Hello All,
As this Thread is quite lengthy, I’ve made it over two Posts.
Awhile ago I Posted a request for Forum Members, that were able, or willing, to check out the configuration of the Window Regulators of LWB E Types; S2 2+2 and all S3 Models. I got no takers, so I’ll explain the reason for the request and provide my findings to perhaps help others to not go down this rabbit hole.
A few weeks ago a client brought his S2 2+2 to my shop to have the RH Window Regulator replaced with new; the part number of which is BD32616.
When the new part arrived, pictured below in the Window Up position and you’re all probably saying “OK, nothing wrong there”,
I stripped the door and got the new unit in place, complete with window attached, ready to secure it to the door frame via the Winding Mechanism housing and a four threaded stud bracket, which I’ll refer to as the Centre Frame Bracket. I toiled with this task for many a minute, until in utter frustration, I removed the Window Regulator from the door. On comparison with the original part removed, it was the mirror image as shown in the following picture.
Now I expect that you’re saying, “so, the one on the Left is a LH unit and of course it will be the mirror image”. However, the one on the Left is the Window regulator removed from the Right Hand door of the client’s car and following my normal practice, notwithstanding that only the RH door was being work on and therefore, no chance of mixing up L and RH parts, it was immediately marked on removal, R Hand for Right Hand.
In fact, the Window Regulator on the Left above that appears to be a Left Hand unit in the Window Up position, is a Right Hand unit in the Window Down position as shown in the following picture.
Following is a scan of the page from a Jaguar Parts manual showing the part of focus. Now I hear the muttering, “But it’s shown the same in the Parts Manual, as the New RH Window Regulator in the first picture above. Surely someone has mixed the Old Window Regulators up in the past.”
Well it does seem that way; but there is a mistake in that drawing. What is unequivocal is that, irrespective of whether the assembly is Left or Right, the tail of the Scroll Spring must always be tethered at the bottom of the lug and not at the top as shown in the picture above and more clearly in the following picture.
If tethered at the top of the lug, the spring would load up as the window is wound up. In this case, the Window Winder Mechanism would be fighting both the Scroll Spring and the weight of the window; that would be illogical. The Scroll Spring should load up as the window is wound down and therefore, the stored energy of the spring in the window down position will assist in raising the window and resisting the tendency of the window falling down.
Now I hear you saying, “So they made a mistake when drawing the spring, so what”
Well, if they made a mistake drawing the spring, why not the whole assembly? The part shown in the Parts Manual Picture above appears to be a RH unit in the Window Up position except that the tail of the spring is tethered at the top. If that drawing was flipped about its long axis, it becomes a LH unit in the Window Down position and the tail of the Scroll Spring would be tethered at the bottom as it should.
During the travel of the Window from Up to Down, the channel at the bottom of the window must cross past the lower horizontal member in the Parts Book drawing above. Accordingly, the Old, Original part shown as a LH unit in the Window Up position following,
becomes a RH unit in the Up position, configured as shown in the following picture.
Now I hear you saying, “cut to the chase and get on with it” and also, “so, the Window Regulators can be installed in either door.” Actually, this is Not possible.
If you try and install the part, configured as shown in the following picture in a RH Door, the parts that has the Part Number BD32616 and is marketed as a RH assembly,
you get profound interference with the Inside Door Latch Handle remote bar as shown in the following picture, even before the Centre Frame Bracket is fully home, flush with the inside face of the door frame, also shown in the following picture. Further, if the above unit is installed in a RH Door, when the window is wound down, the component of the Window Regulator indicated with the “Interference Label” will foul with the Vibration Damping Bracket and stop further progress.
If the Window Regulator is configured as shown in the following picture, an original part removed from a RH door,
then no interference whatsoever occurs, as shown in the following picture. The part that was shown to interfere with the Inside Door Latch remote bar and Vibration Damper Bracket is well out of picture in the direction of the Red arrow in the following picture, with no chance of interfering with the Vibration Damper, or other components inside the door.
Series 1 LWB cars are a different story. The remote bar for the Internal Door Latch is on the outside of the frame and therefore, there is no internal Vibration Damper and Bracket to deal with, accordingly; the Window Regulator can be configured either way and will fit equally well in either door.
It’s been my observation that the Window Regulator configured as shown in the very first picture is the norm for S1 cars, but an impossibility with S2 and S3, LWB cars if the Vibration Damper and Bracket haven’t been omitted.
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve inspected fourteen LWB S2/S3 cars and only one had the Window Regulators fitted, configured as shown in the very first picture. In this example, the car had been assembled in a Panel Beating shop that had no experience with E Types and using the Scroll Spring tail tether position as the identifier of the handedness of the unit, it was clear that it had been assembled in the wrong door. The Vibration Damper and Bracket had been removed.
In summary, it’s my opinion, based on a lot of evidence and logic, that the Window Regulators being sold by at least one After Market Supplier and many eBay sellers, are incorrectly specified; Left for Right and Vice Versa. Accordingly, if you’re in the market for a LWB Window Regulator, caveat emptor.
If still not convinced, go to the next Post.
Regards,
Bill
