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Does anyone have a good source for nuts and bolts to fit an XJ6 Series I? I am constantly frustrated with not having the right bolt or nut and buying them one at a time from places like SNG Barrat or XKs Unlimited is killing me with shipping. I did buy a kit from an outfit in England but they are all fine thread, no coarse. Barrat has a pack of 100 but those also seem to be all fine. I would appreciate some input and direction.
Not much help from way down here, as BSF, BSW are still found without too much stress.
I remember my Dad had a chart similar to this hanging in the shed when I was a lad, and he had a MK4 Jaguar, then a proper S Type, and he was a Boat Builder.
Hmmm. The British use feet and inches like the US. I take the old ones to Lowe's and find replacements often in stainless. I have heard there are some metrics sprinkled throughout but I haven't run across them yet.
There's a number of places online if you know the sizes. I bought many suspension nuts and bolts from Fastenal and they weren't any more expensive than the hardware store.
I too, take a sample to ACE hardware, mile-away, and also go for the stainless lock nuts. If you get 1/2 dozen of 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 and 7/16 NC thread, you will find it will cover most all routine requirements for a Jaguar. I use the stainless washers too. 5/16 and 7/16 seem to be the most common. I have a XJ6 S3 and have to watch for metrics that have crept in here and there. If you are working on suspension or critical engine points, Grade 5 or even 8 are options.
Rgds David
Last edited by David84XJ6; 05-06-2019 at 09:56 PM.
Reason: info clarification
Not much help from way down here, as BSF, BSW are still found without too much stress.
I remember my Dad had a chart similar to this hanging in the shed when I was a lad, and he had a MK4 Jaguar, then a proper S Type, and he was a Boat Builder.
Apart from Lucas electrical items, where there may well be some BA (British Association), threads or even metric, the nuts and bolts will be UNF (United National Fine) or UNC (United National Coarse). The latter are usually found where studs are mounted into aluminium parts like the cylinder head, (UNC one end and UNF at the other). I don't think there are any Whitworth or BSF threads in the XJs.
Try BA Bolts. They have everything. Especially the BA threads for SU's.
As Grant says, we can source most stuff at local bolt shops, but nuts & bolts for the SU's are hard to find.
Apart from Lucas electrical items, where there may well be some BA (British Association), threads or even metric, the nuts and bolts will be UNF (United National Fine) or UNC (United National Coarse). The latter are usually found where studs are mounted into aluminium parts like the cylinder head, (UNC one end and UNF at the other). I don't think there are any Whitworth or BSF threads in the XJs.
Yup! With UNF being most prevalent throughout the car.
Some of the brake hydraulics are metric.
The only truly oddball size/thread I've comes across is the firewall "+" junction posts. And, I'll wager those were supplied by Lucas, as you mention.
When needed, I found replacements at the local Ace hardware. An impressive selection of fasteners. And some of the guys there get it. others, not so much. I usually have a guide. A nut that needs a bolt or a bolt that needs a nut !!
I've two Whitworth "spanners". Only used once or twice !! The bolts on the drive shaft!!!
Many decades ago, I swapped in a used transaxle in a 56 VW beetle. All metric . I had no metric tools at all !! Some SAE "close". those plus Crescent and Vice got it in !!!
Yup! With UNF being most prevalent throughout the car.
Some of the brake hydraulics are metric.
The only truly oddball size/thread I've comes across is the firewall "+" junction posts. And, I'll wager those were supplied by Lucas, as you mention.
Cheers
DD
When I had my Series 3 the workshop manual brakes section contained a specific warning about metric fittings. At this time there was a transition in progress in the brake manufacturers from Imperial to Metric sizes On some of the connection fittings, a metric nut would "fit" but really didn't and with the pressures involved when brakes are applied, it could burst off leaving one with no brakes. A mark was applied to metric fittings for a while so one could tell them apart from imperial, but I can't remember what it was, it's too long ago, (late 80a)
Finding good comprehensive nut and bolt checkers is half the battle so you can subsequently order what you need online and know they will fit when they arrive...
Not much help from way down here, as BSF, BSW are still found without too much stress.
I remember my Dad had a chart similar to this hanging in the shed when I was a lad, and he had a MK4 Jaguar, then a proper S Type, and he was a Boat Builder.
The only whitworth I found on my '77 XJ12L were The battery cable nuts and bolts at the battery, and on the two positive battery stud (nuts) on the fire wall that join the right side power to the left side.
Jaguar made the changeover from British BSF/Whitworth to SAE NF/NC with the introduction of the MK7.
They had the American market firmly in their sights and were very aware of complaints about tooling. The old MK5 was a pain to work on if you didn't have BSF/Whitworth spanners etc.
I am not sure if or when that also applied to the XK120.
I recently had to buy a set of metric pipe spanners to change the flexible brake hoses in my S3XJ6
Dammed nuisance!
The thread is old, but wanted to share - yes, I found this yesterday, a collection of 800 pieces of nuts, bolts, washers, for $70 USD. Link here: Limora
05-06-2019, 04:42 PM
British Nuts and Bolts
