Jaguar C-type replica

Engine and transmission are fitted together at the same time, it is a very narrow fit and therefore a lot of attention is needed when fitting them in the chassis. When this is done we can fit the carburettors, exhaust manifolds, engine electrics, clutch hydraulics, and all corresponding, wiring lines, etc. Since the wiring harness goes in the car, at the same time as the dashboard will build up the dash board, with all it's necessary gauges, switches and control lights.

Next we fitted the radiator, electric cooling fan, coolant hoses and all the electrical switches and connect to the wiring harness.

After this we concentrate on the interior, the passenger seat is a fixed fitting, the drivers seat is made so that it is adjustable front and rear, all the upholstery is leather so are the gaiters for the shifter and handbrake, all carpets are wool, and as you can see in the photos an all black interior.

All suspension components are pre-fabricated and ready to fit so is the complete rear axle assembly and complete rack and pinion steering assembly, custom made fully adjustable shock absorbers are fitted at the same time.

Brake lines were already fitted before engine and transmission were fitted, brake calipers and flexible hoses fitted, brake master cylinder,
bleed complete system.

Splined hubs and 72 spoke wire wheels in combination with Vredestein 185-16 tires are now fitted and there it is a rolling chassis.

OK ready to see if all works out, crank engine till there is oil pressure, connect ignition, wait till the fuel pomp stopped ticking and pres the start button.
will she fire up??? And yes she does, check ignition timing, set mixture roughly and run engine till first heat cycle, let her cool off overnight re-torque cylinder head and manifolds, change oil and oil filter, start up again and run second heat cycle, check all for unexpected leaks, check opening time thermostat.

Fit bonnet assembly, leather bonnet securing belts, wire up electrics, time for a test drive.

September

The chassis are fabricated in the UK by our business partner and modified to our specifications for left hand drive and the hand brake lever on the passenger side, these modifications are a big improvement over the original chassis.

The body is made out of hand lade fiber glass and again modified to our specifications in this case that there are two doors instead of one, the inner body is also modified this has to do with the dashboard location and steering column.

When all of the above mentioned parts are fabricated and bolted together, door and bonnet are fitted,  the car is ready for shipping to Canada.  
 
While all the above is fabricated in the UK, we are preparing the suspension, brake, steering, rear axle parts, all of this is a combination of Jaguar parts from different models and years, carefully chosen and sand blasted to bare metal and after this painted with a heavy duty industrial paint.
 
All new ball joints, bearings, gaskets, etc fitted so that we are having the slightest change of problems when we are fitting all these components onto the chassis.
 
Next week will discuss the fitting of the engine and all components.

August

A couple weeks ago we finally did find the right high oil pump 3.4 Ltr XK engine for our next and last Jaguar C-type replica, complete engine with exhaust manifolds. The factory stock manifold we will store in our parts area to help somebody else in the future, as we plan to run a C-type exhaust.

 

Our normal procedure for stripping a engine starts with draining the oil, and removing all build on components like , oil filter housing, oil pressure lines, starter motor, etc. When we removed the exhaust manifolds it was  surprise to see that we discovered a pantry from maybe a squirrel, as one port of the manifold and the complete intake port from the cylinder head filled up.

 

Today the engine is back together again, the 3.4Ltr block was machined 0.10” over crank and main bearings 0.10” under size, high flow oil pump, rear oil seal conversion, cylinder head from a 4.2 Ltr. non injected engine, with new valves, guides, springs , etc and nicely polished valve covers with the C-type badges from a early XK engine, all painted in the correct colours and ready to be mated to the five speed gearbox.