The very first Jaguar I took interest in, a 1972 4.2 Litre XJ6 had been parked for years and with the hood popped this is what i saw.







Compare to almost all other photos of the same model I've seen and one other I've had the pleasure of seeing in action, this one lacks the triangle forming cross bars mounting over the engine. Was this an after market mod? A mitigating addition in event of an accident or does it come stock? And For what purpose? I can't think of any other engine I've opened which has presented me with a similar setup.

Of course I'm quite young yet. :-)

 

The Series Jags had those crossbraces as STANDARD.

The ones in your snaps are simply removed.

They are to stiffen the the panel work.

Since you state you are "young yet" there are many cars with that set up, some not as in your face as the Jaguar set up, but braces they are none the less. Age will have you get up to speed real quick haha.

 

Hi iAdvocateXJR,
Those Cross Bars are 'stock'
There is an identical one on each side of the engine bay.
In your second picture, the plinth just above and to the right of the SU carby, there is a bolt which is the locating point for the one of the ones missing on that car.
If fitted, it would have extended from there to the mid way point of the scuttle (back of engine) in front of the stamped VIN details.
The bars were engineered to add torsional stiffness to the open area of the engine bay.
Depending on what ancillaries were under the bonnet, some wiring and cabling would also be routed along said bars for their protection, neatness and to keep them out of the way.
Also from the second picture, I note that there is no Air Conditioning compressor, so either it has been removed, or the car wasn't spec'ed with Air Conditioning, although some loose cabling indicates perhaps the former.
Personally, when I see lazy wrench marks on surfaces such as the oil filler cap in picture 1, I run a mile, as it indicates poor maintenance practices and shoddy workmanship. That's what you can see....Not to mention the marks on the radiator matrix and one vane of the fan, indicating something has got caught between them.
Good luck if you proceed to resurrect this one.
I hope this helps
Cheers,
Nigel

 

they are called "torque bars", used to prevent the body from "torquing", so to speak.

just call David at Everyday XJ to get you a pair of good ones.

Everyday XJ

 

Age? If I could only get a few years back. Not greedy, 10 would do!


That car is a real challenge. But, challenges build character. Go for it.


Carl

 

nice alternator bracket

 

That car certainly does not look as if it was cherished by its last owner !. The cross bars provide triangulation to each wing side and the bulkhead. Here's a pic of a bay with them fitted

 

that fan looks quite suspect as well. looks like a pound of weld bead on that one blade... that HAS to help balance.