Hi Folks,
Just got this car (on trade), fairly solid, all chrome, glass and trim excellent, 2 engines (one rebuilt), 2 tranny's (both overdrives), lots of spare parts (many new). Has been apart for 10 years, I'm going to start putting it back together as a driver. Someone know the battery that this car should have? My auto parts guy thinks a 27-750 but that seems kinda big...
If anyone wants this project now, $12,000 Canadian would buy it all.
Thanks,
Seann

 

So how come in Canada it has a UK registration plate for 1967 ? This is the same year as the Mark 2 I had in the 80s. Presumably imported by somebody who hadn't got much to do. A Mark 2 will always keep one out of mischief !!

 

very nice find! Post more pictures!

just try to find a Interstate-brand battery, these cars like a lot of electrical juice. Interstate are about the best batteries you can get nowadays unless you go for the ultra-expensive Yellow Top antique car batteries.

 

Don't want to disagree with you Jose about Interstate batteries, but every Interstate battery I ever had always leaked acid around the terminals _ even from new.

 

that's weird Jeff, those batteries are highly regarded, I have them in my 3 vehicles and none of them show any leakage.

what battery do you use?

 

Car was brought over early '70's, can't explain original plate, anyone have a North American # for a battery? No tray or hold down with this, want to get one that fits for when I find those parts...
Thanks,
Seann

 

Seann

Is the car manual or auto? If it has an automatic transmission I am curious as to which transmission it has. BW35 or DG250.

If it has the "intermediate speed hold" switch on the dash then it is a DG250 car.

Thanks

Bob

 

4 speed, came with 2 overdrive tranny's (one rebuilt, + original #'s matching box)

 

Maybe things have changed, the first one I bought new was for a TR7, when I removed the protective plastic cups on the terminals, they were wet with acid.
Years later I bought one for my Bentley and a year later when I looked at the battery as an inspection routine, there was dried acid all over the terminals.
Not that long ago I was yacking to the guy behind the counter at my local auto store and he said that Interstate batteries were known to leak.
Maybe in Canada they are manufactured in a different plant _ possibly to a lower standard...


I think the one in the Jag was a "Die Hard" and after 8 years of sitting it finally packed it in, but no acid.
In my truck I have an old Ford Motorcraft that's 14 years old and it's just now leaking acid.


I also have a spare pair of UAP Napa's that are 7 years old that are still fine, they don't leak acid either.


The Ford battery is out of a delivery truck that cranked a 7.2 litre diesel, so even being 14 years old it still has plenty of juice left to crank the small 2.2 litre engine in my little Mazda truck.

 

Sears Diehards in the USA went downhill in the 1990's and then Interstate took over.

I think any brand battery is good when new, the difference is how they last. Walmart sells overpriced batteries made in China, when they die, they die.

so I guess it doesn't matter anymore, everything is made in China nowadays.

 

My 1966 Mk 2 3.8 has a group 27C battery, 1000 cranking amps. Perfect fit for both the tray and the batter cover.

 

Hi Seann1212,

Congratulations your acquisition of a much overlooked version of the Mk2.
I've had mine for over 10 years and would want any other Mk2 variant.

In regards to battery power, I have always had a 600 crank amp 'old school' hard rubber casing battery in mine which has never been an issue.

Melbourne, Australia isn't the coldest of places, so we rarely have to deal with bitterly cold starts though??!

I also have a later 85 Series 3 with the bigger (4.2l) but same family engine.
Even with more ancillary systems - aircon, more electrical systems, I have a 650 crank amp battery fitted, and touch wood (dash!) it has been more than adequate for starting and running purposes

I hope this helps

Cheers,

Nigel

 

I suppose the one to have would be the 380, of which very few were made, supposedly less than 500.

fair to say that these MK2 variants were "cheapened" with vinyl upholstery, so they say, however, vinyl lasts longer than leather, so I wonder if "cheapened" is the right conclusion.

the battery tray, cover, and holdown parts are available at SNG Barrat USA store.

SNG Barratt - The Ultimate Jaguar Parts Specialist

 

I don't think it was even 500, it was a case of using up left over 3.8 litre engines.

Considering that my kids came after the 340, having hard wearing Ambla means the interior still looks good. Don't know if I could say that if it was leather that was getting a belting from kids shoes, food and fitted child car seats.

Being 3.4 litre, which is the capacity which the xk was designed around, it is a very sweet engine and the later (e type) ribbed cam heads mean this engine breathes better than the 3.8 and is almost as powerful to boot