Engine Number - what year

[SimonH450P]

Hi all

I am looking at an E-type that outwardly looks like it has been fitted with a 4.2 Litre XJ6 ser 1 or 2 engine.

The number quoted is 7L 98187-8.

Does this number look legit to XJ6 gurus? It looks high to me, given that the detail off of SNG Barratt site shows ser 1 4.2 engines starting at 7L 1001 and the ser 2 4.2 engines starting at 7L 74000

So does the number look legit and if so, can anyone take a stab at what year it may have been built? If I am to take it on, I need to be sure of parts suitability and service specs etc.

with thanks

[mike020150]

According to Paul Skilleter's 'The XJ Series Jaguars', the 7L prefix was used until 1973. Also, in Dec '70 letter suffixes denoting compression ratios (H, S, L) were added to Jaguar engine numbers. Since engine numbers can easily be misread (8s for Ss etc), I'd recommend taking a look or asking for a pic of the engine number to be certain. Mike.