Am I correct that the numbers on the engine do not tie to the serial number on the car?
is there someplace that I can go to decode the serial number on the chassis and engine?
Thank you in advance

 

There should be a plate on the left inner wing or sometimes on the bulkhead with chassis, engine, and gearbox numbers. The engine number is on the right side of the block and on the cylinder head on the valley side of the cam drive case. Of course, all this is assuming everything is original.

The Jaguar Heritage document in the link gives some info on chassis number runs and engine no's.

https://www.jaguarheritage.com/uploads/RG001E-Jaguar-Mark-I-and-Mark-II-v.2-31-03-2020.pdf

 

What information are you trying to locate as the numbers really only relate to the sequence in which the chassis or engine was built compared to others on the assembly line. They do not even relate to a month or year which can only be determined by comparing the number to other cars built around the same time if you knew the date they were built.
The letters on the engine at the front of each number relate to the Jaguar model the engine was allocated to. For instance an engine number beginning with 7B is for an S Type Jaguar. The last number on the engine relates to its compression ratio and could be a 7 or 8 or 9 meaning 7:1, 8:1 or 9:1 compression ratio. Most engines were 8:1 ratio with some exports from the UK with underpowered 7:1 ratio but very few and the more powerful 9:1 ratio engines being exported to the USA and used in motorsport.
On the chassis number there is a number at the front possibly with a letter. On the S Type it could read P1B meaning 1B is the S Type chassis and the P meaning it was a factory fit power steering car. The letters at the back of the chassis number could be BW for Borg Warner which was the automatic gearbox cars either the DG250 or BW35 in later cars. DN meant the car had a manual gear box but you would have to check the gear box number to determine if it was a synchro or none synchro box or if it was fitted with the overdrive.
You have not mentioned which model Jaguar you have but if you post your chassis number I am sure someone on here could give you a break down of information. The other source is to apply for a Heritage certificate from https://www.jaguarheritage.com/archi.../certificates/
Hope this helps.

 

I noticed in another topic that you do have an S Type and I hold a register of S Type chassis numbers with some histories. If you post your chassis number or PM it to me I might be able to give you some more info.
Chassis numbers for 3.8 RHD cars ranged from 50001 to approx 59999.
3.8 LHD cars ranged from 75000 to approx 80500.
3.4 RHD cars ranged from 1000 to approx 9999.
3.4 LHD cars ranged from 25000 to approx 26500.
On the S Type the chassis numbers all started with 1B or P1B unless they were a CKD car from South Africa when they started with A1B or B1B depending on whether they were built at the East London "A" or Blackheath "B" factories.
All chassis numbers ended in either BW or DN as explained depending on the gear box fitted.

 

Thank you very much for all the great information-I appreciate everyone’s time. The cars vin number is P220264BW.

 

There's a website called saloondata.com where a lot of owners have listed details of their cars including VIN etc. Short of a heritage certificate, it may help finding where your car falls in the sequence.

 

Sorry Mack but that number must be wrong as I have previously stated S Type chassis numbers are
3.8 RHD cars ranged from 50001 to approx 59999.
3.8 LHD cars ranged from 75000 to approx 80500.
3.4 RHD cars ranged from 1000 to approx 9999.
3.4 LHD cars ranged from 25000 to approx 26500.
The number must also start P1B or 1B to be an S Type.
If you have taken the number from the VIN plate check again or take a photo and show us. Also compare it with a number that is ether stamped or etched in to the slam panel just to the right of the bonnet catch. Quite often the numbers are hard to read at the back of the engine so I have found by taking a photo you can enlarge it and read it more clearly. I have also found in the past that the VIN plate can be replaced with a new one and the previous owner has got the numbers wrong. The slam panel is the best place to confirm the number as this cannot easily be replaced.
This is a picture showing the location of my chassis number on the slam panel of my 1968 S Type.

 

I went by the vin number on the owner ship - I will check the slam panel next week.
again thank you for your help I’m learning a lot.
cheers.

 

Isn't there a data plate on the fire wall above the rear of the engine? That should have all your vehicle information.

 

From this I can tell it is a LHD 3.8s manual with a 9:1 compression ratio engine built on the 25th March 1966.