It is only possible to keep this section of the site up to date when access to garages and workshops are open and available. The nature of this type of work is slow and many months even years can pass between start and finish. It is intended to progressively update the site to keep pace with any works featured.
No commercial interest exists with any businesses mentioned nor are any recommendations intended. Opinions are just that, opinions.
Chris is currently re-building a 489 Manxman to take back to Bonneville in 2021 in order to attempt further land speed records. An additional build is a Lakestar car with three capacity ,500cc, 600cc and 660cc engines all utilising the same chassis which will permit attempts at differing class records. Follow Chris’s exploits on line – he’s a super character well worthy of support.
www.bonneville.im or chris@bonneville.im
Jaguar Series 2 – Engine re-build
The corona virus outbreak has denied access to the machine shop and garage. We rely therefore on any photographs which are provided by the garage.
XK 4.2 Engine rebuild.
After 51 years and 75000 miles I thought it about time to have a look at the engine. The car didn’t pull as well as the roadster and I put this down to old age. The engine strip down and initial clean was undertaken by Alistair at Catcott Garage and then sent to Hamlins in Bridgwater. Hamlins are a long established family owned engineering workshop and they enjoy a good rapport with Alistair and Brian.
Pistons,oil scored. 
crankshaft as removed
A dimension check showed an out of tolerance of 005” on the bores thus rebores were required .
Because of the re-bore we opted to fit new pistons, inlet valve guides, shells , bearings , oil pump, chains, all cylinder studs, core plugs, dome nuts and washers AND add a spin on conversion. This is a long stud engine consequently these were replaced as a matter of course. Given that they extend into the water jacket they will begin to rust in a handful of years.
The cylinder head received attention some years back and went back into place as was. Probably more abused than any other part of the engine the cylinder head on this engine may have been replaced at some time in the past. This may possibly be an XJ6 head on the original XK engine. Any overheating or the use of water without the proper coolant would cause the aluminium head to corrode and a surprisingly common practice in the past.
Adding the conversion piece for the oil filter canister will make it slightly easier in the future when servicing the car.
Going back together 
Back together
Machining involved reboring the block, polishing the crankshaft, removal of all rust from the waterways including hot and normal washes. Following boring, the bores themselves were re-honed which would remove any high spots. STP is often used in this process and certainly during the “running in” of the car we will have to be careful to use a specific running in oil. Hamlins stripped the head and checked all dimensions, refaced the block and cover, re cut the inlet seats and fitted the guides.
Gearbox.
To the best of our knowledge the gearbox has never been opened in 51 years. At this stage only a strip down has been done although already we know that the synchro will be replaced with new synchro cones.
(Update to occur end of May 2020)
