Suitably attired

THE JAGUAR IS almost done at Twyford Moors in Hampshire, with the improved engine and new clutch now back in the car. Everything has been linked up using new seals and connectors, and you might be able to spot the 30 shiny new copper washers under the 14 new cylinder head nuts that are torqueing down a composite head gasket.

The XK engine has been filled with 13 litres (£116, so cheaper than a modest claret) of fresh 15W50 Driven HR mineral oil by Anglo American Oils. I have a bit of a fixation about what oil to use in classic engines, and this elixir is specifically designed for use in Historic racing and road cars. As well as being highly lubricative, it features additives to neutralise internal corrosion caused by moisture and the higher ethanol content in modern fuels.

Twyford Moors’ chief mechanic, Barry Shurman, is pictured here setting up the Jaguar’s timing. The timing mark is located underneath the car, which is a hassle, so he adds an extra mark at the top of the pulley which means he can easily reach the distributor to set it correctly. Fortunately he found that the engine is in excellent condition so didn’t require any remedial work before final setting-up.

The last thing to be exacted was a set of new boots. I was somewhat horrified to find that my still new-looking Michelin Pilot tyres have been on the XK for nine years, since 20 March 2012! No wonder the old thing had become quite tail-happy. Tyres don’t last much longer than about five years, even if the tread looks almost new: they go hard and lose a good deal of grip. In the past I have tried crossplies as well as Pirelli and Michelin radials, but this time I thought I’d give Julian Majzub’s Blockley radials a go.

As you probably know, Julian is a Historic race winner with the most flamboyant of styles. He wanted a set of racing tyres to shred on his Grand Prix Maserati some 20 years ago but failed to find any suitable rubber, so set up The Blockley Tyre Company. More recently he launched a range of radial tyres suitable for all sorts of classics, including Jaguar XKs. His 185VR16 radials are the correct size and spec and cost a reasonable £203 per corner (plus £27 for thicker inner tubes) because he manufactures and sells them himself without recourse to wholesalers, thereby passing on the saving to the customer.

These Blockley radials certainly look great on the Jaguar’s wire wheels – I’ll let you know how they perform.

Clockwise, from top left

New radials from Blockley Tyre look great on XK’s wires; ready to cope with the mean streets of West London; engine timing was re-set after extensive work.

THANKS TO Twyford Moors, jagxk.com, +44 (0)2392 570900, and The Blockley Tyre Company, blockleytyre.com, +44 (0)1386 701717.