The Design And Engineering Behind the Soon-To-Be-Tesla-Swapped 1950 Jaguar Mark V.

Looking into a 70-year-old Jaguar shows some places where we've made great gains in automotive design and engineering. And some places where we may have gone backward.
Before I jamb a Tesla powertrain up into this cat, I take a moment to explore some of the interesting aspects and "creative" ideas.
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[@rpavlik1]

"Last time I threw things away Jay Leno yelled at me" 🤣

[@ZRaddue]

Those old-fashioned vehicle maintenance books are so much better than anything produced for modern vehicles. The mixture of high quality photography along with the graphics overlays to show how different subsystems operate, and how to work on those systems, is fantastic. I have a manual for my 1962 Chrysler Newport that is very similar and I love just thumbing through it.

[@misterbridger]

In case nobody has already pointed it out, the BSF/Whitworth nuts and bolts use different spanner/socket sizes to the 'imperial' A/F sizes (which are American standards), which is why your spanners don't fit properly.

[@alfasud1972]

I don't understand a car guy does not now this, made me laugh...

[@ericpeters9476]

Whitworth threads are typically used on tubing threads today, eg brake lines.

[@kennethmoxon7337]

Correct, he must know that, think he is just playing

[@kennethmoxon7337]

He must do

[@hannahranga]

@@kennethmoxon7337 eh, it's common knowledge for anyone that's had something to do with old British cars but outside of that not really. Can't imagine it helps that he's in the US.

[@malakiblunt]

in reality this is a 1930's car that they were still making in the 1950's

[@SuperfastMatt]

Totally. I'm spending a lot of time watching videos on 30's and 40's hot rods to figure out how to modify things.

[@rronaldreagan]

@@SuperfastMatt you were on jay leno? Links or name of the video?

[@djfast3]

@@rronaldreagan jays garage Honda s600

[@rronaldreagan]

@@djfast3 doesnt even look like him. No homo but he looks much better today

[@ericst-louis8604]

Not really, Jag were innovators, their application of Girling disc brakes won them the 24 hr Le Mans. My 1959 Mark IX had 4 wheel discs in a fuuull siiize sedan. Do you know of any other mfg doing that?

[@andrewevans7184]

Without doubt, one of the most interesting builds on KZbin

[@alanblanes2876]

Exactly

[@malakiblunt]

downward opening boot lid was a good choice before gas struts had been invented - it was also intend to be used a picnic table

[@thosdot6497]

And also stack your luggage on, if it didn't all fit with the bootlid closed.

[@theeastman9136]

The beading between panels is called "welting" and the Withworth system has its own spanners "wrenches" that are slightly different from sae wrenches but that fit snugly on Whitworth nots and bolts. I recommend that you get a set from the UK; it makes work more pleasant. Interesting project, thank you.

[@logiclackey]

"The drum brakes are made from the core of a neutron star", hahaha, I died.

[@piccalillipit9211]

MY UNCLE RESTORES THESE JAGS to concourse condition - the brakes are and were always beyond horrific. The seals are leather.

[@piccalillipit9211]

@@richardlamm4826 - No - seals can be made of leather, especially here in Eastern Europe...

[@Hamilcar_Stronginthearm]

"It's like this car was driven on roads made entirely of dirt." Deadpan master. Also, I think it is somewhat a materials issue. My understanding is that after WWII, it was really hard to source high quality steel in the UK, so carmakers just went ahead with whatever they could get their hands on. I know the body of the contemporary Bentley Mk VI is famous for it's low quality steel.

[@fredericrike5974]

They were buying steel from Russia- the Mini, harbinger of so many unibody designs from the mid fifties, was so bad for this that many people still call the car hygrocentic, as it seems to draw the moisture out of the air and by five years age, the rust is holding the whole car togehter!

[@DoRC]

The heads of the fasteners are whitworth as well. That's why normal wrenches won't fit.

[@jkk244]

Yes, Whitworth wrenches exist for just this purpose.

[@chriswisneski6071]

Not-quite-useless trivia: old British stuff is still fractional imperial sizes - they just measured across the points, instead of across the flats. You can still buy the wrenches to fit them. Most old jags fit 2 or 3 wrenches for 98% of the fasteners outside of the drivetrain, so you probably could buy 2 or 3 single wrenches and sockets, and not have to use adjustables.

[@stevewilliams2498]

Whitworth "spanners" are normal (?) wrenches (?)

[@stevewilliams2498]

@@jkk244 only they are called spanners 😎

[@pbgd3]

chevy liked to mess with you clutch head screws.

[@austinswallow]

The bolt threads are BSF, whitworth spanners fit the bolt hex but are a size out, so a 5/16BSF would use a 1/4whit spanner, but you can of course get BSF spanners just marked with BSF. You probably need to log onto eBay.co.uk to access the stuff. Using an adjustable spanner is best with an imperial one...!!! If you were doing such a conversion here in the UK there would be a lynch mob at your front door... As for modern safety features, the best form of safety equipment would be a very sharp spike sticking up from the steering wheel, fitted to all cars would transform road manners in an instant! Good luck with what will be an interesting build! Greetings from the UK!

[@frogandspanner]

It was quite common in the '50s for UK cars to have fold-down boot lids. My first driving lesson was in a "sit-up and beg" Ford Anglia 103E, which had such a boot. It was an arrangement that provided more boot space - the lid doesn't go flat, so you can jam loads of junk in, and on the lid. 26tpi 1/4" is BSF (British Standard Fine). Cycle threads would be 26 tpi, but 60 degree rather than BSF's 55. In an emergency I have used a 1/4 BSF on my 1966 Norton. The appropriate spanners are Whitworth/BS. I was lucky to start building my tool kit when Whitworth/British Standard (BS) spanners were still common. The nomenclature for spanners relates to the thread dimension, not the across-flats of the bolt-head/nut, so a 1/4" Whitworth spanner is for a 1/4" bolt. They are still available in UK, and King Dick still make them - I bought a set-aside set just in case I have an accident with my main set. I have noticed on my bike that for a particular thread diameter the nuts and bolts have a different across-flats size, so you do not need two 1/4" Whitworth spanners to work on a 1/4" nut and bolt. Thank goodness UK moved to metric. 6:38 That's a voltage regulator at the top of the electrics. They are quite valuable - I notice one on eBay for $180. I love programmes like this, but when a youngster points out that a car in which I was a childhood passenger is 70 years old, I begin to wonder where all the time went. But when the presenter compares an E-type with a tongue . . . At least a tongue has taste.

[@onetruebob_tj]

Thanks for the update! Having that manual is gold! The radiator joke had me 🤣🤣🤣

[@christophercrawford3636]

Matt...as an owner of several pre-war and immediate post-war examples of exemplary British design and engineering, I thoroughly enjoyed your video. I refer to "Riley" cars exported to the less deserving colony of Australia and shared many of the design characteristics you found so alluring ( rotary"lever action" dampers, leather enclosed leaf springs, using cast-off teaspoons as welding rods, etc.). I particularly enjoyed your "tongue in cheek' narration which managed to highlight some of the more interesting limitations of British workmanship while not being too condescending. Now here in the USA, in an effort to relive years toiling under and over Rileys (which were thankfully never foisted on unsuspecting Americans), I like yourself have turned my attention to Jaguars which is a bit like marrying your ex-wife's sister! I can't wait for your next posting!

[@howardsimpson489]

We got Rileys here in NZ, the last were Mini's and 1100's. The prewar models had a lovely pre-select gearbox and knock on wire wheels.

[@StreetMachine18]

5:00 I think they are called fender welting. I could be wrong tho

[@Mancozeb100]

We called it “piping” over here. ( www.automobiletrim.com/wing-piping.html )

[@jkk244]

Fender welting is not exactly a novelty item - every VW beetle had it.

[@StreetMachine18]

@@jkk244 yeah i think i learned about it from nathans garage when he was fixing his bug.

[@davisfamily9510]

I love the way you make your videos! So entertaining and informative! I just discovered this build today. Can't wait to see it progress!

[@geddonmeansome9834]

You need a set of Whitworth wrenches and sockets, obsolete in the UK over 50 years ago but you can usually find them at flea markets here. Best of luck from the UK.

[@malakiblunt]

Oh another reason for the bottom hinged trunk was to carry more luggage , just leave it open you could carry a big steamer trunk -half in half out that way :-)

[@ab3000x]

Holy shit! You're the dude who made the Honda S600 that was on Leno. I'm an EV guy but that car is sick!!!! subscribing for sure!

[@BrandonBurns1985]

Can you hurry up!? This is too cool to have to wait to see it done lol

[@mikego18753]

I like the way old brake lights say STOP molded into the glass.lol.Great.

[@alabastardmasterson]

Tesla: any corporation can use our battery tech Also Tesla: no you will not wrench on your own car

[@Ben-hf7fg]

Wait wait wait. The F Type is good looking and the E type is okay I guess. I have the video paused to recover from that. If I don't comment later send help.

[@sneakychopsticks17]

Really love that you're uploading more. Keep it up!

[@RynoDBones]

I’m enjoying these. Just finished watching everything you’ve posted. You’re a natural at this.

[@negocioslocos]

Hahaha: "the drum brakes are made from the core of a neutron star." I laughed so hard.

[@BigAdam2050]

"I'm not sure whats in it that makes it so heavy" British Engineering. Gawd bless the Queen.

[@arburo1]

Steel chassis and separate body. That's the way all cars were built then.

[@michaelevason6570]

Just found your “channel” and am already hooked. I believe Mr Whitworth should be commended for producing the first standard threads back in the mid 1800’s. Keep up the good work Sir!

[@realvanman1]

These videos are great fun! I’m glad you found a good home for the unneeded parts. Jay Leno is right!

[@TheJeffcurran]

You have a great sense of humor, man!

[@GaryMcNeel]

That "ropey stuff" is fender welting. Anti-squeak, anti-chaffing. Great project.

[@Rabblewitz]

While I do really like the looks of the E-Type, now I can't unsee that it does sort of look like a tongue. :-) Enjoying the build!

[@kyleday7452]

That old Jag is soooo coool! What a great project!

[@kevinrogan9871]

I had a Mk V many years ago, in immaculate condition. Paint like a black mirror, interior in the condition it came out of the factory. It needed re-ringing and being a poor student it became impossible to service its inordinate thirst. Had to do brake cylinders and shoes, which the dealer still had wrapped in grease on their shelves. Always overheated, not jags finest product, but still beautiful

[@howardsimpson489]

Just to make the overheating fatal, the temperature gauge bulb was located on the radiator connection, the engine fried before the gauge warned you.

[@fergie232]

"but the brake drums are made from the core of a neutron star" 😂😂😂

[@lunkydog]

Whitworth bolts have heads in 32nds and that's your clue they are not regular Imperial bolts and nuts. The ropey thing between the fender and the body is called welting or beaded welting when it's standing proud like that.

[@uliwehner]

and it is available new. and not expensive either.

[@ericpeters9476]

Whitworth nuts and bolts use special wrenches. In the 70’s working on a British car one tested Whitworth, SAE and Metric wrenches on every nut and bolt.

[@chrisherbert4454]

Can’t wait to see how this progresses and more content too

[@nathanielh7677]

The ropey stuff is called fender welting. The old fashioned way of covering up bad panel gaps. If memory serves, 26 is a BSF or British Standard Fine thread pitch. BSF and Whitworth have completely separate wrench sizes from SAE as they predate it.

[@webtoedman]

It's BSC , otherwise known as cycle thread. Much used on bicycles and motorcycles to resist vibration. The profile is Whitworth standard.

[@djfast3]

this is gonna be a cool build.

[@Ryukachoo]

Mostly restoration with a build at the end somewhere

[@AbeYoung]

Thanks for making me watch all your videos.

[@rogerroberts1310]

Will admit that had I found this video a few days ago I would just write you off because of your attitude. But I found some of you later videos in which you worked on modifying the frame and in those videos you came across as a young engineer with hands on experience in machining. Got to thinking how much alike we are, or would have been if I had not attended a junior college vs an actual college. You have my subscription, something I hard to justify with most You Tube videos.

[@joell439]

I couldn’t agree more completely........ ‘neat’ 👍👍🤓👍👍

[@enzorabbath5306]

Awesome video, keep em coming

[@SuperLuckyCat7]

Excellent Project. And, You got to admit; "-It's a Jaaag". 😜

[@L-36]

There are Whitworth wrenches. Some sizes are close to either SAE or Metric but some are not. I have an Austin Healey. I think I have one Whitworth socket and a couple of filed out open end wrenches. A 5/8 6 sided socket came in handy. You have probably figured this all out by now as this is an old video but noticed your comment around the 6 min mark and thought I would chime in. Love your videos. Very fun.

[@northof-62]

There must be something wrong with Google's algorithm that has not suggested your channel until now. Oh well I'm here now. Feels good.

[@johnmoar7658]

there will be guys out there who need this stuff

[@Rouverius]

3:05 THANK YOU! Not knowing this bothered me more than I care to admit...

[@spookyf1]

You’re so hilarious 😆👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻and I’m English 😁👍🏻fantastic builds too

[@johnbaxter9446]

Been enjoying for about 24 hours. Well OK I slept a little. Absolutely Best Channel on KZbin. I'm not just gushing or whatever. It really is... Matt you remind me of my Dad, who reminded me of MacGyver. My Dad was a non-degreed Engineer, Inventor, Genius, and Pilot. Yup. he rebuilt his own Aeronca Chief light plane. Sadly it skips generations...

[@ProlificInvention]

Excellent video.

[@tomkalleske3475]

Yes on the Q1 thing - I think over half the population gets that wrong. And yes on the E-Type looking like a tongue, I've never heard a more apt description. Your videos are amazing, I love your production and delivery style.

[@ryansmithza]

Great video!

[@tomasbengtsson5157]

Full line in the wheel well. Yep, that’s British. I used to drive a Landrover Defender. I once had a stone following the wheel up around the wheel well. Knocked the fuel filter right off. Of course you mount the fuel line and the fuel filter in the wheel well 😂

[@uliwehner]

aah, the honda! now i remember you.

[@fredericksaxton3991]

here in Blighty, I bought my Imperial spanners from that famous USA company called "Snap-on". The Mark V uses UNF bolts as well as BSF bolts, and a few BSW in the cylinder head. And 2BA screws hold the steering wheel horn push together too. :) I always wanted to buy an old Mark V and stick a Jaguar 5.3 litre V12 under the bonnet with Jaguar XJ-S running gear/brakes. As for sticking an EV motor under the bonnet, Jaguar did that with an E-Type Jag that Prince 'Arry and the wife drove out after his wedding.

[@Simcard__]

I'm sure this has been said by now, but the factory bolt and nut heads will also be Whitworth, which is why standard spanners don't fit properly.

[@immortallu5590]

Thumbs up! Agree with tongue, I never understood why the e type is so revered

[@cccpkingu]

"Encounter of adventure in park", is chiefly British.

[@steves4639]

Fender welt. I'm curious about the build so will watch...the concept does look good. but have to confess that cutting up a classic Jag makes me die a little...I suppose its easier to justify if one isn't among the Jaguar literati...although who that could be I don't know

[@kd1s]

Regards Lucas electrical systems. Sir Lucas is also known as the Prince of Darkness.

[@brackcycle9056]

I have fender mounted mirrors, they are better than door mounted. you can see traffic on both sides without taking you eye off the car in front. on a 60s saloon, there is no blind spot between the 3 mirrors & your peripheral vision. No turning your head to look in the curb-side door mirror, Because they are far from the driver you don't need to adjust them if you move the seat. It does seem to have hydraulic brakes.. so very advanced.

[@aliterogasolini6401]

That stuff between the mudguards and the body, It’s called fender piping.

[@markwoodger2]

I like your term shed find ill be using it.

[@Myrune1]

This is so cool....

[@rjung_ch]

Well Jay sure told you, well done on your part 😉

[@chrisel2286]

The boot lid folds down because at the time people still frequently travelled with steamer trunks, and you would load it on to the “tail gate” and strap it down. The stuff wedged between the body panels is called fender welt. Hot rod shops sell it by the foot. The hand crank was for emergency starts, since battery technology was pretty poor and batteries failed frequently. Also, the typical Jaguar buyer in 1950 would have grown up with hand cranks and would have seen it as an essential backup.

[@jeffreywarrensmith581]

The ropey material between the fenders / mudguards is called "beading" from memory.

[@paulohlsen3332]

Whitworth/BSF wrenches/spanners are needed, many of the bigger sizes are more similar to metric then imperial. And yes still a pain in the ass especially if you have to replace them

[@_zzpza]

You probably know this by now, but I don't think Whitworth uses SAE sizes for the bolt head size. Whitworth sizes refer to the thread diameter, not the (across flats) AF size of the head. Awesome project, started watching from the start yesterday. Can't wait to see it moving. Best of luck! :D Edit: Now I've just watched the battery video and you know this already, so I'll go back to lurking. :)

[@ferrumlynx1914]

Great project! The bolts are actually not sloppy- you just need Withworth tools- which are not Imperial or US.

[@donaldasayers]

Annoyingly Whitworth spanners are marked with the size of the thread, so a 1 inch Whitworth nut is about 2 inches across. Whitworth hex sizes are in inches though so if you have a good imperial AF set there should be one that fits.

[@donaldasayers]

That ropey stuff is called wing piping. You can by it from Woolies in the UK.

[@r.a.monigold9789]

1970, Colorado Springs - heading east, past Ent AFB, towards Kansas, was a monster G.I. Junk Yard (my words). All Non Comms above E-4 and Officers serving in Europe post WWII were allowed to bring household goods and one car back to the U.S. And bring back cars they did. But what was popular in Europe was considered clownish in America. So the G.I.s scrapped their Euro Cars and bought American. I bought a 1950 Jaguar MK V- it RAN. Maybe $50 and I was driving in style - being laughed at by everyone else. I also bought (1 at a time) an XK-120 and a Ducatti. With NO parts, I took each one back - cheaper than rentals.

[@peterdguru]

cool project - turn that hand crank starter into a lithium battery charger!

[@alanblanes2876]

The Mark V Jaguar is possibly their most stately model ever.

[@arvinclassics]

If you have BSW (British Standard Whitworth) bolts and nuts, you need Whitworth spanners to fit them. Nice car!

[@andrewallen9993]

Ah, someone else who knows what he's talking about.

[@BemisShmemis]

Imagine being able to say "the last time I did that, Jay Leno yelled at me"

[@54mgtf22]

You use a Whitworth socket set!

[@SirGregory]

The trunk lid (boot lid) opens down to provide extra luggage space. (3:21)

[@grahammoore9341]

Cool project. Whitworth screws have odd sizes. You can buy Whitworth spanners still, they have odd sizes for heads, I got mine at swap meets

[@anidiotinaracingcar4874]

I have a weird idea for rear view mirrors: use a pop-up camera hidden behind the panel at 3:09

[@katywalker8322]

Whitworth is an imperial system, but the spanner size for them refers to the thread size, NOT the AF of the head of the bolt. And the AF size of those spanners is not a rounded imperial size . For example, a 1/2" Whitworth spanner is 0.92" AF / 23.37mm AF.

[@Essiee261]

This is gonna offend so many enthusiasts. YES!

[@grahamstrouse1165]

It all works out in the end-Rich Rebuilds is LS swapping a Tesla. 😁

[@ProlificInvention]

If you haven't figured a way to augment those tail lights, I had an idea that might work: You could 3d print a holder base to fit those lenses. I'd design it to hold LED brake lights that are found on Amazon/eBay. They are incredibly bright by themselves, the ones I have have like a lens on the end, and LEDs on the sides as well. 4 or 5 would be ridiculously bright. I might add those fog laser brake light add ons that project a laser pattern on the ground. Also found on eBay ect. Excellent video as always, thank you.

[@SuperfastMatt]

I was going to LED those and also probably put some red LED lights in the rear window. I think I need some lights up higher.

[@jakespeed63]

Fantastic project Do you have an engineering background? This car needs to be on Jay Leno Garage when finished 😎🏖🏆🇬🇧

[@SuperfastMatt]

Thanks! I have a dozen years in automotive as a mechanical engineer.

[@felixlillie1977]

Find some propper Witworth wrenches, they are not the same size as anything out there. Wait till you get to the BA bolts on the electrics that is the same story.

[@BiTurbo228]

"I'm pretty happy with the suspension design of this car...this could be on a car that was designed 50 years later." From an initial glance, the upper wishbones actually were used on a car 50 years later. They look identical to the ones fitted to my 1992 XJ40, and I doubt they changed them for the 1996 X300 or early 00s X308. Perhaps they did, Ford changed a lot on the X300 compared to the 40, but even still that's at least 40 years of parts continuity...

[@paulontheroad]

That "ropey stuff" between the fender and body is called "Welting"

[@jeppewerring]

Are you gonna put the aero wheels on it? I think it'd actually look quite cool.

[@SuperfastMatt]

Yes. Honestly, I think they look better on this car than on the Tesla.

[@jeppewerring]

@@SuperfastMatt I agree! something about very old and retro-futuristic works well together.

[@davydoo81]

BSW or British Standard Whitworth require different spanners/sockets for some sizes.

[@christopherhume8896]

With you on the E-Type. It's nice but I've never got the hype around it. F-type is more my style.

[@all_the_moga]

AMEN on the E-type comment!!

[@jonienglish3231]

MATT - ELECTRIC DODGE Gen 1 Viper !!!!!!!!!

[@rickneufeld2898]

Attach the crank to a hidden air raid siren. Wouldn't that be fun?

[@solstar4778]

The rope y thing is called “welt” !

[@hjalar]

If anyone is interested, it is slotted nuts not castellated nuts.

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

To bring it fully up to contemporary safety standards, will you remove the interior door handles and replace with a door-open switch which doesn't work if the battery's gone pop?

[@markkoons7488]

I'm sooo thankful I overcame my lust for old automotive iron. I hope you have many tens of thousands of dollars to "invest" in your find. Nevertheless this was an interesting video. Thanks.

[@adriaandeleeuw8339]

My fathers first car was a MkV Jaguar Convertible. ended up righting it off in an accident. bent the chassis. The threads are called British Standard fine, the spanners are called Whitworth nuts and bolts,

[@adriaandeleeuw8339]

IF you know Jay ask him about the spanners for Whitworth and British Standard fine bolts, he will know where to get them.