Jaguar XKE 4.2 Engine

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Exploded view of a Jaguar XK Engine Head

Exploded view of timing belt

For more exploded views see Jaguar XKE 3.8 litre Engine

Jaguar XKE 3.8 Engine

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Exploded view of Jaguar XKE 3.8 litre Engine Block

Exploded View of Triple SU Carbs

For more exploded views see Jaguar XKE 4.2 litre Engine

Jaguar XKE Lightweight

Aerodynamics was the most important idea initially in designing the jaguar XKE, which in turn gave a great chance for the Jaguar XKE to be used as a racer. The jaguar XKE racing career initiated with normal unmodified cars complete with all original upholstery even with cigar lighters and radios. The first racing XKE´s were basically showroom models. All racing XKE´s were convertibles in the beginning, this was to follow in the character of the C and D Type´s racing career. Some were raced open top while others with the retractable soft top up. Many racers noticed an increase in drag with the soft top at high speeds and ended up removing the soft top completely and installing a factory built removable hardtop instead. Despite the weight increase, racers felt much less drag.

Modifications in racing Jaguar XKE´s were diverse such as, a straight banana type exhaust manifold for each cylinder, resulting in the engine boosting around 30 hp more than the standard engine with triple two-inch SU carburetors.

Removal of everything and anything that was not necessary in the racers was starting to be common practice. Upholstery and extra seats were removed, parts of the dashboard and centre console, spare tire and jack also removed. On some cars even, racers had everything striped down, removed and the trunk welded shut. The front thin brake discs were removed and replaced with thicker discs, extra oil temperature gauges for the engine’s protection were added.

Light alloy was used wherever possible by racers, except for parts essentially necessary for strength, like suspension sub frames. The factory at Coventry supplied to some private racers thinner than usual steel monocoques, which resulted in race car uniqueness. Each and every one was different from the other.

Suspension geometry was diverse in the cars, stiffer torsion bars and springs were added and Spax or Koni shock absorbers were installed and antiroll bars bettered and competition wide rim wire or light alloy wheels.

The easy changeability of parts within various jaguar models made it simple in acquiring tougher components necessary to endure the race track. The rear suspension of some lightweights got parts from the Mark X saloon cars. It gave it more strength and occasionally a ZF differential was fitted in place of the cast iron Powr-Lok.

Private race car companies that modified the Jaguar XKE into a racing lightweight had the whole body made from scratch in an aluminium lightweight shell. One of the most famous and fastest lightweight Jaguar XKE ever was modified by the Lindner-Nöcker team.

The Jaguar XKE lightweights won a variety of races against the Astons and Ferraris, and were weighed in at a bit less than 920kg, 50kg lighter than the Ferraris and 230kg lighter than the standard steel jaguar XKE´s.

Jaguar XKE Lightweight

They proved to be very competitive on the track and they were all at this stage well above the 300hp mark, and a special one even churned out 344 hp with a Lucas fuel injection and special banana type long exhaust system.

The 4.5 liter racing units were only just starting to draw near these power outputs a few years later. The V12 engine first ran in 1962, ultimately through the years producing more than 500 hp at 8,000 rpm in 1966.

The same year, Jaguar fitted their innovative V12 to the all new racing XJ13.

Pictures of Jaguar XKE Lightweights taken recently at a Masters Classic Race.

(click on image to see larger size)

Jaguar XKE Lightweight

Jaguar XKE Lightweight

Jaguar XKE Lightweight

Jaguar XKE Lightweight

Racing Jaguar XKE Lightweight dashboard



Through various changes in a small number of years on the Jaguar XKE between the Series 1 and Series 2 versions there is an unofficial version known as ”Series 1½”.

1961 – March, Open two-seater (OTS) and fixed-head coupe (FHC) models introduced with 3.8 litre engines fitted with triple SU carburetors.

1961 Jaguar XKE Series 1 with external engine hood latches

• 1961 – Four months and 500 units later, external engine hood latches deleted and from this time on operated from the interior by push/pull turn rods.
• 1962 – Heel wells added to front floors (split level floor) to give more foot room. Jaguar XKE cars built prior to this are known as ‘flat floor’ models.
• 1963 – The raised dot aluminium finish centre instrument panel and console changed to vinyl and leather due to sun reflection.
• 1964 – Engine enlarged to 4.2-litres with triple SU carbs, (twin Zenith-Stromberg carburetors for US models) new all-synchromesh gearbox fitted. Improved brakes, servo and more comfortable seats.
• 1966 – Jaguar XKE 2+2 models added to range. Longer wheelbase and higher roofline.

Jaguar XKE Series 2

• 1967 – Series ‘1 1/2’ model (unofficial series). Headlamp covers deleted, changes to engine to meet first US Federal emissions regulations, polished cam covers changed in favor of black and silver ribbed items.

• 1968 – Series 2 model with changes dictated by US Federal safety regulations, headlamp arrangement altered, wrap-around bumpers fitted, front indicator and taillights enlarged and repositioned below bumpers, power reduced, better cooling aided by an enlarged “mouth” and twin electric fans, braking improved, rocker switches installed instead of toggle switches, rake of 2+2 windscreen increased. Dunlop SP Sport tires adopted.
  

  Jaguar XKE V12 Series 3

• 1971 – Series 3 introduced with 5.3 litre V12 engine. Fixed-head model discontinued, longer wheelbase for roadster, grille added to engine hood mouth, track widened, flared wheel arches, power steering adopted as standard.
• 1973 – The Jaguar XKE 2+2 model ceased production. 1974 – Last open two-seater model built XKE, although listed until 1975.

End of an era but the Jaguar XKE icon lives on!

Folks at the Coventry plant knew by experience that the future of the new Jaguar XKE would depend on the acceptance of the public. That knowledge that they had acquired started early in 1936 when William Lyons introduced their first model, mainly with the idea to promote their XK engines, the SS100 with a 2.5 liter engine and the following year that same model with a 3.5 liter engine.

After the war and changing their name from Swallow Sidecar Company to Jaguar Cars Ltd, the SS designation was totally discontinued to avoid any association with the war. Models of the SS100 were from here on, referred to as the Mark IV. In 1948 Jaguar introduced their newest sports car, the XK120 that had a top speed of just over 190km/h. Once again Jaguar wanted to promote their XK engines that would be fitted in saloon cars. Jaguar´s intention in promoting these engines was to attract the wealthy costumers, and not manufacture the XK120 in series, but that’s not what happened! The success of the XK120 was so great that the public demanded its mass production! New XK120 buyers were lining up to get their new roadsters out and running and amazingly, in the race track it proved to be a natural born winner.

As jaguar noticed here a potential, it set aside a team specifically for competition. Soon enough this Jaguar team unveiled the racing C Type, and in its career the C Type won the Le Mans twice, in 1951 and 1953. With Jaguar´s unending search for better performance, the new D Type rolled for the first time on the race tracks in 1954. That same year, one D Type finished second at the Le Mans, but in 1957 five D Types entered the race and they all finished in 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and 6^th places! Definitely an all time high for Jaguar!

By the end of the 50´s, Jaguar´s managers considered that the manufacturing of sports cars was in a secondary plane, but on the other hand, so much success they had achieved especially on the 24 hours of Le Mans that promoted Jaguar cars worldwide. The investments made on the race track throughout a decade compensated, nevertheless the D Type was showing weakening age signs against Aston Martin´s and Ferrari´s. The management at Coventry decided then to concentrate their efforts in producing a new super sports car that would maintain Jaguar´s status not only on the roads but on the race track as well! One of the prototypes, code named the E2A, clearly following D Type lines, was the forerunner of the Jaguar XKE. The Jaguar E2A was raced by Briggs Cunningham at the Le Mans in 1960. Even though it set the fastest recorded lap, it did not finish the race.

Jaguar XKE Series 1 1961 Unveiling

In March 1961 the Jaguar XKE was introduced to the public. Jaguar had thought of everything to make the car a success, not only on the road but in the race tracks as well! A particular Jaguar XKE, which was slightly prepared by Jaguar, reached the 240 km/h mark several times. It was elegant, innovative, fast and costing less than half the price of a new Ferrari 250 GT, BMW 507 or a Mercedes 300 SL Roadster at the time. Handling was perfect for the time mainly due to its new independent rear suspension. The unsynchronized Moss gear box was one of the first and main faults on the new Jaguar XKE, but with a bit of practice and with the XK 6 in-line engine with double overhead camshaft, delivering 265 horse power at 5.500 rpm, drivers would be compensated with the engines music to their ears.

Because of its stylish lines the Jaguar XKE got a place in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

This is the original repair shop manual on XKE models from 1971 to 74.

This book covers General specification data, Engine tuning data, Torque wrench settings, Recommended lubricants, fuels, fluids & Capacities Maintenance and much much more!

This book was published with the intention to help mechanics in their Jaguar XKE V12 maintenance and repair! Now if you feel that you have more mechanical capabilities that a do-it-yourselfer, then this book just might be the right one for you!

Did you know that Jaguar once manufactured a 4 in-line XK engine?

This book in the beginning covers a bit of history on this engine, removal, dismantling, overhaul and reassembly!

A great manual for the do-it-yourselfer!

This book shows in detail the history of the Jaguar XKE, development stages, introduction to the public, competition, changes…and much much more!

A complete reference ever to XKE history!

A must have for those who seek XKE originality!

Author: Philip Porter

712 pages