Greetings, a new user here. I bought a 1989 VDP as a project car for the winter. Here in MN you need something to keep busy when it's -40 and dark for 4 months. The car is missing 1/2 the motor. It was in a repair shop in Denver and the customer did not have the money to complete repairs and the shop sold off a bunch of parts under the hood. The head and most of the electrics are gone as is the hydro pump, ABS device and AC compressor. The car is clean and has only 68K on it. Back here in MN I found a wrecked 1991 VDP with 55K. Will the motor and other bits be the same? By reading the information here, I see that the XJ-40 from 88-94 is kind of a ******* child, seems the 'worst of the worst'. Should I quit while I am ahead and go find a Series III? How about the Jag Specialities 350/700R4 set up? I have the GM drive line in stock and they have a XJ-40 kit... Might be money a head to use the 91 if it all fits then watch for a clean Series III for the GM conversion... Any 'saged' advice from the Forum?

 

Engine management/ transmission control is all different. I have an excellent used '88 engine for a good price, PM me if you are interested.

 

So it is 88-89 only? What do you want for the motor? Where in Ohio are you? What is your opinion of the GM 350 conversion? Seems the 88-89 are the worst of the worst, is it prudent to put the same motor back in to a car I plan on having my wife drive?

Thanks

 

You have to be a fool, or make a conscious effort to break one of those engines. I don't speak Chevy. Semd me a private message if you want the correct engine

 

Jagtechohio hit the nail on the head, properly maintained, an AJ6 will last for insane mileage.

A Used Engine makes MUCH more sense than fixing what you have.

 

Sadly many of the components under the hood are gone, I would need a complete car to go back to the 3.6l.

Andrew at Jag Specialities has been great to deal with, I think I'm headed in that direction unless I can find a donor car. Since it is a 88-89 only I don't hold out much luck, but I am looking...