Vintage Jag Works LLC

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Vintage Jag Works LLC We're a family-owned business with 40 years of experience specializing in classic Jaguars.

From the iconic XK120s to models through 1987, we offer expert component rebuilding services with the passion and precision to keep these timeless cars on the road.

10/09/2026

Fun Fact Friday! 🐆

Did you know the Jaguar V12 was originally intended to use electronic fuel injection? Check out Roger Bywater’s article on the AJ6 Engineering website to learn more about this interesting piece of Jaguar history!

Link in the comments 🔗

Come back next week for another Fun Fact Friday!


10/07/2026

We never know what we are going to find on an engine teardown. But it is always interesting… 👀

Sometimes you just have to take it apart to find the story.


10/05/2026

These cam covers are notoriously leaky. On these polished cam covers especially, we’ve found that the copper washers don’t always seal properly. What happens is they keep getting tightened down trying to stop the leak, and eventually the cam cover can crack.

There are a couple of solutions we’ve found that work. One is a Dowty washer, which has a rubber inner seal. Another option, if you want to keep the proper copper washer, is to put a little RTV on the underside of the washer and a little on the bottom of the acorn nut.

If you’ve got a question about these cam covers that we didn’t cover here, ask us!

10/02/2026

A lot goes into getting a classic Jaguar engine from a pile of parts to a running engine.

In this reel, one of our technicians walks us through this restoration and gives us some insight into the project as we follow the work from start to finish.

There are a lot of steps along the way, but it all leads to one moment—the finished engine on the test stand ready to go.

That first start makes all the work along the way worth it! 😁

09/30/2026

There is a lot of information out there when it comes to the XK Jaguars we restore, and having the right reference material can make all the difference. This week, we are highlighting some of the reference books we keep around the shop and use as a valuable resource when working on these classic cars.

From detailed specifications and technical information to diagrams and illustrations, these books contain an incredible amount of information about the cars we work on every day. When you’re restoring a classic Jaguar, sometimes the right book can be just as important as the right tool! 📖🔧

09/28/2026

These radiator caps we are getting, especially the ones that come on these radiators from eBay, we are finding have a really high relief pressure.

It is important to check, as overpressure can lead to a myriad of problems—water pump failure, head gasket failure, heater core failure, to name just a few.

A tester kit that tests these can be bought on Amazon. The Disen 33-piece kit is fairly cheap, especially compared to even a water pump failure.

It’s one of those things that’s easy to overlook, but it’s important to check.

09/24/2026

What a beautiful day to test drive a classic Jaguar!!! ✌ 😎

09/22/2026

Our machine shop was kind enough to let us film the milling process on this cylinder head.

We check the head for flatness, and if it’s more than .003" out, we have it milled. Almost every cylinder head we rebuild needs some amount of milling.

One important thing to keep in mind: when you mill the bottom of the head, the cam bearing bores need to be line bored to maintain proper alignment.

It’s another one of those details that can make a big difference in a proper engine rebuild.

09/18/2026

Nitriding a 6-cylinder crankshaft makes it significantly more resilient, improving both structural strength and bearing surface durability.

The added durability and resistance to wear have made nitriding a standard part of our process on all of our engine builds.

09/15/2026

Addressing Misalignment on an Aftermarket 5-Speed Conversion

When installing a 5-speed conversion, it’s critical to check the concentricity of the crankshaft to the transmission.

This bellhousing was found to be 0.014" out of alignment. We don’t recommend exceeding 0.005", and we prefer to see it under 0.003".

Excessive misalignment can lead to vibration and, in extreme cases, we have seen it contribute to crankshaft damage.

To correct the issue, we are having our machine shop custom-make 3/8" offset alignment pins.

Address

1390 W Highway 26
Blackfoot, ID
83221

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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