Hi
Probably not the first time this has be asked here but couldnt find it.
I need to get the complete front suspension + engine/transmission out of the XJ12C. Problem is I have very limited space in the garage and the weather here is not very pleasant to work outside -> not possible to lift engine out the normal way.
The car is otherwise completely dis-assembled, only metal left (I will have to temporarily put in the IRS)
My idea was to:
1) Lower front ot car, put small wooden blocks with wheels (or why not skate boards =)) under suspension cross beam and transmission
2) Unbolt the front suspension
3) Lift up front of the car enough for the motor to roll under the front cross beam of car -> pull the whole package forward away from the car.
Will this work or what am I missing? I will have to measure if I can tilt the car at such an angle to clear the front cross beam (why was this not bolted instead of welded? would have made it all much easier)
cheers
Marcus

 

Nothing is impossible.

My only thought at the moment, and I feel more will pop up as the brain thinks more about it, is:

The ability to raise the body high enough to clear that assembly. I reckon, ALMOST so the tailpipes are touching the ground would be needed.

Other than that, as long as all the "fiddly" stuff is disconnected., I see no major issues.

 

Sounds like you are trying to raise the chassis rails up over the V12 and drop the engine out from the bottom? I would have said impossible unless everything was completely stripped off the engine possibly including cylinder heads and exhaust/inlet manifolds.

the chassis rails are about 700mm apart and the dressed V12 is seriously much wider.

the front radiator cross member is indeed welded, however the motor would need to clear the chassis rails first before that became a problem.

best bet would be to build a frame or attach a chain hoist from above and lift engine up on a 45 degree angle and over the top of radiator cross member.

or tow it to a bigger workshop?

 

I, too, have doubts that the V12 is narrow enough to drop out the bottom. And, yes, even if it's doable, the body of the car would need to be lifted very high.

FWIW, the first post in this thread shows my method of removal:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...roject-142259/


Cheers
DD

 

It is certainly possible. But it is also likely much harder to achieve than just the normal methods of removal.

 

I would have thought that the factory installed the engine from the bottom - that is the usual way. Just measured my XJ12 chassis and it is 24" at the bulkhead and 32" at the front crossmember.
The bare V12 is less than 24" at the rear, but more than 24" at the front top of the Vee. Your method is possible but you would need to raise the car every high - how about you buy a 2 post hoist? They are very reasonably priced these days

 

For the record, I grabbed a $200 harbor freight engine hoist and had my engine, subframe, and transmission removed in a few hours.
Part of this might be because I have a SBC, but really it can't be all that much more difficult with the original engine, can it?


I have also just removed the subframe from the car without removing the engine. I supported the engine with an engine bar, ( also from harbor freight for a few $ ), and then removed the bolts from the engine mount and then the subframe bushed mounts to the body.
Actually, writing this i just remembered that I had already removed the steering rack to replace the bushings in the mounts. That may have made it a little easier :P

 

The Jaguar V12 was lowered down into the engine bays on a 45 degree angle. I have seen factory images of this process.

As you say, it is possibly a method, but one that is sure to give you a very sore head and bloody knuckles!

Ok, I found the images in one of my XJS books...

 

Boy Howdy does That look familiar!
(';')