In order to put wires in the distributor: Which way are the plug wires numbered? from front to rear 1 to 6? OR from front to rear 6 to 1. Where might I find that information in the *^$#^& "Jaguar XK120, XK140, XK150 etc. Service Manual" issued by Coventry?

 

I think #6 is the foremost cylinder, but someone will be along soon to clarify or prove me wrong.

 

#6 is at the front on the old XK engines, yes.


Cheers
DD

 

first..gasp...why post if you do not know??? as in I think..but not sure..better to be silent than post incorrect or uncertain info that will live on on the web. whew..OK
cyl 1 is close to firewall. cyl 6 is near front or radiator.
distrib rotor, rotates in operation counter-clockwise. (in Brit talk..anti-clock)
firing order is firing order 6-2-4-1-5-3, #1 cyl at firewall, #6 toward radiator-front. Engine and crank damper rotate counter clockwise from positon of driver in seat facing forward, which is the ONLY orientation for rotation and right and left. Distributor rotor rotates counter clockwise as viewed in place from above, Turning distributor body clockwise advances timing. For the XK120, SB 124 corrects degrees per flywheel tooth to 2 ¾. (actual is 2.73) 132 teeth on flywheel, 360 degrees. Distributor 40199E most common to late xk120 and 140. There are any distributors,most differ in the springs for mech and vac advance units. Timing ranges from 5 deg early xk, to 7 deg late,and 10 deg xk140. Pt gap .014-.016, with 016 most commonly used, plugs NGK BP5ES mid-hot for an engine that might burn some oil, BP6ES colder for a well tuned fresh engine. Plug gap .022-.025. .022 for longer higher rev use. .025 most commonly set. When flywheel is set with proper timing marks lined up (which is exact TDC of #6 on compression), the distributor rotor should point approx. to #6 sparkplug wire connection as on cap. The rotor will be pointing toward the front rt corner of the block..kinda 2 oclockish... Distrib is correctly installed when the vac unit is on left. With all this correctly set..then the distrib cap wires follow counter-clock wise in the firing order. The Lucas Sport coil adds some voltage, the small wire, coil term to distrib should be same as the ground system on the car..neg ground car, the neg term goes to the distrib. (on early coils SW was ignition switch, CB is contact breaker..these cars were then positive ground.) The Factory Service Manual along with the Factory Service Bulletins should be on every XK owners shop desk.

 

First ....gasp....why SO much info in one giant block of print with no paragraphs?? Gah! Almost impossible to read.

Looks like there might be some good really info in there, though



Cheers
DD

 

feel free to copy, cut, paste, and add all the paragraphs and punctuation and capital letters you like. for me a post is a post, not a book. try reading an article in The New Yorker if you like perfect paragraphs, though you will have to deal with the tiny print. glad you like the info tho... really any classic jag (or any car) owner should have the factory service manual, and the technical service bulletins that follow, which revise many things. add a "glenns" or similar book and in the case of jags there are some good ones..Porter The Orignal XK, and XK140 Explored, and Urs book of original photos, and you can find about anything. ooops didnt under line the book titles..ooooopps didnt put in the apostrohe in didnt and didnt even spell check or capitalize. probaby some run ons, and fragments, and ooops..one paragraph but..my tune is correct !!

 

No thanks!






Got it! By all means post in whatever manner you see fit. It's a free country, after all ! Many people voluntarily take it upon themselves to make their postings easy to read but there's certainly no obligation to do so.

100% agreed on having the proper manuals and tech literature when working on old (or new) cars.

Cheers
DD