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Tips
Tips

New E-Type Owner

Thanks Jesse.

Car is arriving on either Sunday or Monday. They said that it ran out of gas (gas gauge inop) as it was about to be loaded on the transport. They put some in and it starts, but is lumpy. I'm guessing that it stirred up crud in the bottom of the tank. Where are the usual places to check on an S2 fuel system?
 
You have a glass fuel bowl w/filter under the bonnet on the passenger side next the bonnet lock. See what it looks like, it will tell you what the fuel system (line) looks like. If its cruded up, it will unscew and you can wash it out. Let the fuel pump fill it back up and see if there's more crude.

Marv
 
Thanks Marv. I will be getting a Bentley manual, but am currently flying blind, especially as the car is not here yet, hence these basic questions.

- How is the gas tank and pump set up?
- What can get blocked back there?
- If there is a restriction due to crud, is there any easy way to get at it, or can you put an air source on a fuel pipe and back blow?
- Is there a way of flushing out any residual crud without taking the tank out?

I figure that I might as well ask the questions ahead of the car getting here, while my hands are still clean.

It was going to be one of the early servicing tasks anyway as I find out what I have got.
 
The petrol pump is located in the rear wing R/H side. follow the pipe from the tank to locate.
The is also a screen at the pick-up point. This is located under the rear of the vehicle. Looks like a piece of round stock with a plug at the bottom. Un-screw it and check for rust, etc.
No need for compressed air, really. Very simple straight forward system.
@ Doc, this owner sounds like a copy of the Europa owner that I deal with?
 
OK, thanks. I just found a schematic on the XKs Unlimited site.


Grantura_MKI said:
...
@ Doc, this owner sounds like a copy of the Europa owner that I deal with?
Kinda afraid to ask on this one...
 
The petrol pipe end joints are of the banjo variety with copper press washers top and bottom.
I have a customer with a TC Europa that complains about the cost, but takes the car out for hot laps on the street. Just built a motor for him and told him not to over rev the engine. Lasted with him for about two months, back now with a cracked head after cooking it twice and putting 1 1/2 galons of water in it each time...tosser!
PM me for advise on Jaguar venders to use if you would like.
 
D. said:
@ Doc, this owner sounds like a copy of the Europa owner that I deal with?

:lol: :lol:

Oh yeah!

... Ian, D. an' me talk onna 'phone sometimes. :wink:

I suspect between Jesse, Grantura_MKI and self you have close to 100 years' experience wrenchin' on these beasts.

Be certain to have a big enuff container under that big plug in the tank before ya pull it!

And there may be a filter in the R/R wing along with the pump. Some PO's installed 'em ala S-III. IMO a good 'upgrade'.
 
DrEntropy said:
I suspect between Jesse, Grantura_MKI and self you have close to 100 years' experience wrenchin' on these beasts.
While I have a big fat zero on Jags, hence the questions, I started wrenching professionally on aircraft (Boeings and such) and as an amateur on cars we now call LBCs 37 years ago. So I guess that makes me a geezer. :cheers:

As to the driving reference, weeeell I grew up on these cars and narrow twisty country roads, so I guess that I'll fit right in. :lol:
 
You are offcically overqualified, Ian. :jester:
 
I took off the panels in the engine bay that are missing at least onpassenger side in your car with what I think is called "hardware cloth" a screen with 1/4" squares as a way to help reduce underbonnet temps.
Jay, '67Etype roadster
 
Clever lad!!! :laugh:

"Chicken wire" works, th' silly cars were never meant to run in hot climates. If the cooling system is in ~PRISTINE~ condition they'll almost be cool enuff to be daily driver reliable. Otherwise ya gotta consider your options. :wink:
 
why said:
I took off the panels in the engine bay that are missing at least onpassenger side in your car with what I think is called "hardware cloth" a screen with 1/4" squares as a way to help reduce underbonnet temps.
Jay, '67Etype roadster
So they are not structural then?
 
Late coming to this topic, not so knowledgable about the finer technical points of the E, but like you Ian, always coveted, still looking, looks like a great car to start with.

Mostly I wanted to say I admire the idea of a rolling restoration to solid reliable good looking driver status, having mostly taken that approach with buying decent cars and working on what needs working on to make them better without taking them off the road for a long time, for me anyway more enjoyable than tearing the whole thing apart and spending boatloads of money and time for months or years without being able to enjoy the car.
 
Ian, with the SII cars expect some trouble with overheating, especially in traffic. They do pretty good as long as they are moving. If you are not a stickler for original stuff you can cool the car down with some fan mods. Strangely enough I have a 68 1.5 E OTS I've had for 12 years that when I built it I put S1 3.8 carbs on that is the coolest running E I've ever have. It's been in numerous parades and has never ran hot. I have all the lower sheetmetal on the car as well. Had a 71 OTS before that one and it ran hot every time I got in traffic. It was all original down to the paint. It did have A/C that didn't help the issue. Had a couple of coupes that would still get warm but not as bad as the 71.

Marv
 
The car was delivered this morning and so I am now officially into it.

It runs, but not great. The carbs need a good going over and it seems to have intermittent fuel delivery. The fuel pump is a typical cheap replacement, but seems to work OK. I am trying to work out if I have a partial blockage or something else. The fuel gauge doesn't work, so I will lift out the sender and see what is inside the tank. I will also drop the gas tank sump (carefully) and take a look at the inlet pipe filter screen.

Any suggestions other than that, or instead of?

Thanks
Ian
 
Carbs are a breeze to rebuild. You will spend more time Rand R ing them than fixing them. I prefer the OE pumps, even with their supposed "Faults". They deliver the correct volume and pressure of fuel to keep everything happy.
Series 2s should run cool. The changes to the bonnet, radiator and fans all were to enhance cooling, and usually work. If they don't, there is an issue someplace. Looks like a beauty of a car. You are going to have fun.
 
Here in the south my experiences with SII E's have been that they do run warm. I've had several. BL did do several changes to make them (SII) run cooler but it wasn't enough. The factory fans weren't very efficient or reliable. RAds could have been a little bigger as well. I'm sure they all don't run warm. Carbs as Jesse said will be easy to redo. New diaphragms and clean needles may do the trick. Good luck!
Marv
 
Took the gas tank feed plate off to have a look-see inside. No strainer on the pickup pipe; I will get one. That said, it's quite clean inside.

Got the temp and gas gauges going; wire disconnected from the voltage regulator - I like the easy ones.

I then took the top end of the carbs apart. The piston walls were dirty and pitted. I cleaned them up, but couldn't get rid of all the pitting. The diaphragm were nice and supple with not tears or crazing. Lightly polished the needles; one is bent that I straightened out. I will replace both. Back together with Mystery Oil in the dampers.

I then did a rough adjust of the timing until it ran smoother. I don't know what gas is in it now, so I will get rid of it and put in fresh Sunoco 93, which has worked well for my TR4.

What I now have is a much smoother running engine, although it still has some occasional missing. It still seems to have a fuel flow problem though, as it will idle for about 5 minutes and then just die. I will take a look in the carb float chambers next.
 
Ian

Did u buy the car sight unseen???? Saw in the add that it was advertised as "runs and drives well, engine runs smoothly" After reading your past few responses and issues, was the car what you expected??

Pete
 
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