XK140 1955 radiator question?
Discussion
Not put in Home Mechanics section as aimed at the Jaguar enthusiast who may know the answer.
Radiator on my XK140 has been long overdue a refurb so I have taken it off today. A couple of things have left me scratching my head.
The radiator has a full aluminium cowling in two pieces(upper and lower)that sits between the radiator and the engine block wrapping the fan. The two halves bolt together and are in turn mounted to the radiator on brackets.
1) Are these the original fitting as the radiator seems original. Iask as researching just shows SNG sell a lower cowl but no upper part. All the cars I can find on an image search appear to have no upper cowl. I can imagine they don’t get replaced as they are a ##### to take off.
2)The rad filler neck has a length of thin copper pipe that is about 2 feet long (overflow/expansion) exiting it and down into an old pop bottle that is crudely mounted onto the inner wing within a cage made of thin wire ( I know). The bottle had a valve in its lid and this appears to have served as an expansion tank. My questions are:-
Can anyone confirm XK140’s didn’t have expansion bottles or tanks?
If not should I get the radiator restoration guy tomorrow to blank it off.
I am also considering having the new core with more fins hence improved cooling within the original radiator as the engine seems to have been tuned.
Thoughts?
Thanks everyone.
Radiator on my XK140 has been long overdue a refurb so I have taken it off today. A couple of things have left me scratching my head.
The radiator has a full aluminium cowling in two pieces(upper and lower)that sits between the radiator and the engine block wrapping the fan. The two halves bolt together and are in turn mounted to the radiator on brackets.
1) Are these the original fitting as the radiator seems original. Iask as researching just shows SNG sell a lower cowl but no upper part. All the cars I can find on an image search appear to have no upper cowl. I can imagine they don’t get replaced as they are a ##### to take off.
2)The rad filler neck has a length of thin copper pipe that is about 2 feet long (overflow/expansion) exiting it and down into an old pop bottle that is crudely mounted onto the inner wing within a cage made of thin wire ( I know). The bottle had a valve in its lid and this appears to have served as an expansion tank. My questions are:-
Can anyone confirm XK140’s didn’t have expansion bottles or tanks?
If not should I get the radiator restoration guy tomorrow to blank it off.
I am also considering having the new core with more fins hence improved cooling within the original radiator as the engine seems to have been tuned.
Thoughts?
Thanks everyone.
Do you have a copy of Philip Porters the original jaguar xk?
It should have the answers to your questions.
I'll try and dig out the info tomorrow.
You could also try asking in the xk forum of Jag-lovers.
Originally the XKs didn't have expansion tanks. That copper pipe you mention would have just dripped the water onto the road.
Ps
You want the third edition of the book, it has a lot more detail
It should have the answers to your questions.
I'll try and dig out the info tomorrow.
You could also try asking in the xk forum of Jag-lovers.
Originally the XKs didn't have expansion tanks. That copper pipe you mention would have just dripped the water onto the road.
Ps
You want the third edition of the book, it has a lot more detail
Edited by a8hex on Monday 17th June 23:57
I've not checked the SNG site, but a quick glance at the Guy Broad one shows
http://www.guybroad.co.uk/download_catalogues/pdf/...
If you find figure 10 which is page 18 in the PDF file, this is slightly modified version of the original parts lists and it only shows a lower cowl, part C7651.
http://www.guybroad.co.uk/download_catalogues/pdf/...
If you find figure 10 which is page 18 in the PDF file, this is slightly modified version of the original parts lists and it only shows a lower cowl, part C7651.
Thanks for the replies spent all last night looking for our Viart book purchased 3 years ago for an eye watering £125.00 as this is something of a bible of accuracy. Went on Bay to see if another copy available........one at £895.00!!!!!!
Took rad to Gloucester Radiator Services today and very knowledgable owner immediately recognised what it was. Said long brass drip/overflow pipe was an original fitment which should be soldered to side of radiator which he will now do. Convinced me to keep new core standard as well. He said a new radiator even standard will be much more efficient than the pig it had become. My words not his.
The cowl is still an interesting one because it seems so well constructed.
Took rad to Gloucester Radiator Services today and very knowledgable owner immediately recognised what it was. Said long brass drip/overflow pipe was an original fitment which should be soldered to side of radiator which he will now do. Convinced me to keep new core standard as well. He said a new radiator even standard will be much more efficient than the pig it had become. My words not his.
The cowl is still an interesting one because it seems so well constructed.
Mikebentley said:
Thanks for the replies spent all last night looking for our Viart book purchased 3 years ago for an eye watering £125.00 as this is something of a bible of accuracy. Went on Bay to see if another copy available........one at £895.00!!!!!!
Took rad to Gloucester Radiator Services today and very knowledgable owner immediately recognised what it was. Said long brass drip/overflow pipe was an original fitment which should be soldered to side of radiator which he will now do. Convinced me to keep new core standard as well. He said a new radiator even standard will be much more efficient than the pig it had become. My words not his.
The cowl is still an interesting one because it seems so well constructed.
I think I've seen radiators fully cowled on XKs before, they're 60+ years old now, so plenty of time for people to do all sorts of things to them over the years.Took rad to Gloucester Radiator Services today and very knowledgable owner immediately recognised what it was. Said long brass drip/overflow pipe was an original fitment which should be soldered to side of radiator which he will now do. Convinced me to keep new core standard as well. He said a new radiator even standard will be much more efficient than the pig it had become. My words not his.
The cowl is still an interesting one because it seems so well constructed.
The standard radiator on my 150 coped with a tuned 4.2 engine OK, although I also had an oil cooler.
I can't remember whether I have the Bernard Viart books (for the 150), my library is in the back in the house, but the covers look familiar. I guess most of them are out of print currently. If you think the eBay price is scary Amazon market have the xk140 one for £1499. I'm sure it will be incredibly detailed.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/fWLI0fM2.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/B4KswEBB" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/B4KswEBB.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/6DaiUPLA" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/6DaiUPLA.jpg)
Wow, those are much better drawing than the ones from the Jaguar parts manual!
The part shroud is only draw side on which doesn't show much, but this is just for the lower part of the fan
http://www.xk140.nl/wordpress/?cat=19&paged=5 has a good picture.
From the parts manual
The part shroud is only draw side on which doesn't show much, but this is just for the lower part of the fan
http://www.xk140.nl/wordpress/?cat=19&paged=5 has a good picture.
From the parts manual
The expansion tank was done for a purpose and many Jaguar owners have done it, and not just XKs but earlier models too and E-types etc. Also if you are recoring have it done in alloy and don't forget to get a 9 lb cap to help too. As regards a new fan there are plenty out there which are very efficient. On my E-type I have a Coolcat but I don't think they do them for XKs.
This should find you all you need to keep your cat cool:-
https://www.angloparts.com/en/catalogues/group/489...
And it is always worthwhile giving these people a call:-
https://coventryautocomponents.co.uk/store/index.p...
https://www.angloparts.com/en/catalogues/group/489...
And it is always worthwhile giving these people a call:-
https://coventryautocomponents.co.uk/store/index.p...
Found a couple of photos in Paul Skilleter's XK book. There's a 150 that seems to have a cowl fitting closely over the top of the fan, a 140 with a clear view of the top of the fan and others with what appears to be a cover on the top of the radiator and fan.
What do you want to do with the car, use and enjoy or show and concours? For the former, make the system efficient, which means have a cowl that ensures air flows through the rad rather than circulating around the fan. A good electric fan (with suitable electric supply: cable, fuse, alternator) and a suitable cowl will be more effective in low speed traffic
What do you want to do with the car, use and enjoy or show and concours? For the former, make the system efficient, which means have a cowl that ensures air flows through the rad rather than circulating around the fan. A good electric fan (with suitable electric supply: cable, fuse, alternator) and a suitable cowl will be more effective in low speed traffic
Thanks for all the replies.
It is a very honest and lived in old car. A little history suggesting it was used as a clubmans race/ rally car in the sixties possibly seventies. Not one for the concours lawn. It has lots of period touches, ignition cut off toggle discretely placed and several period upgrades. For anyone interested search MVJ915 and it should lead you to Pendine from where we purchased it.
I am embracing all the period improvements and where possible keeping the originality. I know that sounds like a contradiction but I like old stuff. My Vitesse is extremely original and whilst everyone says it would be nicer with OD I wouldn’t dream of changing it. I will see how it performs when fitted next week and decide after that if modifications are needed
It is a very honest and lived in old car. A little history suggesting it was used as a clubmans race/ rally car in the sixties possibly seventies. Not one for the concours lawn. It has lots of period touches, ignition cut off toggle discretely placed and several period upgrades. For anyone interested search MVJ915 and it should lead you to Pendine from where we purchased it.
I am embracing all the period improvements and where possible keeping the originality. I know that sounds like a contradiction but I like old stuff. My Vitesse is extremely original and whilst everyone says it would be nicer with OD I wouldn’t dream of changing it. I will see how it performs when fitted next week and decide after that if modifications are needed
That's very nice. Like the colour combination .When I rebuilt my basket case XK 140 back in 2010 it had lots of parts missing and I never got round to fitting any radiator cowling, although I did manage to find a NOS radiator which I fitted and under normal driving conditions I don`t have any problems with temperature.
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