The 1959 Mark1 (3.4) which I ( a newbie) recently acquired has had a rebuilt 3.8 engine installed in it by the previous owner but it still needs an entire new exhaust system. I am in the initial stages of exploring the options available for this car and I'd appreciate the Forum members' opinions on how best to proceed.

1) I do not know the origins of the current cylinder head other than it is stamped NC7921-8. SNG Barrett can sell me the exhaust manifolds, but I am unsure as to which ones to acquire to mate up with my cylinder head. Barrett has a C2213 and a C18399.

2) For the rest of the exhaust system, I wonder if a Bell system for a Mark 2 (early or late ?) will be compatible with my Mark 1 ? If not the full system, which parts of it would be compatible with the Mark 1 ?

3) Should I attempt to find a local expert to build a custom system for the car??? I'm not crazy about this route, as I fear that unless I find a real knowledgable expert, I will just end up with a cobbled together mess - which is what I already have !
Thanks for your help and advice !
Schmitty in Salt Lake

 

Fortunately, exhaust manifolds will physically fit the various types of cylinder head, unlike intake manifolds. The Mark 1 and Mark 2 manifolds are different, the Mark 1 uses a flat gasket, the Mark 2 uses a donut sealing ring. Match the exhaust down pipes to your manifolds. The manifold to head gasket should be the same though.

My initial thought would be to find a exhaust shop that specializes in building exhaust for hot rods and other custom applications. Even if you buy an off the shelf system like a Bell, it will probably need some tweaks to fit your car. I'd look at prices, it might be more cost effective to buy a system and get it installed by a shop used to antique and custom work that will do a few bends here and there to get it right..

 

Much depends on the exhaust manifolds fitted. Do the outlets face straight down or are they swept back like the S Type.

Once that is established I would follow Jaguars stage III tuning kit for the Mk1 2.4 ~ Stage III delivered 150bhp at 6,000rpm by replacing the cylinder head with the new big-valve B-type head that was fitted to the 3.4-litre engine in the XK140 models. With the new head came two SU HD6 carburettors and a twin-pipe exhaust system. Talk to Bell. I'm sure they make it or could cobble together one for you from existing parts they make.

For the straight down manifold this is what Moss sells in stainless steel ~ Ask Bell.






S Type ~ swept back.





Straight down.

 

Glyn
That stage 3 tuning system only applies to 2.4 litre cars.

Schmitty already has a 3.8 engine and I presume standard HD6 carbs and intake manifold. When I am making that assumption I actually ran across a car that had a 3.4 engine and had the intake manifold and Solex carbies off a 2.4 Yeech! They wondered why it didn't perform.

The important point is what sort of exhaust manifolds are currently fitted, if any. Both my MK1 and early MK2 have the vertical exhaust manifolds and full gasket joints to the exhaust pipes.
I think the Bell BSSJR007 system would fit. A common mod to MK1 cars was to fit MK2 exhaust systems.

Cheers

 

Those straight down exhaust manifolds are C2213 ( front) and C2214 (rear)
Cheers

 

Bill Mac is correct the car has a 3.8 engine with HD6 carbs and correct intake manifold. The car currently has what I believe are the straight down type manifolds. However, These are badly compromised and need replacing, so I'm really looking at an entire new system . If I get he swept back style manifolds, will the Bell BSSJR007 system then fit reasonably well with the Mark 1 ?

 

I think the BSSJR007 is for Mk1 and early MK2 cars which used the straight down manifolds.
If you fit the swept back manifolds there is a different Bell exhaust system for later MK2 cars

 

Absolutely correct Bill. But it's exhaust is very similar to the twin pipe Mk2 affair if not the same, even in pipe ID. I'm not sure where the rear cut out is in the MK1 valance. I think it was central on very early cars & then moved to the Mk2 position to accommodate twin pipes. The Mk2 of course has wider rear fenders to accommodate the wider axle.

The S Type with swept back manifolds has a very different dual exhaust system right through to the back twin pipes and multiple mufflers. Front collector & 4 independent mufflers. It takes a standard. Barratts/Bell BSSJR011 which is totally irrelevant to this discussion. It won't fit.

 

Thanks much guys ! I'll look to see if I can source the straight down pipes C2213 and C2214.. Then find a compatible Bell exhaust pipe system, ala Mark 2.

 

Makes sense.

 

Schmitty
Those C2213 and 2214 were also fitted to MK7and MK8 Jags as well as MK1s
I am wondering what you mean by your current ones being "compromised".
If they have broken lugs they can be welded, cracks can also be fixed and new studs can be fitted. I haven't seen one that can't be repaired.
If you are chasing the vitreous finish there are numbers of places that can restore this.

 

Regarding rear exhaust exit over the years they come out all over the place both left, centre & right. Dual & single pipe. They exit below the valence ~ no obvious cutout apart from maybe one on the left. I can paste a very long list of pics & bore everybody. Jaguar seemed to be experimenting with each model year & I'm sure owners have. Maybe Bill can guide us as he has physically owned a few,

This was likely standard. Tell me the look you prefer & I will post you a pic. I prefer VYM 454 ~ sorry you have to look so hard at it. I could not get rid of the shadow mask.





















Got lots more.

 

Glyn
You a correct in the MK1 tailpipes coming out all over the place. Your first two pics are the early and standard 2.4 pipes. Tiny strangulation pieces! I wonder if English road laws at the time were involved in regards exhaust pipe positioning. The MK1 never had a relief valence in the rear body work like the MK2
My current 2.4 car has a large single exhaust pipe in roughly the same area as DZ 77-14. (It also has much of the stage 3 tuning)
Unless you are trying to concourse I think anywhere is OK

 

I agree anywhere is OK Bill. As I have said I prefer VYM 454 ~ looks more sporty. Remember this was pre UK highways so performance was of little concern on Britain's crowded roads. It was only of concern in the US, SA etc. hence the 3.4 Mk1. I have it in one of my books that the initial 2.4's had the exhaust central rear. We ceased production of 2.4's in SA very early as they were considered under-powered at altitude. 3.4's were popular.

 

Out of interest the 3.8 S Type exhausts out of 2 X 4.5cm ID pipes standard. Boxes/mufflers are not restrictive.

 

Bill : what do I know ? The mechanic for the previous owner who passed away during the final stages of the new engine / mechanical overhaul told me ( he's in California - I'm in Utah) That he NEVER would have installed the old exhaust manifolds because over the years various dummies had mucked around with the studs / holes or other critical interface connections on the manifolds to the point that they cannot form a good connection / seal with the exhaust pipes. ( my parphrasing of our phone conversation). When the previous owner passed, his wife got an unpleasant shock from this mechanic as to how much $$ the PO had already spent on the overhaul ; she freaked out. She made the decision to not spend another nickel that wasn't necessary to get the car started and somewhat running so it could be sold. The mechanic had the brand new correct headers but didn't install them, putting back on the "old crap". He no longer has these new manifolds. That's all I know about the compromised headers. Being a total newbie to the world of classic cars, I'm thinking that getting new manifolds is probably best. I don't have the faintest idea who could salvage the existing ones. And NO, I am not looking for the "concours" finish on the headers. This is not a show car and never will be. I'm just very glad its pretty much rust free and all there.

Glyn: I also like the looks of hte VYM 454 best. My new system will have dual exhaust pipes as depicted in your photo. If you have any pics of what that system looks like underneath the car, I think that will help me get a better idea of what needs to be installed and where.
Thanks again guys !
Schmitty

 

Sorry Schmitty They don't show the underneath of that car but the Mk1 dual exhaust run is simple with straight down manifolds.

Example:

 

Glyn
That photo is pretty correct dual pipe system for a MK1. Mine has a single large pipe.

 

Thanks much for this photo ! exactly what I was hoping for.

 

That's what Bell makes. They can however do some custom work if required.