of proper British standard tools is a great idea... you may not feel much of a difference, but your car will. Hope to hear more on your findings soon.

Regards,

Brian /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
I also welcome you to the wonderful world of Juguar ownership. I personally submit that the pluses exceed the minuses. (You can meet some great macho human beings that operate tow trucks). There is an upgrade to convert your power steering box to rack and pinion. Terry's is one source for this. I would also recommend upgrading the ignition system to solid state pointless. This can be done with a Pertronic Ignitor system (Moss is a source). Anpother way of doing this (that I recommend) is to convert your present distributor to a series 3 XJ6 solid state system. You need a XJ6 distributor, an XJ6 ignition amplifier and you can keep you present coil and wire set. I prefer converting all the way with a built in resistance coil available from NAPA and a new series 3 XJ6 spark plug wire set. The spark plug gap can be enlarged to .035" with beneficial results. The third upgrade would be to change out your generator system to an alternator. The easiest switch is to use a series 3 XJ6 alternator with built in voltage regulator. This will greatly simplify your charging wiring and result in better reliability. Consider converting your fuel pump to a good old Amaercan electric rotary vane fuel pump that delivers 3 to 5 psi. Once these upgrades are in place and your SU carburetors are in good shape and balanced you should have a great Jag with very acceptable reliability. Good luck and welcome to this select crowd.
 
P.S, If you have an SAE wrench set and supplement it with a Whitworth combo or open end set, your tools should cover your needs.
 
Hi Pete,
Welcome to one of the best british car forums on the web.

Actualy the easiest answer in and around any Jag, is that if you are looking for a "Kit" you are probably out of luck. There are a few kits out there but you will have to dig to find them. Your Jag is old enough it will have several fasteners that are Whitworth. different thread, different size and different sizing system. (And difficult to find) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Try https://www.jag-lovers.org/ it is one great resource.

If your Mk 2 is complete... do me a favor and think twice before you start modifying it. Good ones are becoming more and more rare and there are many of us who would love to restore it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But, whatever you decide, welcome to the wonderful world of Jaguar. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

Mike
 
Pete, The last car I bought new was a 1957 Thunderbird, the first of that type in the state of Oklahoma. When I parted with it I sold it to a Lawton banker for his Cherokee Indian mistress. I still miss the car but age does not make it a daily driver. Why do you have the 55Tbird Email address? Maybe we can swap war stories. I will continue to advise you on issues concerning the Mark 2. I have never owned one but did have two XK120s, one XK150, a Mark VII, and a Mark X. I have done a detailed restoration on a Mark 1 and a lot of E Types. I wish you the best, The mid size Jaguar sedan from the 60s is a tru;e work of art. Jack
 
John,
I am thinking of parting with my 57 Bird, if you want to give that kind of car another go round. I just don't find time to use it now that I have my Healey.
 
HI Pete, Yes kits are readily available to convert the Jag MK11 to Rack & Pinion steering there are the conventional ones available from US Jag specialists-Not Moss and there exists a n electric version available in the UK. A good set of SAE And Metric wrenches will handle most of the tasks on the MK11. The MK11 Brakes are ok if newer type pads are installed and the booster and Vac tank/Valve are in good condition..The radiator may need boiling out and rodding or it may require a recore.As suggested the
addition of a Pertronix ignition can improve things considerably.Welcome to the Forum.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
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