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i had found an experienced jaguar-man, in Illinois that, when contacted, gave me a quote for an engine rebuild with a reasonable lead time. when i subsequently contacted him a month later, intending to have him do the work, he responded from his hospital bed and informed me that he was retiring...
the only jag outfit that i know of with a young and virile (and so, will probably be around for a while) owner/mechanic is in San Rafael, Ca., at Ed Wright's British Auto Repair. he'll answer the phone and talk, but appointments, as of half a year ago, were only available months in the future!
I found a shop up the coast that can do the work in a few weeks. Talked to the owner who was very knowledgeable about the engine and currently does work for a Jag restoration shop. Good excuse for a road trip up to Wine Country!
I am very fortunate to have a local machine shop/engine rebuilder who is very familiar with Jaguar engines. He is a second-generation engine builder.
However, as he has explained his main business is in the common and everyday engines for the automotive trade and that takes priority over private work.
Consequently, he will "take on" a Jaguar engine rebuild however it will take some time as it will only be done in lulls in the main trade business.
It took 12 months for a MK1 3.4 complete engine rebuild for an acquaintance.
Just prior to the covid epidemic they did a rebuild for me of an early small valve MK1 2.4 head which also needed some serious welding and new valve guides etc.
It took 3 months and even then, I had to do the valve tappets as their "expert" had retired and moved away.
I am very fortunate to have a local machine shop/engine rebuilder who is very familiar with Jaguar engines. He is a second-generation engine builder.
However, as he has explained his main business is in the common and everyday engines for the automotive trade and that takes priority over private work.
Consequently, he will "take on" a Jaguar engine rebuild however it will take some time as it will only be done in lulls in the main trade business.
It took 12 months for a MK1 3.4 complete engine rebuild for an acquaintance.
Just prior to the covid epidemic they did a rebuild for me of an early small valve MK1 2.4 head which also needed some serious welding and new valve guides etc.
It took 3 months and even then, I had to do the valve tappets as their "expert" had retired and moved away.
You have to have patience!
Cheers
Don't understand this Bill. What is the difference between Automotive trade and Private business. Does he charge less for the Private business? Is the Private business done after normal work hours? If he is charging you the same hourly rate to work on your engine as any other engine why differentiate between Automotive and private business? If work comes in it should be put in line so if your engine is the fifth he has in this week then it is the fifth engine he works on. The money he is being paid is the same. The work on the engine is the same. He is going to allocate a slot for the work on your engine but in three months time so at some point it is going to be done and in front of some Automotive trade work so I don't understand his thinking.
Cass
Perhaps I should have made "automotive trade" a bit clearer. The majority of his work comes from the heavy vehicle sector (trucks) and not typical saloons.
That is his main "bread and butter" and trucks off the road equals lost money for the owners. So there is a fair bit of pressure to maintain short turnarounds.
If he charged his normal mainstream hourly rate, then the cost of a Jag overhaul would be mind blowing. Hence "lulls" with reduced pressure and cheaper rates.
That MK1 cylinder head I had done cost me A$500 or approximately 250 English pounds and included new valves and valve guides as well as the welding and refacing etc. (and the camshafts turned ok because of the care taken in the welding)
For that price I was prepared to wait.
Cheers
Cass
Perhaps I should have made "automotive trade" a bit clearer. The majority of his work comes from the heavy vehicle sector (trucks) and not typical saloons.
That is his main "bread and butter" and trucks off the road equals lost money for the owners. So there is a fair bit of pressure to maintain short turnarounds.
If he charged his normal mainstream hourly rate, then the cost of a Jag overhaul would be mind blowing. Hence "lulls" with reduced pressure and cheaper rates.
That MK1 cylinder head I had done cost me A$500 or approximately 250 English pounds and included new valves and valve guides as well as the welding and refacing etc. (and the camshafts turned ok because of the care taken in the welding)
For that price I was prepared to wait.
Cheers
Lets just hope he is not busy with truck engines like forever, but I understand what you mean now.
Ease up Glyn. Remarks like your latest post are not helping this forum.
The engine is apparently going back together with all of the important things done.
Felix is obviously happy with what is happening to his engine.
The shade of colour that the head is finished in doesn't really matter.
You are known as a stickler for perfection however nit picking like this is not winning you any friends,
Glyn, I did use Barratt's paint. The color you see is accurate to what I sprayed. No color shift in transferring the picture from my camera to what you see here. Maybe they got the color correct now?
Ease up Glyn. Remarks like your latest post are not helping this forum.
The engine is apparently going back together with all of the important things done.
Felix is obviously happy with what is happening to his engine.
The shade of colour that the head is finished in doesn't really matter.
You are known as a stickler for perfection however nit picking like this is not winning you any friends,
I complemented him Bill
"It is nice to see a Jaguar head painted properly & as the factory did."
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Feb 29, 2024 at 09:27 PM.
Glyn, I did use Barratt's paint. The color you see is accurate to what I sprayed. No color shift in transferring the picture from my camera to what you see here. Maybe they got the color correct now?
Ah good then they have fixed it. I pointed out to Mr Barrett that their colour was wrong. He has a picture of my car on his office wall. We get along extremely well. He personally found me many NOS parts and allocated Thomas Rochelle to me for my whole job. I ordered all my parts direct by e mail to Thomas who has now deservedly moved up the line.
On a business trip to the UK I visited all the suppliers I was going to use such as Barratts. That personal contact makes all the difference. e.g. David Manners is a charming man as is Jon (for Jonathan) Skinner. The company is named after his Dad John.
I used to fly via the UK at least monthly in the execution of my global job.
Mr Barratt even got his Webmaster to phone me the other day. Their website is a mess. It used to follow the Parts Manual with all the mounting paraphernalia required to mount the part you ordered ~ nuts, bolts, washers. antishake washers, Simmonds nuts, etc. as does the Parts Manual ~ expect a change in the future.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Mar 1, 2024 at 12:18 AM.
Bill Mac ~ see post No 36 ~ The front of the head is not supposed to be painted much less the wrong colour. It stops at the chain-case at the top of the valley. I complimented Felix for getting it right and Barratts have fixed their colour. The "Technically Certified" gent that supported you could never work for me. I strive for excellence which is highly appreciated by customers.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Mar 1, 2024 at 12:16 AM.
