WHAT’S MY CLEARANCE?

QThe sticker on the cam cover of my 1969 E-type 4.2 says ‘inlet and outlet valve clearances 0.012-0.014in’. The manual says 0.004in (inlet) and 0.006in (exhaust). I’ve measured the clearances. The inlets are all 0.012in and the exhausts range from 0.010in to 0.012in. What, if anything, should I do about setting them? Keith Allen, Wetherby

AThe plate on the cover is correct: 1969-70 models used this larger clearance. Given the amount of time and effort involved in reshimming Jaguar XK engine valve clearances, we’d be inclined to leave them alone unless you happen to be stripping the engine down for some other purpose.