Time Warp Mk II
Follow the Mk II Restoration, with Steve Smith and David Hinton
OLDCAT'S Restoration
mkiirest.exeSlide Show
(approx. 1.2 Meg file)

Tom Veale and David Hinton of Leaping Cats Racing bring Jaguar's classic "Businessman's Express" into the '90s
Imagine that it's 1961 and you've just met John Coombs of Jaguar racing and tuning fame. You also have just inked your signature onto a Coombs Garage order to purchase and modify a new Mk II Jaguar Saloon. You say to Mr. Coombs "I've examined the list of modifications and improvements that you presently offer for the car. It is reasonably priced and quite comprehensive. However, there are a few extras that I'd like to add. Would that be possible?". These special "extras", he assures you, can be done.
Happy Kitty!!!
What you haven't told them is that you have personal access to a Time Machine that will allow you to deliver to the Coombs Garage a '96 Borg Warner T-5 gearbox as is used in the Ford Mustang GT, Series 2 E-type front brake calipers, complete electronic ignition, modern spin-on oil filter adaptor, oil cooler, high output alternator, and H rated all season radial tyres mounted on four 6X15" knock-off Series 3 E-type chrome wire wheels. The Coombs mechanics look over this treasure trove of extras with large grins and Mr. Coombs says "Shall we begin?"!
The Coombs Conversion:
  • Engine Blueprinting
  • Replacement of Steering Gearbox with quicker ratio
  • Install cold air box for carburetors
  • Refit car with adjustable shock absorbers
  • Choice of 3 exhaust modifications
  • Modify rear wheel arches
  • Cylinder head machining for 9.5:1 compression
  • Fit E Type steering wheel
  • Fit SU HD8 2" carburetors
  • High rate front springs
  • Special anti-roll bar
  • Strengthen rear spring boxes and Panard rod mounts
    • This was the day dream that started a restoration project for Tom Veale and David Hinton. Tom is the owner of a Ford Taurus SHO and appreciates what a nicely tuned mid-sized sedan can be and wanted to see if they could create a comparable 35+ year old SHO-Cat! He and David have been friends since meeting in 1990 at the Grand Bahamas Vintage Grand Prix and race their Jaguar XK 120's together under the Leaping Cats Racing banner. David had come across a Mk II in near rust-free condition and that got the project started.

    Left Rear Quarter
    Charcoal gray opalescent paint was chosen for the exterior and new red leather was fitted to the inside. The woodwork was also refinished to original lustre. Gauges and switches were repaired or replaced as needed. While the interior was out of the car, a complete new wiring loom was fitted to prevent future "gremlins" from appearing. Chrome, while in pretty good shape, was replated or replaced as necessary.

    View of Interior
    Originally, Minilite style aluminium wheels were considered for their period-correct appearance and because of the 6" width. However, the 72 spoke Series III E-type wheels had proven quite reliable on the various race cars of the Leaping Cats pride and are the same width. The chrome spokes and rims really show up well on a dark coloured car, so this is what the car now uses. They allow the fitting of all-season 215/65HR15 tyres to the front and rear of the car. The tyre and wheel combination looks good on the car and fills out the wheel openings appropriately. They also will provide extremely good grip on the road.
    Port Washington Harbor
    Spax adjustable shock absorbers were fitted to the suspension at the front while Koni Classics replaced the rear shocks. As with the origional Coombs modification, up-rated springs and anti-sway bar replaced the stock units on the front suspension. At the rear, the Panhard rod mounts were reinforced to take the greater loads expected from the larger tyres. Overall body ride height needed no adjustment once the car had settled on its new springs. A conversion from the old recirculating ball type steering gear to rack and pinion was provided by Terry's Jaguar Parts. Both Tom and David have driven Larry and Debbie Ligas's restored Mk II and liked the weight and precision of the power rack and pinion option. It mounts to the front suspension subframe and therefore doesn't feel "harsh".
    Special attention was given to the 3.8 liter XK engine. Steve Smith of TwinCam Sportcars did the rebuild and helped with component selection. Tom's and David's racing experience had led them to the conclusion that the basic power unit could be rebuilt with both durability and performance as objectives without serious compromise for a street car.
    For durability, compression was kept moderate at 9:1. A large plate type oil cooler was fitted to provide direct cooling of the lubricant. This also takes some of the heat load from the engine's water jacket. A large capacity oil pump replaced the stock unit prior to assembly of the engine. The radiator was reworked with a core of greater depth. A thermostatically controlled electric cooling fan was then fitted to replace the original mechanical one. An XJ6 water pump completed the cooling package.
    The Leaping Cats Racing Conversion:
  • All the original Coombs conversions shown in the sidebar
  • Fit engine oil cooler and spin on oil filter adapter
  • Replace standard ignition with modern electronic unit
  • Replace original wire wheels with chrome 6"X15" wire wheels, series III E-type
  • Fit new 215/65HR15 front and rear tyres
  • Use all synthetic lubricants in all gear boxes
  • Fit a Borg T-5 gear box
  • Fit Zeus four piston brake calipers to the front of the car
  • Modern radiator core replacement
  • replace the mechanical cooling fan with thermostatically controlled electric unit
  • Louver the bonnet
    • To sweeten the performance of the 3.8L engine, the cylinder head was modified and "cleaned up" from a flow point of view. All new bronze valve guides have been installed. Two HD8 2" SU carburetors were added to the modified 3.8L manifold for the induction side of the engine. Camshafts of WAD grind had proved quite satisfactory on the Veale's XK 140 Coupe rally car (see Feb./Mar.,'96 issue of British Car Magazine) so a similar grind was chosen here as well. Slightly less lift and a bit longer duration gives the car plenty of bottom end torque and yet it runs out well at the top end of the rev. range. Since this is to be a "street car" nothing too radical was desirable. Standard Jaguar exhaust manifolds were then installed and fitted to a stainless steel dual exhaust system. The mufflers are of the straight-through design and pipe diameter is standard. A high output alternator was found to replace the old generator and still carry the original power steering pump on a similar through-shaft. A high energy electronic ignition was added to make the whole system work and provide both performance and reliability. This device is installed inside the stock distributor and replaces the old breaker points. No visual evidence of this can be seen exterior of the distributor.
    Hides and Walnut!
    A lightened flywheel was installed prior to attaching the engine to it's new transmission. The Ford Mustang T-5 transmission was chosen for its durability, selection of ratios and ease of installation. With the car's 3.54 rear axle ratio, the 0.75 overdrive 5th gear and the tyre/wheel combination the car travels down the highway turning about 2150 RPM at 60 miles per hour. The gearbox shifter comes through the floor in the exact place that the original lever did and looks just right. Both the gearbox and the rear axle now have synthetic lubricants with "extreme pressure" additives. Again, the lubricant decision was based on their successful use in racing.
    Upper Lake Park, Port Washington, WI
    Electronic speed control was added as this car plans on doing some "Cruzin"! Larry Ligas guided them in the installation of a clever Air Conditioning unit that doesn't add to the heat load of the radiator. In his Mk II the air handler looks good trimmed out in matching leather in the interior of the car and isn't intrusive on the front seats. A modern stereo and some other features have been installed. Tom's wife and kids weren't nearly as excited about the project as he, but everyone likes going out for a ride!
    OLDCAT
    See You On The Road!!!!
    Return to Leaping Cats intro page.
    First Place Award!!
    For more information on Race Preparation, Restoration and Engine Rebuilding for English cars, (especially Lotus and Jaguar) write to :
    TwinCam Sportscars, Inc.
    6085 Deacon Road
    Sarasota, FL
    34238
    Attention: Steve Smith
    or E-Mail David Hinton

    TWIN CAM SPORTCARS
    For more information on Jaguar Conversion Kits for Borg/Warner T-5 Transmissions, Air Conditioning, Rack and Pinion Steering and other Foreign Car Parts write to:
    Terry's Jaguar Parts
    117 E. Smith
    Benton, IL
    62812
    email: Terry's Jaguar
    TERRY'S JAGUAR HOME PAGE
    Hayes Harris of:
    Wire Wheel Classic Sports Cars, Inc. found this unrestored car for us.
    Please contact Mr. Harris at hharris07@aol.com
    if interested in similar projects.
    Woodwork was restored by Bennie Estes
    Woodgrain by Estes
    3217 Golden Eagle Lane
    Sarasota, Florida
    34231
    Email: Bennie
    FAX: (941)924-7532
    Complete Stainless Steel Exhaust System was provided by:
    Dick Ames
    4850 Fallcrest Circle
    Sarasota, FL 34233
    Phone: 1 (941)923-8321
    Email: Dick Ames

    * Click on my internet address to send me Email -- OLDCAT@EXECPC.COM
    END OF PAGE
    http://www.execpc.com/~oldcat/mkii.htm