QuestionI have a 1974 Series 3 E-type Jaguar with charging problems. The car has the original BUTEC alternator (60 amp) and for value purposes I would like to keep it. The BUTEC regulators don't seem to last long and now are almost impossible to find, if you can afford one. The alternator works just fine. A fellow cat lover says to replace the regulator with a Leece-Neville 5016RC. He cautions that the Pos,Neg,and Field connections are not in the same locations on both regulators. He also stated the jumper from the triode to the brush block will have to be removed. Will the Leece-neville work without any further modifications? I don't want to fry the system.
Thanks for your help and assistance.
AnswerHi Dick,
I put a lot of alternators and regulators on e-types when I worked for two different Jag dealers. But I never heard of what your friend said to do. That doesn't mean it is not correct but I can't confirm what he says. If I could see a diagram of the internal components in this "Leece-Neville 5016RC" regulator I might be able to agree or disagree. Unless I could see it in writing from a company that sold the regulator I would not want to risk melting down a wiring harness or frying my alternator or battery not to mention burning my car to the ground.
I do remember installing more than one brand of regulator but they were always a direct fit and the plug fit correctly with NO modifications. Also, there were no more failures of regulators than any other car.
You need to contact someone like Terry's Jag, Broken Kitty, John's Cars, Welch Jag, Moss Motors or one of the dozen other Jag parts specialist for a regulator.
If your car is a "Show Car" and you are trying to keep it looking original, it wouldn't take much to cut the outer face off of a failed original regulator and glue it on a replacement. No one is going to remove it to examine it in a car show.
Howard
