oh I just havnt bought the tool to remove it yet, lol ill save it for my range rover when they die i guess.

 

idaho falls

 

i cant run slicks on it but id imagine it would if i am easy with it, for now i am running the stock diff.

 

so my boss is a race car builder and says to stay away from the c6, he thinks he can get me a turbo 400 with c6 bell for around 2000, i am not sure if its worth it as i wont be able to get enough traction to tear anything up anyway lol! a Hughes c6 with converter is 1500 bucks from summit, ill have to think about this one. i need the longest transmission i can get to make the mount semi line up with the factory jaguar cross member, alot of guess work so far but everything looks to line up great.

 

oh and so far everything on the car still works, i pulled the entire engine wiring harness from the firewall, i do not want to tap into the jaguar electronics and bypass whatever i can, notice my msd 1 wire ign, lol there are a million warnings on the dash but honestly they are round and look about the same size as a mechanical gauge so mabye in time i can swap those out with mechanical gauges but that is after i get this running and driving.

also the front end is not sagging with this coil spring conversion, it sets exactly the same as it did before though i know this 532 is a ton heavier than the 4.2,

 

that might be a problem but nothing a aluminum aftermarket radiator relocated behind rebar wouldnt take care of, of course i will run electric cooling fans.

 

what i hope to do is use the jaguar starter wire to crank the motor, i will see if its getting power without the eng wiring harness tommarow, the start wire is on the same side as the ford starter, if i recall this car has auto start which i do not want, if it sends power to the wire and works like im hoping then i can use my jaguar ign switch.

 

Thanks for the great photos!

As you're removing the AC system(?), assume this will be a Sunday fun car?

Too bad about the water pump snout. Are there any "block hugger" pump options that would allow you to use the jag radiator? With the AC condenser removed, you would have room for elec fans, and the radiator would probably be big enough. Keeping that big lump cool will be a challenge

With the stock XJ8 diff R&P (2.87?), and assuming you use something like a 2000 + rpm stall converter, you'll probably spend a lot of time in first and second gear

What rpm is peak torque on your big block? Lowest decent idle RPM?

Do you plan to drag race? 1/4 or 1/8 mile?

Here's a link to Jag spec book pdf (you may already have this):

http://jagrepair.com/images/AutoRepa..._2007_2004.pdf

Yeah, the instrument panel may need to go stone axe as well, though I believe the VSS is in the rear diff, so your speedo should work. The ign key will provide a solenoid signal at some level in the circuit, though you will prob need to dig for it, and then use a relay before the old school ford solenoid. Check around first (see below)

Jag Specialties sells kits for doing GM V8 swaps. Here's an LS1 in an '02 X308:

Jaguar Specialties

They may be able to help with the instrument panel interface. Also, they have some experience with various Jag rear diff options and fuel system interfaces

Assume this swap will be carbureted? Will you use the stock jag EFI pump with pressure reducer/regul

 

I hardly even need ac in idaho, i hope it will stay cool but it will need a good radiator and cooling fans, I am half tempted to get a electric water pump, it will be a sunday driver but i will drive it to work also. i haven't started this motor since it came off the dyno.

 

Your engine builder can give you those rpm numbers. And, they're probably right on the cam card

My only experience is with GM big blocks, and if IRRC, a 500 ci rat motor making over 600HP is pretty fluffy below 2500 RPM

What cam are you using? Set straight up?

Regarding gearing, I checked - the x350 diff is an 8" visteon. Lowest OE R&P is ~ 3.58. Quaife torsen LSD is still available; ~$1,500

Reason I asked about your engine build was possibility of using the XJ8 trans. If this will be primarily a street car, you might want to consider it. The ZF 6 speed is pretty stout, and there are apparently high stall converters available eg
(* Looking For A 6 Speed High Stall Ford Torque Converter?

Using an old C6 or TH400 drag trans on the street with that way-high R&P might get old pretty fast. Most C6 gearsets are 2.46 / 1.46 / 1.00. The 6HP will be something like :
1 2 3 4 5 6 R
4.171:1 2.34:1 1.521:1 1.143:1 0.867:1 0.691:1

This would make things way more liveable.

Another thing to consider is trans cooling. With the C6, the OE XJ8 R&P and a 2500 RPM converter, you will be in slip most of the time, which makes a ton of heat

Love that you're doing this swap. Making it truly streetable will be the challenge

 

waiting for race turbo 400, 2200 bucks shipped, after that i can bolt it up and see what needs to happen to mount to that cross member. then i can finally start the motor in the car.

 

If your tires don't break loose, you will probably overstress the driveshaft and differential, and maybe bend the entire chassis. Used XJs are throwaways unfortunately, so doesn't matter if you destroy it. Hate to say that but poor Jag engineering makes it inevitable that few persons will pay average $2k year in maintenance for a $15k car.

Perhaps a better option than a big block with way too much weight and torque would be a 351 Cleveland or 5.0 Coyote. If you live where they don't smog check you can put anything in there; hmm perhaps an Aston Martin or Rolls Royce V-12?

 

How goes the battle?

 

after months of waiting my transmission is finally in, turbo 400



got the drivetrain in and look at this, the turbo 400 holes line of with the factory jaguar cross-member, how weird is that.

 

 

oh and tons of room around the transmission, no issues with clearance as the turbo 400 is much smaller than the zf 6 speed.

 

Great!!!!!!!!!!!!

IRRC, Jag used the TH400 in earlier XJ sedans, and other models as well. Also used AC Delco AC compressor and other stuff

Wish I was closer to you in Idaho, as we're now washed up at a Super8 in Wheatland, Wyoning with a sick XJR. Post eclipse...

john

 

figured out starter wiring, its pretty much plug and play, my switch works with the ford starter, meaning my factory jaguar ign switch will start this thing with no other mods, about ready to start this thing after i get a yoke for the transmission. motor and trans are all bolted down and ready to roll.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55oA...ature=youtu.be

 

Bummer about the transmission fault.