Engine Block blue

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RichardSEL
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Engine Block blue

Postby RichardSEL » Wed Mar 15, 2017 10:15 am

There was a series of different engine block blues used to denote the compression ratio on the 3.8L series available for Mks VII, VIIM, VIII, and IX. Unless my memories playing tricks AFAICR :oops:

Did this blue colour scheming also apply to Daimler Sovereign 4.2L? I believe my 4.2L was a mid-80s version, but have no idea what its compression ratio is (was) The engine number is 7A35393-8 (8 = 8:1?). Heritage could only confirm that it was an 80's Sovereign

Thanks to anyone with clearer memory and or some lists to refer to
(x-posted to wherever the Daimler Sov lot hang out)
Gone: '59 Mark I, '56 Mark VIIM, '59 Mark IX, '01 XJ8 Sovereign 4L LWB, '01 XJ8 Sport 3.2L, '01 XJ8 Exec 3.2L
Current: '03 Strange Rover L322
Completing re-trim: '73 Owen Sedanca 4.2L
Now being re-built: '61 Mark IX with 4.2L

PPV

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Re: Engine Block blue

Postby PPV » Wed Mar 15, 2017 12:32 pm

Was it just the cylinder head that was painted blue etc?
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RichardSEL
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Re: Engine Block blue

Postby RichardSEL » Wed Mar 15, 2017 6:30 pm

Could've been -- but my memory's not what it was :oops:
Here's a pic of what's on the block. But could this be a number for the cylinder head?

[URL=http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/ ... jpeg[/img][/url]
Gone: '59 Mark I, '56 Mark VIIM, '59 Mark IX, '01 XJ8 Sovereign 4L LWB, '01 XJ8 Sport 3.2L, '01 XJ8 Exec 3.2L
Current: '03 Strange Rover L322
Completing re-trim: '73 Owen Sedanca 4.2L
Now being re-built: '61 Mark IX with 4.2L

oldtimer
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Re: Engine Block blue

Postby oldtimer » Wed Mar 15, 2017 11:42 pm

Richard SEL,
I think my brain is becoming addled too . As far as I can remember all blocks were black, cylinder heads had colours, except the early ones with plain aluminium , then green then blue, also red ( XK 120 ) and gold for E type and possibly Mk 10. These colours denoted head design changes valve angles etc. Compression ratio's were identified by a suffix number i.e. -7 (overseas I think) , -8 and -9 on the cylinder head. This number was/is located down the Vee just in front of the front spark plug.

There, how did I do, Is this a question for Master Mind ?

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RichardSEL
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Re: Engine Block blue

Postby RichardSEL » Thu Mar 16, 2017 10:21 am

That's as I remember it for the 3.8L having a suffix for the compression ratio
But was trying to find out (hence my X-post in the XJ forum) whether that system also applied to their 4.2L lumps too?
And whether they also had a colour system for their cylinder heads

Here's a pic of what my 4.2L looks like now...
[URL=http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/ ... .jpg[/img][/url]

Since the lump is coming out, might as well get the colour correct before it goes back
Gone: '59 Mark I, '56 Mark VIIM, '59 Mark IX, '01 XJ8 Sovereign 4L LWB, '01 XJ8 Sport 3.2L, '01 XJ8 Exec 3.2L
Current: '03 Strange Rover L322
Completing re-trim: '73 Owen Sedanca 4.2L
Now being re-built: '61 Mark IX with 4.2L

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RichardSEL
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Re: Engine Block blue

Postby RichardSEL » Fri Mar 17, 2017 9:18 am

Thread transferred to:
https://jec.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php ... 299#p60299

As that's where the XJ6/Daimler Sov lot hang out
Gone: '59 Mark I, '56 Mark VIIM, '59 Mark IX, '01 XJ8 Sovereign 4L LWB, '01 XJ8 Sport 3.2L, '01 XJ8 Exec 3.2L
Current: '03 Strange Rover L322
Completing re-trim: '73 Owen Sedanca 4.2L
Now being re-built: '61 Mark IX with 4.2L


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