XKE clutch

Came across this exchange on a newsgroup a few minutes ago, thought it
might interest you...

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Hello:

I'm wondeing if anyone here has a resource for finding a Jaguar
Mechanic? The local dealer appears to be the only game in town where I
live - and they are too expensive. There is nothing of interest in the
Yellow Pages.

My XKE is in need of a clutch job. I am willing to tackle it myself -
if I can hire a helper who has done it before. I am aware that the
engine must be pulled to replace the clutch.


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FWIW - I did dozens of E-Jag clutches in the '70s by cutting the floor
transmission hump, R&R the transmission through the passenger compartment,
then re-welding the floor.

I learned THAT trick from a friend who was a Jag dealer technician at Auto
Engineering in Lexington, Mass.

Even with the re-welding, it is quicker and much easier to cut the floor. -
just wait until you try to re-align the torsion bar mounts when
re-installing the engine without the proper JAG fixtures........

Yes....Our customers were made fully aware of the route we were
taking.......along with the hours of labor rate they would be saving by
going this route.

If it were MY car, and I planned to keep it long enough to eventually need
another clutch, I would cut the floor hump, line the edge of the hole with
formed aluminum (ALUMINIUM) angle iron, and re-install the floor hump with
some sort of weather seal and removable fasteners - making the NEXT clutch
job even faster!!! Even large pop-rivets can be drilled out fairly easily.

You might even want to check under the floor mat to see if someone hasn't
already cut the floor in a previous clutch job.

P.S. I also did some Pontiac-OHC/6-to-XKE conversions during that time
period when the term "Jaguar Parts System" was an oxy-moron.