Robert Dickinson

Hi i have a 12v system in the boat, I think someone was saying the J60 would not work as it is 24v do you think it’s an easy conversion to 12v then ? Rob

Thanks Sorry to those who have offered dizzy and leads, but I've made the mistake of the 12v/24v difference, I do apologise. ITS ALL A LEARNING CURVE. Rob

Thanks thats the end of that idea then cheers rob

Hi As some may know, I'm putting jag series 3 engine, ( currently being re built as compression test was poor). Im fitting inlet manifold, and Solex 48 to it. Heres my question, ( thinking of sea water environment) the dizzy,leads and plugs from J60 be a better install.? And, will the dizzy fit into standard Jag engine.? If so, I currently have electronic ignition with a ignition amplifier, did the J60.? Sorry but I know very little about the J60 ignition system, thanks in advance. Rob

Timbo thanks for that, that's great news, as I'm quite new to Forum I'm not sure how to private message you. i would like to accept your offer and pay for postage, I am very grateful. SO 529 LW. Postcode. Let me know and I will pay immediately Rob

Aluminium air intake trumpet, ( attaches to Solex 48 nnip carb) distributer and leads this is for a jag xk engine I have in a boat thanks. Rob

Hi, don't know what I've pressed, can't get rid of quote boxes, lol here is a picture of the ancillary engine parts 2 wet exhaust manifolds to the left bottom right hand corner is the sea water impeller pump just to the right of ex mans is the Bowman oil cooler next to that is the large sea water heat exchanger for coolant just above that is the homemade expansion tank an old manual bilge pump brass, ( that I found in the bilge) So I think I pretty much got what I need, I've got the new engine into the garage at the weekend, swapped flywheels from 4.2 to 3.8 to accept my bell housing and the starter motor. 2nd picture. Although the engine was running when I bought it, it was lumpy, turns out that all the compressions are low and no 1 is very low. So a strip down of engine, will happen over the winter months. Ive set myself a target of 700 on the re build, Once I've got head off, will help in decisions Not really done anything with the hull, other than a good clean of the inside, and covered it over from the elements but left air flow. The cooling set up, on the original set up is as follows, In-outdrive leg into boat-oil cooler-seawater impeller ( which sucks and pushes)-coolant heat exchanger-exhaust manifolds- out There was no strainer ( to remove small particles) in the system, so that is something I will fit, get from boat jumble. Also the original set up had the sea water pump mounted on a step in the hull on a long belt, and pulley on flywheel, I'm thinking opposite side of alternator where the air-con compressor used to live, just need some bracketry. Well that's where I'm at, but at least I've got going again, it's been a tough year. Thanks Rob

Sir hc Would be very grateful if you find an air intake trumpet. The photo you have posted is much appreciated as well, I've screen shot it and I can use it as a reference, for anything I'm not sure about. Atleej could you send me a pic of the xk engine being used as a winch engine, never new that that was a thing !! Cheers Rob

Hi yes the silver part in photo thanks Rob

Thanks big gap in reply due to many reasons, but having covid being the main culprit. But feeling much better, and slowly getting into project again. I would really like to get hold of the air intake pipe, that sits on the Solex 48 nip carb, any ideas of how to ? i have a xj6 twin carb manifold as well now , that fits my twin carbs, from a 3.8 engine I have, so I have 2 options once running. ( the Solex and the jag twin carb option) thanks Rob

Thanks I would still be very grateful for any info on the cooling system of J60 especially around the route via the injection manifold. thanks rob

Hi so i got the inlet manifold and it has a piece of pipe with a regulator that you manually turn to 2 x small jets on each of the 3 branch inlets. what is this for as the carb has a choke? does anyone have a copy of an engine manual I could look at, J60 or at least explain the basics of the J60 cooling system, I know mines completely different, just interested really. theres a couple of short u tube clips of a fellow starting a J60 that I've watched, and paused several times, and looks like his little pipe is removed and the 2 x jet ports on manifold are blanked off. just want to be clear on how to plumb the J60 manifold up to my engine.And what the manifold squirters are. my guess would be some sort of pre start system. thanks rob

Toby sorry if it sounded like that, didn't mean to ... great boat the spearfish, all original I guess? whats your cruising area? I am in Southampton and do a lot of the local area, with a trip to CI at least once a year, and the way things are looking it's going to be the CIs again for a holiday cheers rob

Tjsb, thanks for your concerns about the hull, but I'm all good with the hull. ive had boats for years, and currently own a 36' fairline Targa with a pair of huge diesels. This is a little heritage project I'm doing, and I've never messed with Jag engines, in fact the last petrol full engine rebuild I did was a 1300cc ford cortina ! the 3.8 was badly seized and has already been bored to 20 thou over on all cylinders, 30thou is Max then it needs new liners, so not worth it. just picked up the XJ6 engine Tonight, with all auxiliaries, going to have a good look at what I've got the weekend cheers rob

Hi Yes the engine will need a lot of love, no rush here on this project, still got a lot of the 3.8 left over as well for some spares and xj6 parts are not that expensive. The boat is from Norman Fletcher of Fletcher boats, its from around 65 but I cannot be sure, have done a lot of digging in the boating archives and never been able to accurately pin it down. The original jag 3.8 ( if that was the original engine) was from 64/65 , so maybe. It is classed as Fletcher Arrow 172V , which means 17'2" long and a deep V hull, which is apparently the base hull that is still in production today. Its a very thick GRP lay up, back in the 60s they laid the GRP as thick as a wooden boat would be, which makes it very strong, unlike today's Bayliners ( or binliners others call them as the lay up is so thin! ) calculated by a computer no doubt. It is a long haul project, which I don't mind, I spent the last couple of months saving the trailer, it was on the verge of rotting out. I had to completely refurbish it, with a little welding done at work etc but it's ok now. Really old drum brakes, whitworth nuts and bolts etc. The boat hull in general is ok, but the transom ( rear end) is rotten and will need new timber and GRP, and where there has been no cover on it for a few years the floor is rotten. Reasonably easy fixes, as all projects, just need the TIME. LOL THANKS Rob

Hi My first post here so here goes, I bought a speed boat with a Jag 3.8 in it, it was seized and bores shot! Have bought a series 3 injection 4.2 1982 with 80k miles on an auto box, so hoping engine good. Have acquired the J60 inlet manifold and the Solex carb, the better Marcus one I believe. I want to take off the injection side of things and run on the carb. I have the correct marine manifolds for it, the water cooled oil and water heat exchangers, which all run from a water pick up in the outdrive and is spat out the rear with the exhaust through 2 3" pipes , it came like this but in a 3.8 engine. Any tips or advice will be great, slightly different from a CVRT I know, but I'm loving the fact that I can make this crossover. I pick the engine up Wednesday from Birmingham and my manifold and Carb are en route.. Here's how it was when I got it........ d

Hi hope I'm in the right place, I have a speedboat with a jaguar 4.2 engine, and would like to try the J60 inlet manifold, and Solex carb. there is an inlet manifold on a EBay,but I don't know what Solex carb I should be looking for. help please. Thanks. Rob