jetlag700,
I'm still anxiously awaiting that YouTube link, and, I think someone else requested a parts list

 

I too wanted a little performance and sound from my '89 XJS, so after reading on this forum last year, I first changed out my stock air cleaner boxes and replaced them with K&N system, then gutted both sets of cats and replaced the mid muffler with straight pipe and added 3"X5" SS exhaust tips beneath the bumper.
I really like the difference, and definitely feel more low-end pulling power under acceleration and love the high-pitch 'singing' when launching. I often use 2nd gear to aid in slowing down, and the burbling sound catches attention too.
She's a great old girl, I drive it like it should, having put 44,000 km on it since buying it almost 4 years ago.

 

Appreciate this is an old thread, but I'm interested in continuing this to find the 'right' option for a proper GT car. So, does anyone have any further knowledge gleaned since 2014?

That and I found another video of Mark Hammond's XJS!

 

Love that clip! I get to have the Targa Tasmania cars go past my place each year, the cethana - moina run is awesome to watch.

 

bringing up an old thread, could one not go under the cage rather than through the cage for a better sounding exhaust? or does something differ from the etypes to the xjs rear suspension. Maybe height clearance?

 

About to finish my home made stainless steel exhaust system with magnaflow resonated x pipe. What do you guys think?

 

Sounds awesome. I think the xjs needs the x pipe to sound really good.

 

I put a 2.5" custom system in my xjs through the diff cage. No problem. It can be done.

 

Details needed!

Cat delete? Can you take a underside pic or draw diagram? I need that raspy v12 sound at idle.

 

-No cats
-Manual transmission (Getrag 290)
-No overrun valves
-All pipes are 2 1/8 inch (54mm) 304 stainless steel
-Only one muffler - Magnaflow resonated X-pipe, part number 11385



There is another video I managed to record:

 

Might need a sock over the mic to clean it up but ya that is nice, I get a Big Cat growl at 700rpm-1000, lawn mower till 2500 then raspy ferrari v12 from 3000+ rpm.

You seem to capture the best note, I'm thinking my gutted cats are the issue.

 

What system do you run?

From my experience the cats dont make that much difference in the note. I gutted them out long time ago while having the stock exhaust with mid silencers removed - very small difference in the note.

I wanted to achieve more V12ish note, which in case of an XJ/XJS is in my opinion only possible by merging the two sides of the engine at some point (X or H).
I also picked rather small diameter pipes all around hoping to avoid too deep more like V8 muscle car sound, cos I think that just doesnt sound appropriate for the jag.
I am not sure if my amateur ideas did the trick, but I am very happy with the result.

 

Gutted cats, same size pipes as you, 2 glasspack high flow mufflers to side exits ahead of radius arms. Stupid of me to toss the stock resonators they would of been better than mufflers.

I KNEW I should of done the X pipe...I have one in a box here, at 5000rpm in 1st gear its a menacing rasp, and the idle/rolling idle grows like an actual Jaguar cat but that mid range where we do normal driving is just lawn mower-ish.

Mine doesn't snap and rasp while reving like yours. I'd start calling them professional ideas you've done better then me lol.

 

My first XJS had a hard shift from 3rd to 4th gear, so I always drove in 3 while on surface streets. I had all of the mufflers out, and used 4 glasspacks for some growl. The combo of driving at higher RPMs in 3 with the glasspacks made it a great drive and interestingly had an exotic tone to it.

 

Goosebumps!

 

sounds awesome! Just what I want... you have the x-muffler... are the rear silencers gone?

 

Thanks! just the x muffler and straight pipes behind the axle...no rear silencers.

 

nice! Did you try it with the silencers at all? Wondering how that would effect the sound ... seems the X-Pipe like the E-Type is the key to a good tone.

 

Has anyone tried straight pipe after the cats? I had a Lincoln Town Car with 4 cats once and ran straight pipe to the factory Y pipe and single exhaust. It sounded good without being overly loud. I'm curious how something like that would sound on an XJS.

 

I’m ready for spring!