FALL 2023 NEWSLETTER
Question 1 from Frank L. in Carmel, CA:
How often should I service my Jaguar E-type, and what should I do in each service?
Tom's Answer: With proper routine servicing these engines are known to
last 100,000 or more miles without overhaul....or significantly less if
neglected. Regular oil and filter changes are one of the best ways to
ensure long engine life. The engine oil and oil filter should be changed
every 3,000 miles, or once a year, whichever comes first. Classic Showcase recommends Castrol as the
motor-oil-of-choice in our facility. We don’t recommend putting a
cheaper oil in your Jaguar. We reccomend 20/50 weight. Some owners
prefer the use of synthetic oil as it seems to work well except for a
greater tendency for it to leak past gaskets and seals.
The oil filter should be replaced with each oil
change. The factory type Jaguar oil filter or a high quality equivalent
would certainly be a good choice and can be purchased from most Jag
suppliers. After changing the oil and running the engine for a while,
always double check the dipstick. While changing your oil take advantage
of the opportunity to top-off all fluids and give the car a good visual
inspection. The cost of an oil and filter change is minimal compared to
an engine overhaul.
Question 2 from James S. in South Lake Tahoe, NV: I'm a seasoned collector that just added (2) rare classics to my collection, and would like to learn more about the specific origniality of my cars.
Tom's Answer: Sure - If you purchased the
vehicle and there are receipts, and paperwork verifying the authenticity of your vehicle then you have completed the hardest part of
the task. Write down all information and the history of the car, asking
questions about the past ownership.
Go to the internet and your local DMV, to try to track the history of the car incuding previous owners, which can be hard to do but worth it if
you can find these missing pieces. Pay to track its history - if it is a rare car, go to the archives from a club that may have kept its information; DMV services can also help to track and trace ownership and historical ecords as well. With Porsches, you can get a certificate of authenticity which will track the previous ownership; Jaguars have a heritage certificate that will tell you the original numbers, colors and the first owner of record. Inspect the numbers on your car: document the chassis number, engine, transmission, and body numbers whenever possible. With
this information, now you can be knowledgeable you are on your way to pedigreeing the car. Now
follow the Concours guide for correctness, and improve the overall
condition of your classic, then finally enter it into Concours events
for awards; with that, you will be on track for a full pedigree of your
classic.
Question 3 from Scott P. in Seattle, WA: I have an orignial E-Type that has been in the family since new, but have had it on the campaign circuit in preservation class for several years; it's completely stock, but my family and I would really like to start driving it more and showing it less. I've heard that
a 5-speed transmission will offer better performance - will that kind of upgrade be a problem in the event I want to campaign the XKE again in the future?
Tom's Answer: If you own a factory correct car and want to keep campaigning it at a preservation level, that type of upgrade wouldn't be a good choice as it will detract from the originality. However, 5 speed transmissions are an excellent choice if
you want an enhanced driving performance and better dependability without
over revving the engine in higher gears. Another great improvement to
think about would be to upgrade the radiator to aluminum and install an
auxiliary fan if the car is going to be operated in hot climates. These improvements coinciding with the transmission will
give you the best drivability in an E-Type. This is a personal choice
and usually will not depreciate your investment. I base my thoughts
about the vehicle depreciation off the fact that many people today are
asking for these specific upgrades to be included in the restoration of
their Jaguars.
Question 4 from Alex P. in Cupertino, CA:
I
have an XK-150 and I noticed that it is hard for me to steer my car
when I am parking. Can I add power steering to it? I also have a bench
seat currently in the car, but would prefer bucket seats - is that possible?
Tom's Answer: Yes, they
make electric power steering system that can be added. It has proven to be a great product, but we do not recommend installing it yourself and instead have a professional perform this service for you. Regarding bucket seats - yes, they will give you a more controlled comfortable ride. They can be
trimmed in any color you desire, and more foam can be added for extra padding. We can also make a special lumbar support pillow for your passenger's back comfort.
Question 5 from Steven H. in Solana Beach, CA: What are your recommendations for my exhaust manifolds on my E-type? Should I go with porcelain or heat treated?
Tom's Answer: This is really a personal preference.
Porcelain manifolds are factory correct for the car but have yet to be
proven to last aesthetically and are difficult to keep from cracking. At
that point it doesn’t look good aesthetically, so the car would likely receive a
deduction in judging at a JCNA event. When the cracks occur, you will
need to re-porcelain the manifolds. On the other hand, heat treated manifolds have proven
to last much longer - aesthetically - but do not have a factory correct
finish - which will result in a deduction in Jaguar showing. Both manifold choices have the same durability and wil perform well. The difference is strictly the look of the
manifold finish.
Bottom line is, porcelain are great for campaiging, while heat treated are better suited for everyday driving. Another option would be to keep two sets of manifolds; e for
showing and one for driving.
