Finding a complete E Type 3.8 Engine

[Randompunter74]

Hi all.
Any thoughts on where to source a complete (Engine, Clutch, Gearbox, Carbs, Drivetrain) 3.8 Litre engine?

I have already contacted Rob Beere Racing and Classic Car Engines.co.uk re engines. I am yet to speak in person to Rob but did speak to classiccarengines. Nice chap, but he only sells part of the engine. I need the who shabang so to speak, end to end. Any thoughts or suggestions greatly appreciated. Am aware of what it will cost but I would rather just buy the whole damn thing and just drop it in ready to go

Cheers.

[cptsideways]

Just be very wary of where such an item may come from, ask for ID & previous owner history.


This is exactly why classics get nicked

[piquet]

why do you need it for?

i have a spare 3.8 e-type engine and it's carbs and manifold as a spare for mine, but they'd need rebuilding ( the engine is disassembled ready). I picked them up so if the worst ever happened i'd have an option. If it's going to put the correct engine into a 3.8 e-type then i could help, if you want it for a kit car you'd be better off with 3.8 from a mark X. If you're building a lightweight replica you may be better off getting a whole lightweight engine built for you

[a8hex]

piquet said:

why do you need it for?

i have a spare 3.8 e-type engine and it's carbs and manifold as a spare for mine, but they'd need rebuilding ( the engine is disassembled ready). I picked them up so if the worst ever happened i'd have an option. If it's going to put the correct engine into a 3.8 e-type then i could help, if you want it for a kit car you'd be better off with 3.8 from a mark X. If you're building a lightweight replica you may be better off getting a whole lightweight engine built for you

Why a 3.8 and not a 4.2?
If you want to go racing then a 3.8 might be nice but for most road use the 4.2's torque is useful. 4.2 engines aren't hard to find, there are still brand new heads kicking around especially if you don't mind them being painted green.

3.8s can come from MkX or S Types more cheaply, you'll just need to source the swan necked manifold. Depending on what you want to use it for you might need a different sump too, the same source of green painted heads also makes available sump that don't have the side extensions of the saloon sumps, these 'tank' sumps are better baffled than the original car ones and also more rigid.

eBay item 121755137616 is a 3.8 XK engine, so you'd need the right head, but a genuine XK150 head would be worth selling on, same for the OD gear box.
Also look at item 261859777923.
201436760319 if you want someone to have done a chunk of the work for you.

Back when I used to look out for such things XK engines turned up all the time on eBay.

[Randompunter74]

piquet said:

why do you need it for?

i have a spare 3.8 e-type engine and it's carbs and manifold as a spare for mine, but they'd need rebuilding ( the engine is disassembled ready). I picked them up so if the worst ever happened i'd have an option. If it's going to put the correct engine into a 3.8 e-type then i could help, if you want it for a kit car you'd be better off with 3.8 from a mark X. If you're building a lightweight replica you may be better off getting a whole lightweight engine built for you

I recently purchased a 1963 S1 E Type. The body was restored some 20 years ago and its clean and straight. It used to be in the USA and was used for weekend racing. Upgraded Coil Over suspension, Minilites with spinners (Which look nice actually), Upgraded cooling etc. Ha a roll cage in, however to look at, aside the wheels she looks standard with original body and brightwork.

The clanger is that it currently has a Chevy V8 in it...however that was factored into the price when I bought it of course. As the body is really clean and looks good with original interior etc, all it really needs is a decent lump in there. After speaking to a lot of enthusiasts as to performance and driving types, and of course bearing in mind it has a 3.8 originally, I want to get a 3.8 for it. THe matching numbers isnt an issue for me, what matters to me is that the engine is correct for the model, thats all that needed really, numbers really dont matter for much as I am not selling it, I am driving it.

The above said, I do like a little power and modern upgrades, such as better cooling, starter motor and a little tuning. Perhaps a Tremec box, most seem to think that is the way to go. If I can get from 200 plus up to late 200's or 300 plus then all good, as long as the engine life isnt too compromised. I plan to drive it a few times a week here in the UAE and then eventually take it to Australia and will be part of the fleet for a Classic Car Rental business.

I want to drop an engine in, so ideally I want a lump set up professionally and ideally complete, so carbs, engine, manifolds and ideally gearbox/clutch and if possible cooling. The whole kit really. Not only becaise it will make it easier for me to install. but also because I want it all to work perfectly and be in tune so to speak. I dont live in the uK, so I dont have the luxury of popping down the road to matey boy to get some other parts which I need. Every time I need a part I have to order and wait a week for it to get here...hence my situation. I dont mind paying money for one which is ready to go.

Thats why this little baby appealed to me: http://www.rob-beere-racing.co.uk/clearance.html

However its sold now. I saw the Ebay one, thanks for that. Its on my list, but I was hoping for a box and a few more ancillaries for 15 large. I know that 3.8 lumps arent cheap. I am also willing to drop the right money for the right lump, it just needs to be ready to go really.

[a8hex]

If you want something complete then you could try C&G (http://www.crosthwaiteandgardiner.com/).
There are a number of well regarded builders of XK engines, you could try asking around to see if anyone has something available, but only C&G make them from scratch, I think. Sigma Engineering (Peter Lander) don't seem to have a web presents that I can see, but a lot of XK racers run his engines, CKL developments (http://ckldevelopments.co.uk/), Winspeed (http://www.winspeedmotorsport.com/), Les Trafford (http://www.traffordengines.co.uk/), CMC (http://www.classic-motor-cars.co.uk/).

[Randompunter74]

a8hex said:

If you want something complete then you could try C&G (http://www.crosthwaiteandgardiner.com/).
There are a number of well regarded builders of XK engines, you could try asking around to see if anyone has something available, but only C&G make them from scratch, I think. Sigma Engineering (Peter Lander) don't seem to have a web presents that I can see, but a lot of XK racers run his engines, CKL developments (http://ckldevelopments.co.uk/), Winspeed (http://www.winspeedmotorsport.com/), Les Trafford (http://www.traffordengines.co.uk/), CMC (http://www.classic-motor-cars.co.uk/).

Mate, thats excellent. Just what I need. I was in touhc with CKL and Winspeed, but hadnt heard of the others. Just had a look round their sites and I am sure they could sort one. I like the sound of the Trafford engines, fast road model.

Got lots of good leads to work on there and am sure I will get a good lump. Cheers.

[a8hex]

Randompunter74 said:

a8hex said:

If you want something complete then you could try C&G (http://www.crosthwaiteandgardiner.com/).
There are a number of well regarded builders of XK engines, you could try asking around to see if anyone has something available, but only C&G make them from scratch, I think. Sigma Engineering (Peter Lander) don't seem to have a web presents that I can see, but a lot of XK racers run his engines, CKL developments (http://ckldevelopments.co.uk/), Winspeed (http://www.winspeedmotorsport.com/), Les Trafford (http://www.traffordengines.co.uk/), CMC (http://www.classic-motor-cars.co.uk/).

Mate, thats excellent. Just what I need. I was in touhc with CKL and Winspeed, but hadnt heard of the others. Just had a look round their sites and I am sure they could sort one. I like the sound of the Trafford engines, fast road model.

Got lots of good leads to work on there and am sure I will get a good lump. Cheers.

I've not spoken to Les Trafford for quite a few years but he sounded very helpful when I did talk to him about a rebuild.
You might want to take a look at
http://www.classic-motor-cars.co.uk/servicing_type...
I know it's a 4.2 but most people wouldn't know the difference and you'll get more torque. The main visual difference is in the inlet manifold which has extra water channels. These can be closed up and a 3.8 style E-Type manifold fitted if you want it to look closer to all but us anoraks. All of these people can talk to you about the options.

Chris Window of Winspeed has looked after my XK150 since before setting up Winspeed.

Edited by a8hex on Sunday 4th October 22:15

[Randompunter74]

I hear that Tester Engineering are quite good.

Any thoughts? They have offered me a nice 3.8 with nice bit of tuning etc. Aint cheap but the chap has been around a while and lots of the racers seem to use him.

What are we thinking? Am almost there. Really appreciate all the thoughts and comments.

Edited by Randompunter74 on Monday 5th October 12:13

[Randompunter74]

So in the end I went for a 3.8 Litre from Tester Engineering. It was the one on eBay and was 320bhp with a set of evil looking Webers. He is going to fit a different cam and make it 300bhp for road use. The engine was the nuts, with just about everything new inside, For sale a full race 3.8 Jaguar Xk motor
New liners +40, Line honed block, Crack tested heat treated and straightened balanced crank, Competition damper, steel rods, Forged race pistons 11.5-1, Total seal rings, ACL race bearings, 1 7/8" race valves, race cam followers
race cams, Hi flow oil pump, Oil cooler take off filter housing, Cometic gaskets throughout
, Lip seal crank conversion, 45 Dcoe carbs, dual point ignition.

I also went for the 4.2, 4 speed Fully synchro Gearbox which all the racers use. I wanted to stay with the 4 speed and apparently it's the one they all use for Racing and is bullet proof. He also sorted clutch, pipes, cooling, rads, you name it, the full monthy so to speak.

Really nice chap and knows his stuff, he is doing end to end, which is what I need you know. I can just drop the whole thing in and turn the key. GET IN!

Thanks a lot for your help lads. Will post pikkies when it's done. Here is the engine before everything is added.




Produces 326.5 BHP at 6000rpm and 305 lb-ft Torque at 4400rpm

[Randompunter74]

And it's going in this!

[a8hex]

Randompunter74 said:

Will post pikkies when it's done.

Sounds good, I bet she'll fly.
Oh and on the subject of sounding good, we want to hear the sound track when she's sorted and running

[Randompunter74]

a8hex said:

Sounds good, I bet she'll fly.
Oh and on the subject of sounding good, we want to hear the sound track when she's sorted and running

Sure, will do. Will post a vid when she is up and running. Should be in a couple of months by the time the engine gets over here from the UK. Cheers.

[rswift]

That looks like a great project, I notice that you are in thn UAE.....if that's where you are using the car, may I suggest you check out the upgraded coo.ong options S1 was notoriously bad, and one of the a/c options.....gets warm in a FHC E-Type, and ventilation is quite poor.

I'm not expert, but I have an S2.....and an envious eye on this Webers !

[Randompunter74]

Yes mate, with you on that.

I have upgraded cooling, the whole lot. He is taking care of it end to end.. Including cooling for engine and cooling for me/AC .