The Mk2 I am interested in purchasing (after I sell my other car) needs a bit of freshening up in the engine bay. The camshaft covers look a bit sad and need shining up. Am I correct in assuming that the the originals when new were nicely polished? and when re-polished it is wise to coat them with a clear coat?

 

Yes they were polished but they did not stay that way as most people bought a Jaguar to drive not polish until they became classic cars and were taken to shows.
I polished mine using varying degrees of wet and dry to get a smooth finish with no scratches then used a polishing wheel to finish them off. When I first polished them I used a clear heat resistant lacquer to seal them but within a couple of years the lacquer started to turn yellow and peel on the edges so I had to strip it all back off. Now they are re polished to bare alloy but coated with Shine armour ceramic polish. Keeps the shine for a long time but allows you when the shine wanes to polish them again with Autosol metal polish and then recoat with the ceramic coat.

 

Thank you Robert, You also answered an un asked question regarding the durability of clear coating for me. Your engine bay looks first class and a credit to you and something for me to aim for.
Bob

 

A plating place with a big 5 horse power buffing wheel can make quick work of what can be a very messy and time consuming job for the DYI'er.

Plan on doing the water gallery/dash pots as well, you can't do the covers and leave that.

Also, like most, the black ceramic coating is all chipped off the exhaust manifolds, I had what was left of mine sandblasted off.
I then used this black manifold spray that is activated by heat.
Mine are now a nice flat black colour all the time now, looks very acceptable.

Here's what I used.

VHT High Temp Aerosol Flat Black (eastwood.com)

 

Thanks Bob for the praise. As Jeff has said there are other parts that need polishing so once you start you cannot stop. The top of the radiator on most Jaguars is brass and comes up really well. The inlet manifold water jacket, carb pots and air intake can all be done. It takes a lot of work to get it to this standard but not that much to maintain it.
You will also notice I have painted my air filter housing from the original silver/grey to body colour. (I had a spare Air filter housing to paint so still have the original to put back if need be) In the Old English White it makes the engine bay look very clean but I have also seen a friend paint his Op red which looks good.

I have been to a lot of shows with my S Type and the first thing I do when I get there is open the bonnet whereas there are a lot of other cars that look very shiny on the outside but the engine bays are dirty and unkept. Not that my S Type is a trailer Queen show car as I often use it to go to the shops and I do around 30 weddings a year with it.

This is what my engine bay looked like when I bought the car, then polished with the silver air cleaner, then finally with the painted air cleaner. I will leave you to judge which looks better..

 

Wise words from Cass. Stay well away from clear coating. We probably suffer a lower rate of deterioration in SA's mild climate but standard practice here is a hand rub with Autosol metal polish & newspaper. And yes I too was surprised at that when I did the restoration but it is amazingly effective.

During final assembly. All done with newspaper and Autosol. (some dust & hand marks on things) Not after final clean. Many clips etc. still missing & other items corrected later. e.g. coil clamp was never black & changed.

Rob, Thanks for the Ceramic Polish tip!

 

Love the shiny brass radiator. What a lot of work!

 

Thanks Jerry. Cleaning and polishing is a lot easier when the parts are not on the car so I took the opportunity to polish the radiator top when I had the radiator recored during my rebuild. The bottom was also made of brass but I did not go so far to polish the bottom tank and just painted it black.
Is your S Type on the road yet and do you have it registered on the International S Type register. Jaguar 'S'-type Register

 

It is roadworthy and i use it as much as is sane to do. I don't feel safe leaving it unattended at the grocery, but it goes to work with me sometimes and I use it for parts runs. I can keep a pretty close eye at work, and most of the people around know who has the Jaguars. I signed it up on the register almost as soon as I got it. It is #77903.