PHX new guy with 87 XJ6 LT1 conversion
 

Ok - my name is Jym Rodriguez. We live in Phoenix, AZ.
I just picked up a 1987 XJ6 with a 95 LT1 conversion. It's a very cool car. I joined the forum so I can learn from others.
It has been restored inside and out, but it does have a few issues.
There is an oil leak coming from the front of the engine and the tranmission has a hard time shifting when you get on it. It shift fime if you drive it like a normal person.
I'm looking forward to talking with you all and maybe meeting some in a the area.

Welcome aboard :-)


Cheers
DD

Welcome to the forum

jym welcome you will find plenty of info and support here simply follow the links Graham has provided - enjoy!!

Hello Jym,

Welcome! I live in Mesa. I'm not certain but wasn't 87 the first year of the XJ40 body style in the USA? Anyhow, it's tough to drive a Jaguar like a normal person. Especially one with a Chevy V8! I bet it cooks.

There are plenty of sedans and XJS around from the 70s and 80s that received a new lease on life with a Chevy V8. Ironically, since 1998 all Jaguars were powered by a V8 in the USA, until the X-type V6 came along.

Welcome to the forum Jymrod

Welcome to Jaguar Forums Jym,

Good to have you with us.
Enjoy the forum.

If you haven't done so already you should add your car details to your signature to help others to help you.
If you need help with getting around and using the forum follow this link for some help Forum Help

Series III XJ6 versus XJ40
 

The Ser III vs. XJ40 issue can be confusing.

The Series III XJ6 remained in production right thru April 1987 for the USA market*. These cars carried '1987' VINs and were sold as '1987 model year' cars. The XJ40 was introduced to the USA market later in 1987 as a '1988 model year' car with a '1988' VIN.

Since model year designations are not subject to interpretation in the USA....the model year is established definitively by the VIN and not by sale date, registration date, or build date....we can be confident that anyone residing in the USA with a '1987 XJ6' has a Series III car. I suppose there could be some oddball situation where a ROW XJ40 was grey-marketed into the 'States and titled as a '1987' but that seems very improbable to me.

Many aftermarket parts catalogs don't acknowledge the 1987 Ser III XJ6 so some caution is needed....or you'll end up with XJ40 parts. In fact, many people who are otherwise extremely well versed on all-things-Jaguar make the mistake of disregarding the 1987 model year Ser III XJ6 and refer to 1986 as the last year and sometimes refuse to accept otherwise, as though the USA market cars just don't count ! In actuality the biggest sales market for Jaguar is the USA and 1987 was a strong model year in terms of sales volume...so the 1987 Ser III XJ6 is very much a real thing :-)

Cheers
DD

* Probably Canada and Mexico as well, but I'm not certain

Thank you all for your replies.
I have no idea if it is a Series III or a XJ40. I'll scheck the VIN and get back with you.

Question: The Jag is in great shape (inside and out). The motor coversion makes it very fast. The question is, why does it seem they don't hold their value. Is it worth keeping? The guy before me dropped tons of money into it, but the resale value doesn't seem to be there.
Is a 1987 XJ6 with a LT1 conversion worth investing in or keeping?

The quickest way to distinguish between a Series III and an XJ40 is the Series III has twin wipers but the XJ40 has a single wiper.

Jaguar values drop like a stone partly because of past reputations and partly because running and maintenance costs are high.

I always think you have to really want to own and drive a Jaguar. If luxury transport is the priority, there are many other less costly options.

Graham

"Worth keeping" as an investment? Highly unlikely. Worth keeping because you really like it? That's up to you :)




That's why most of us love 'em so much. Lots of car for little money



It's a hobby car. Very very few hobby cars are a good investment from a financial standpoint.

Cheers
DD

If someone is thinking of EVER getting their money out of one of these cars, or Any car they've restored/modified/converted, they're dreaming. It just ain't gonna happen.

The truth is, people only sink that kind of money and work into a car, Any car, strictly for themselves and because they love/d the car. If they think it will be an "investment" they're deluding themselves. If anyone else wanted to pay for all that stuff and expend all that effort in the beginning we would have done so. But we're only too willing to reap the benefits of someone else sinking all that money and work into their car and then finding an issue they don't want to deal with, got bored with it, fill in the blank, and then pushing it, for whatever reason, for whatever they can get out of it.

If you like the car then Drive The Car! Don't even think of it as an investment because you'll NEVER get your money back.
(';')

Thanks everyone. Can anyone recommend a good mechanic in Mesa, AZ. Remember it has the Chevy LT1 under the hood.

Phx visit.
 

I will be in phx end of oct and nov. let me know if there are going to be any cruises or meet ups. Thx