Identification help please - 4-cyl DOHC head - Jaguar?
Discussion
There recently was what purported to be a Jaguar 4-cylinder XK head on eBay . I must confess, I couldn't pass it up and went ahead and bought it. It also came with a sump and were both dug up from "Stickleys" many years ago (or so the vendor claimed).
I am still trying to positively identify it and have posted these details on a Jaguar-specific forum but wanted to cast my net a little further. It is likely to be a Jaguar and perhaps a pre-production prototype (either SS, XK100 or a racing project). Anyone got any ideas? Does it look similar to any other heads you know of? The weird thing about it (if it is a Jaguar head) is the means of cam drive? Anyone know of a similar head with external cam drive?
Any ideas of what the round boss between the valve guides could be
(there is one one the other side as well)
The sump. The PO was going to use this as a plant-pot
I am still trying to positively identify it and have posted these details on a Jaguar-specific forum but wanted to cast my net a little further. It is likely to be a Jaguar and perhaps a pre-production prototype (either SS, XK100 or a racing project). Anyone got any ideas? Does it look similar to any other heads you know of? The weird thing about it (if it is a Jaguar head) is the means of cam drive? Anyone know of a similar head with external cam drive?
Any ideas of what the round boss between the valve guides could be
(there is one one the other side as well)The sump. The PO was going to use this as a plant-pot
Edited by XJ13 on Sunday 27th January 13:55
lowdrag said:
Damned if I can find the photos I have of the 4-cylinder XK motor I took at Walter Hill's for the moment, but from memory the cam drive wasn't external, but don't quote me on this. Perhaps a prototype 4-cylinder XK engine?
Thanks but there are quite a few pictures of the XK 4-cyl "production" head - Walter Hill's was one of these. This "final" engine didn't have external drive but was enclosed as the following picture shows. I know it isn't one of the 50 or so 4-cyl "XK" engines initially produced (or manufactured as parts at least) of which five or six survive, hence the question. The engine I have is different.
Edited by XJ13 on Sunday 27th January 16:32
No it's not an MGA Twin Cam head. What's interesting though is that it appears as if the cam shafts would pass through the head at both ends. One end to the cam drive gear, obviously, but the only think I can think of at the other end would be distributor drives and that would suggest twin distributors yet it doesn't have twin plugs
the head hasnt been cut in half and welded up has it?
gordon allen had two alloy blocks cast up and used chopped and rewelded jag heads to create his 'twini-mini' in 1965. the photo i have of it shows the normal jag covered chain driven cams, but it may be that this head is aother version?
intersting find, whatever it is!
gordon allen had two alloy blocks cast up and used chopped and rewelded jag heads to create his 'twini-mini' in 1965. the photo i have of it shows the normal jag covered chain driven cams, but it may be that this head is aother version?
intersting find, whatever it is!
RichB said:
What is the port configuration on the other side? Unless I'm confused I think I can only see the side with 4 x ports and 2 x what I assume are waterways?
It looks like a non- cross flow head, as in 2 inlet and 4 exhaust ports on one side, like the Standard 10 engines. Were Jaguar looking at a twin- cam head conversion for a standard 4 pot engine in there early cars, similar to lotus with the Ford engines much later on? Any link to BMW engines after the war 
RichB said:
What is the port configuration on the other side? Unless I'm confused I think I can only see the side with 4 x ports and 2 x what I assume are waterways?
It is a crossflow head, the middle rectangular ports are for water flow or core plugs for when it was cast. A shot of the other side would be useful though. And a better shot of the combustion chambers.Here are pictures of the combustion chambers and the exhaust side (inlet one side, exhaust the other).
It now seems it is likely to be Jaguar (based on the casting marks and stampings) but is unlike anything seen before - looking more and more like a 4-cyl "XK" prototype. But which one? "XF", "XJ"? Alternatively, it could be connected with a military V8 but not the well-known photo above which started out as a V12 but was skilfully photoshopped to look like a V8?
It now seems it is likely to be Jaguar (based on the casting marks and stampings) but is unlike anything seen before - looking more and more like a 4-cyl "XK" prototype. But which one? "XF", "XJ"? Alternatively, it could be connected with a military V8 but not the well-known photo above which started out as a V12 but was skilfully photoshopped to look like a V8?
Edited by XJ13 on Monday 28th January 08:07
Edited by XJ13 on Monday 28th January 08:08
If it where one of the earlier iteration protypes such as XF or XJ you'd wonder why the head is stamped XK424 and the sump with XK88 (I think, the second digit isn't clear).
There is a photo of XF in Anders Clausager's XK120 in detail. It seems to show integral cam shaft drives, its also only 1360cc so you'd think it was too small.
XG doesn't have the the humps for the cam drives but then its has push rods.
There is a photo of XF in Anders Clausager's XK120 in detail. It seems to show integral cam shaft drives, its also only 1360cc so you'd think it was too small.
XG doesn't have the the humps for the cam drives but then its has push rods.
mph said:
Didn't someone (MG?) use a prototype XK four cylinder engine for a successful world speed record attempt ? Does the car still exist ? If not I can see your next project developing !
You may be getting confused with the XPAG MG engines or perhaps because all MG record attempts were EX projects (experimental) EX181, EX135 etc. I've never heard of MG using Jaguar engines for their record breaking attempts although you are on the right track in that EX181 used MG's 1500cc Twin Cam engine (which was mentioned earlier). RichB said:
ou may be getting confused with the XPAG MG engines or perhaps because all MG record attempts were EX projects (experimental) EX181, EX135 etc. I've never heard of MG using Jaguar engines for their record breaking attempts although you are on the right track in that EX181 used MG's 1500cc Twin Cam engine (which was mentioned earlier).
I'm almost certain the four cylinder jaguar engine was used in a record attempt by Goldie Gardner.Edited by mph on Monday 28th January 13:20
a8hex said:
If it where one of the earlier iteration protypes such as XF or XJ you'd wonder why the head is stamped XK424 and the sump with XK88 (I think, the second digit isn't clear).
There is a photo of XF in Anders Clausager's XK120 in detail. It seems to show integral cam shaft drives, its also only 1360cc so you'd think it was too small.
XG doesn't have the the humps for the cam drives but then its has push rods.
Thanks for your comments. There is no reason to believe the sump and head go together.There is a photo of XF in Anders Clausager's XK120 in detail. It seems to show integral cam shaft drives, its also only 1360cc so you'd think it was too small.
XG doesn't have the the humps for the cam drives but then its has push rods.
As far as I know, only the "XF" and "XJ" were OHC versions which is why I was investigating the possibility it is one of them. Do you or anyone else have a picture of the "XJ" 4-cylinder? I believe it was a "XJ" that was loaned to Goldie Gardner for his record attempt in 1948. I am still looking for a picture of the MG EX-135 with its Jaguar engine in place - no luck so far. I must admit I know even less about MG than I do about Jaguar! I do know that EX-135 has survived and is displayed at Gaydon. It started off life in the 30s as the MG "Humbug" built on a K3 chassis before it had streamlined bodywork fitted for later record attempts. Hmmmm ... I do think there is a second project somewhere amongst this lot
I also understand (but haven't been able to confirm this) it was supercharged which would explain the external cam drive similar to that fitted to a XK120 in period (a separate housing incorporating cam drive and supercharger). But all this may be just wishful thinking and it may turn out it was fitted to some sort of tank!
The bosses aren't drilled at all. There is a water passageway directly below them.
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff