Hi, looking at putting a 4.0 V8 with autobox into a hot rod I'm building. Is there a simple way to get the engine fired up? Have standard loom, ECUs and ignition etc...after that I'm open to suggestions

 

I would recommend going with an aftermarket ECU (see what Holley has available). That is going to simplify a lot of things and make a lot of errors just not happen. If you attempt the jaguar ECU, then you are going to be trying to make ABS sensors work on the wheels, will need a bunch of other modules, etc. Pretty much, you will need a whole wiring harness and all the sensors from that year car to not have a laundry list of error codes. Not to mention, the aftermarket ECU is going to come with its own screen to give you all the engine vitals where you would end up having to take the Jaguar instrument cluster and attempt to make it fit into your car. Yes, these ECU's are around a $1000, but I think you are going to be money ahead in what you save with having to get all the other parts and just time in making it all work.

 

Being the 4.0 make sure you've got the last generation of chain tensioners etc!
You are almost guaranteed NOT to have them.

+1 on not keeping Jaguar PCM as it will insist on having ABS module, cluster module, security stuff, etc.