THE INTERNATIONAL JAGUAR 'S'-TYPE REGISTER FORUM

Fluid reservoirs are on on the left side of the engine bay on a LHD car according to mine.

Hi. Ok, so from 65 on, the fillers on LHD could be at left. But the filler is missing in the one I will visit, ok.
I'm very impatient to see the new numbers he will send me.. May be it was a 3.4S LHD and convert it in 3.8 ? The engine rebuilt is not old. I heard that somes made this. I won't do a JDHT Certificat for all several cars I will see. But may be worth it..
I guess that other then the Engine number (could be the old one still in place..) or Head color (no here) there is no way to know if now in reality it's a 3.4 or a 3.8L in place now ??
When this would be the case, what about the gearbox ? I think it's not the same for a 3.4 or a 3.8L ? or may be it is ? I found gearboxes on the web for 3.4 - 3.8, so may be it's the same.. It's time i get the right books now But I have to take my decision in the next days to visit or not this car, it's a 2x 6h Trip !

The engine block is marked just below the carburettors with an embossed 3 1/2 litre if a 3.4. Not sure of the exact wording on the 3.8 but it will be different.

The heads are different colours originally. The 3.4s was a Duck egg blue which looks like a light green The 3.8s head is a dark blue or Royal blue. The E Type 3.8 engine head was Gold. These colours can change if someone is trying to fool you though so check the embossed writing on the side of the block. You can see the two colours Duck Egg and Royal blue in the two pictures on page two.

The gearboxes were identical between the 3.4 and 3.8 but the rear axle differential have a different ratio. Most 3.8s had the Limited slip diff called Power lock whereas on the 3.4 it was an option which cost more so most 3.4s did not have it. The rear diff on my 3.4 is a 3.54 ratio and I think the 3.8 is 3.77

Engine number is stamped here & back of head chaincase. The entire oil filter housing is missing at this stage.

This is the top view Glyn showing the engine number stamped where you have indicated.

Thanks ! i'm still waiting the numbers... I guess the plate is missing behind the engine..

I do not really understand what/where this exactly means/is... Can you help me ?

"The chassis number will also be etched or stamped in the bonnet catch channel forward of the radiator header tank."

This was a photo taken for a different purpose but shows the chassis number stamped into the slam panel just in front of the radiator by the side of the bonnet catch circled in black.
Sometimes this is stamped in as in this case with block letters and numbers other times it is etched in by hand using something like a Dremel.
It is often painted over and difficult to see but it should be there.

My 3.8 engine block with the 3.8 cast into the block. The difference between the 3.4 and 3.8 are noticeable, I have a spare 3.4 engine that I've fitted a few times and used it to drive coast to cost across the USA and was glad to put the 3.8 back (after a rebuild) when I got it back to the UK as it had more 'go'.

Interesting that they put 3 1/2 on the 3.4 but the full 3.8 on the 3.8.
The 3.4 is actually 3442 cc where as the 3.8 is 3781 cc. Not disputing the sizes but why did Jaguar not call the 3.4 a 3.5 if they marked the engine as 3 1/2?
Was this because of racing homologation perhaps?

My 3.4 which has been rebored with new oversized pistons must be a 3.5 now. I will have to search for a 3.5 boot badge just to confuse everyone.lol.

Rob, How do you stop the safety catch from chipping the paint around the hole indicated? Just care?