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I have been all over your site, looked at the videos, nothing about the nuts and bolts of the conversion if you will. Just vid's a car running.
It's a really small shop, but I've chatted with him, met him, he brought one of the cars over for me to see. Two of my mechanics have blessed the work they do. He's a good guy, no reason to be rude.
At the time I had a 99 xk8 and his kit could only work with older engines, given the cost, I just couldn't see spending a ton on labor to put a 10 or 12 year old engine in my car. I wanted something far newer. Since then I swapped out to an XKR but I'm tempted to try an LSA engine in the car.
But Andrew is a good guy, we need more folks like him to take care of us crazy jag owners.
I think there are under 20 XK8's,XKR's and XK's in our metropolitan area of about 350,000. I'll see about 6 or 7 a year.
There is a downside to this "exclusivity", if that is indeed a desirable quality in a car. Ford reported that in all the years they owned Jaguar that they never made a dime on the brand ... hence the sale.
Let's hope Jaguar can sell a lot more cars (and be less exclusive) or else the brand will be in trouble in this very competitive environment.
I have been all over your site, looked at the videos, nothing about the nuts and bolts of the conversion if you will. Just vid's a car running.
That's because I'm sure that he knows almost all of his customers plan to source the job. This group is the least mechanically inclined I"ve seen. I might be the only owner who actually plans to do the conversion.
That's because I'm sure that he knows almost all of his customers plan to source the job. This group is the least mechanically inclined I"ve seen. I might be the only owner who actually plans to do the conversion.
Nope.... I will do any conversion in my own suburban 1 car workshop.
That makes 3 of us. I just bought my XK8 from a guy in Chicago and then discovered this forum and now this awesome piece of intelligence. I own and operate a hotrod shop in Peoria,Il and Have installed a lot of LS engines in our streetrod builds and am excited to to do the same to my Jag.
XK8's and LS Conversions, and something new, and shifty......
Hi, this is Andrew from Jaguar Specialties. I've been following the conversation here on converting XK8's and just wanted to chime in on one thing. Actually, about half of our XK8 LS conversion customers are individuals doing it on their own, and the rest are shops. In fact, we just had a repeat order for an XK8 kit from an individual owner/installer- he's doing a coupe now to go with his original convertible.
One thing I wanted to clarify is that in the realm of conversions (in general), and LS installs in particular, this conversion is not particularly difficult. I'm not going to say we have it down to cookbook status, but it is close. The fact that the LS goes in wearing 90% standard parts, and that the car itself stays very stock as well has much to do with it. My take on it is an individual with reasonable automotive skills/experience can do this, of course using us a ready resource for questions and assistance as he goes. This is a great conversion for these cars and I hope more XK8 owners take advantage of it.
And here's a little preview of coming attractions- we are very far along with a 6 speed manual transmission version of the XK8 LS conversion kit as well. I expect it to be available for first customers in the next few months. Here are some pics- shifter positioned in same location as original auto shifter, new clutch/brake pedals (sorry, the pedal pads had not yet come in), and clutch master (standard Girling style) on the pedal box- you can see the additional reservoir and the braided clutch hydraulic line all nestled in the area.
For more info, please Email us or call- 408 839 5569
Last edited by JaguarSpecialties; 10-23-2013 at 05:31 PM.
I just bought Andrews green coupe and conversion kit. I have a shop building a 5.3 with aftermarket cam & lifters, larger torque converter and LS2 injection (the truck injection won't clear) and a 4l60E 4 speed. I've been comtemplating this for 3 years and had to sell my El Camino to do it. Can't wait to get the car. If you are in or near northern Florida I can turn you onto my mechanic who does nothing but LS work. My engine choice was dictated by budget. You can see the car in my avatar...BTW rebuilding the engine was by choice not really necessary as these engines are good for 200K + miles....
So has any forum members actually done this to their own XK8? Mine has 129K on the odometer now and I m tired of the oil leaks. It has been a few years since I felt confident enough to take a real trip in the car. It still runs great but this conversion would build confidence In the old girl. If I have to pull the engine to get at the leaks I’d just as soon do this. A manual transmission in a British Cabriolet with this kind of style plus dependability has been the dream of mine. Go anywhere in the country if you have a problem you can get it fixed. Available parts and mechanics would work on it.
Id love to see a later model 5.0SC and transmission swap:O). Orrrrr a Coyote motor with the ten speed auto:O) For the typical xk8 with a blown engine however this is a great alternative to save the car if you like projects and definitely something different
09-21-2013, 10:49 PM
Just talk to him
