[Neidermeyer]

Eric has it right ,, Jaguar bought most of it’s electronics in the 80’s&90’s from Delco ,, in many cases you can peel off the Lucas stickers and find a Delco sticker underneath.. once you figure out the interchange you can keep a Jag running nice on the cheap... The biggest problem was/is poor wiring , especially grounds causing electronic components to burn up... The V12 used 2 seperate distributorless 6cyl GM ignitions as it was a cheaper and more reliable system...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The truly incredible thing about all this is, it was discovered by Tommy Daniels of Universal Motors of Des Moines, IA (and perhaps simultaneously by others.)
Tommy had a little shop near the Fairgrounds and would do Jags, Ferarris and anything else no one wanted to deal with. His typical "Jaguar starting kit," consisted of a Pontiac voltage regulator, a Cadillac Delcotron alternator and the Mallory distributor.
For heat, he built his own radiator blinds which were little roll-up assemblies in front of the radiator with a cable running through the firewall. I could actually drive my '66 E Type in January without Sorel boots.
Tommy died about three years ago and there was a small notice in the Register but no good story about him. He was a marvel but never in a hurry.
He had a low mileage 2+2 E and a 1951 XK 120 coupe when he passed.

[PLMerite]

My old 68 Jag was “positive earth.”

[Gorzaloon]

Eric has it right ,, Jaguar bought most of it’s electronics in the 80’s&90’s from Delco ,, in many cases you can peel off the Lucas stickers and find a Delco sticker underneath..

I guess they do all that. I once restored a 1973 Saab Sonett, and needed a distributor....The advance bearings at the breaker plate had rusted.

On a hunch, I visted a junkyard and went through the distributor barrell. I found something off a Pinto with a Bosch nameplate. Went home with it and changed the advance springs and weights from the Sonett's just to be sure the curves were right. Everything fit and worked perfectly.

I am shocked that it would be Delco, though I am sure no one ever built anything as bad as the Lucas crankshaft timing sensor for the XJ40. That just HAD to be Genuine Lucas. Who else could choose an Alnico magnet that lost its field over time...hahaha.