History Hot Rod 1958 Jaguar XK150 Barn(ish) Find

Well, it's a keeper now! Love the Vette motor (thought I was really hoping the OEM motor was in it). Gary

 

Was hoping someone would bring up that Q-jet carb, never knew 265's came with them.

 

Wow! Great find! That is my kind of Jag.

 

Or HEIs

 

A Milner Man-a-Fre would be really cool!
I just saw one somewhere for sale!
Can't remember where tho!

 

Great find. I work on classic XK Jags over here in Blighty, so know a fair bit about them. PLEASE put the original engine back in it (and get it built professionally, those XK engines are a little different to anything else and need an experienced hand to get the best out of them).
And by the way Steve, the wheels are fine. I know XK track cars which get driven like there stolen and all of them have the stock wires.

 

Unlike my old Healey, that SBC fits in the Jag like it was made for it! Interesting to see the original Corvette
front mtr. mount was also used. One vote here for staying w/ the existing 283, if possible. Whatever you do,
please don't go the "cheap route" and put a "modern" 350 in it! (Long term, keep an eye out for a decent 3.8L
for the best resale)
Also curious what type of trans. it has in it. As for the wires, they will be fine as long as you don't hammer on it! (Although they may need a "tune-up".)

 

I am horrified!! Is nothing sacred?? ( but I bet it'll go like a raped ape!)

 

Boulderdash -- I feel your pain. I've been restoring cars (Model T's mostly, but a few others) for the past 15 years. I understand how important it is to preserve examples of our automotive history and how increasingly difficult it is to find good original parts. But what Nick has there is a car which would be great fun to drive as it is for however long he wants to do that. As long as he treats the car with some respect for its pedigree and doesn't do things to keep it from being restored later on, I say power to him. Enjoy driving the car and have fun with it!

 

Hey Jeff - My son Nick has told me what a nice guy you are - Wow - willing to do the right thing - ball-n-chain - rid myself of the ole '57 - You are truly kind - Hummm - - - Oh - for the record, while Nick was leading the rebuild on the '57 427/486/545hp he suggested he had a few small block Chev's around the shop that would most likely kick dust in my face - sometimes you need to excuse youth and chevymind - When the '57 first took a breath there was a pause and somewhat of a throat clearing noise on his side of the car (a bit hard to hear because of the open headers) - Few guys ever get the opportunity to drive a beef'd BB Ford - It has a wondrous effect on ones age - I'm 18 again when I back it out of the garage - women begin to look more highschoolish - my nostrils begin to flare - OOPPPPSSSS - I guess it was just gas (105-ot) - Great to hear from ya Jeff - - - STNICK

 

From the pictures, it does appear that the basic engine could be a 265. The intake, carb, and distributor are from much later years, but the heads do appear to have staggered valve cover bolts which make them '59 or earlier. The 7-fin valve covers are 1957, '58, or 59. However, the front motor mount is either '56, 57, or '58. So it will require a look at the stamped numbers on the pad and the casting number to know where the base engine started life.

 

That color combination body and interior is PERFECT, nice find, hope it has indoor storage once again. If anyone has a lead on a junk XK120 Coupe I'm interested. Bob

 

That's pretty cool.

I'd be tempted to do as little as possible to it, just revel in it's Anglo American quirkiness.

Mart.

 

Also, check for side motor mount bosses. If there isn't any it's a 55 -57 block. All 58 and newer small blocks had side mounts. If there is not a block mounted oil filter, it's a 55 block.

 

Lots of good info from you fella's - I'll be in the car, over the car, under the car on Monday - got my high powered glasses, mirrors, engine cleaner, and magnifying glass ready for the task of identifying this engine - - thx to all - STNICK

 

It's Monday?

 

To check for side motor mounts, just feel with your hand around the front freeze plugs. If it is a 58 or newer engine, there will be 3 bosses cast into the side of the block. If not, it's a 55 - 57 block.

 

OKAY - - - under layer upon layer of good ole engine grunge - I was able to get the stamped engine number - the fella I bought the car from had in mind that the engine was from a 1956 Corvette - BUTTTTT - F714CO - As far as I can tell that would be - - built in Flint - July 14th - 1958 - 283ci - 230hp - 4bbl - manual trans - 3speed - - no telling if it was actually from a corvette - This is considered to be an HP engine, 195hp being the norm. Now I must go get the brake-clean and grease off of my hands - I will be playing poker tonight and I do hate it when others put smudge marks on the cards - thanks again for all the input on this project - Nick - you need to get the Hotsy fired up and one of the lifts empty so we can check out the underside - - - STNICK

 

Maybe you'll win enough $$$ to buy a 30-30 cam/lifters, and a two/four intake and carbs.
That would really rattle the Jag crowd.
Better not, then you'll be looking for a Ford 9 inch rear for it.

 

Hey STNICK,
Man you just upped your HP and cubes just by cleaning a little grease!
You also increased your potential profit!
Killer cool stuff!
The car is talking to you already!
It saying, "Put the power pack on me like DDDenny says!"
PS, don't worry too much about the rear, until
you are over 265 HP. They easilly took that much!

 

Wow! what a cool find.Get rid of the Lucas prince of darkness wiring and you will be able to drive it anywhere.

 

Since when has the HAMB become a restorer site? LOLOL... This is a near-perfect 'period piece', with only a few 'wrong' details. And keep in mind that here in the states, finding vintage Jag parts and even more, someone competent to work on them is considerably more difficult. I suspect that just the expense of putting it back stock (much less fully restoring it) would equal the cost of returning it to it's as-rodded glory. As a recovering ex-Jag owner, I do know something about that.... That's why there's so many 'lumped' Jags in the US...

 

Wow! Saved, just in time..




I recently went to a quality 100+ car show and picked this original-paint coupe as the car to paint, just ahead of a very shiny 'perspex front' Daytona Ferrari. Your convertible is something else, these are literally showstoppers when the stars align.


p.s I love the pale yellow. These look beautiful in white/ pastels. Blackwalls. Deusy!

 

Is this running yet???

 

Good question!
And, a little old from January but
hey Crazy Steve, take it from me I'm someone who had about
a dozen Jags about 30-40 years ago, I know first hand
you are NEVER really over them!

 

Lucas... Prince of Darkness
Off Flicker Dim
\ ~ | ~ /
--------•-
Lights

 

Hey - - - because of the 50 years of projects I already have and a life expectancy of considerably less than half of that - this project might be on the "NO TIME IN THIS LIFE TIME TO COMPLETE" category - if you can think of the correct market place for this project - let me know - stnick

 

Sell it to me Bob! For cheap!!!