I recently had my gear box overhauled. On removal of the engine we found that the Bell Housing had serious problems, it was cracked in the area of the clutch.
I located a used bell housing that, I was assured, came off an e type. It looked identical and trial fitted perfectly.
one noted difference was that it does not have the counter bores for the spigot plate dowels.
The starter makes an awful noise while trying to engage. The starter was removed and sent out for service, replaced with the spigot plate installed, it would not engage the flywheel ring, with the plate removed it seemed to be engaging but not fully and seemed to kick out of the flywheel ring.
The next step is to remove the engine and gear box and investigate the issue.
before I do that does anybody have any suggestions.
The starter worked fine on the old Bell housing, a little noisy but no worst than by MGB.
Confused in Canada.

 

Hi Terry S Martin,
Sorry but I can't un-confuse you. I feel for you. Removing the engine is PITA. I sincerely hope that some one will offer a solution that does not require the removal of the engine.
Good luck.
Bill.

 

I assume that you are using an original Lucas starter. Before pulling the engine take another look at the original bell housing starter area. Is there anything different between the 2? Is the starter location the same? Hopefully it's not a 3.8L housing that has been modified for the all synchro Jaguar trans.

Have the starter installed as it originally was with the original bell housing. Then loosen the starter bolts a little bit (loosen the bolts a half to a full turn or so) and try the starter. Doest it make a difference? The starter may positions it self to a place that it will work fine. if it does tighten the blots and try again.

Hope this works

 

It turns out that the replacement bellhousing was from a 3.8.
they look identical, at first glance.
They are however different. They can be reworked, Steve Barret had a few that had been machined to fit.
He persuaded me to buy an original 4.2 Bellhousing that he also had.
Looks good but I decided to buy a new starter and replace the ring gear after re pulling the engine and gearbox.
I will get back to you after re installation.

 

Hi Terry,
I think replacing the starter and the ring gear at this point is a smart move since the engine is out. I have one of the newer high torque starters on my 67 and it is great. I highly recommend going with one of those. I am installing one in my 68 as well.
Good luck and let us know how it all turns out.
Bill.

 

Replacing the ring gear became a problem due to sizing issues. May be a non standard ring gear was installed by turning down the original flywheel.
The shop that was going to due the work, installing the ring gear, was a little expensive with a doubtful outcome.
I finally went with a new alloy flywheel, no preference on the type, just availability.
Terry Martin