Hi Everyone,

Just purchased a 1977 XJS with the flat head V12. It hasn't ran since 1988 and has been in a leaky garage until two weeks ago. I don't expect this project to be easy, cheap, or quick, so I figure I would just get that out of the way now. So far all I have done is remove the tumbler from the ignition so that I could turn it via screwdriver, and I did hook up a battery to see if it had any power. I currently get clicking when I turn the ignition from various relays. The starter solenoid did engage once, but I did not crank the engine yet. Also, the drivers window and high beams work, but not much else.

My initial plans are as follows:
-soak cylinders with oil
-turn engine over by hand
-replace plugs, wires, and fuel hoses & test Injectors
-change oil
-drain gas tank and check condition of the tank
-get radiator rebuilt, or replace with aluminum rad

So that is what I plan to do prior to even thinking about starting the engine. What are my fellow jag owner's thoughts? Also, What oil does this thing take? I know it takes 12 quarts, but what viscosity & type? My goal for this car is to get into vintage racing, and have a nice cruiser to take to car shows. The only avenue to keeping cost down is that I will be doing all the work myself. I really don't care about the costs of parts, however I am not going for an all original car either.

Help & Suggestions are appreciated, and did I mention it's British Racing Green? I will post photos of it's resurrection as I go down this most likely endless journey.

Thanks, Darren

 

Going through a similar project. Good luck and plenty of pictures, please.

 

Agreed, good luck and plenty of pics.

 

To be honest, XJS's aren't that expensive to work on, new parts abound and rust is easily repaired on them. Enjoy owning an earlier model, I think they look the best.

 

I would definitely agree that many parts are reasonably priced. Also, I love the look of the first years of the XJS as well due to the black bumpers that most people hate. However I wish I had the quad headlights because I do prefer them, but the single lens on the car are worth more so I can deal with them. The rust isn't that bad on the car. The floors are solid as well as the trailing arm mounts. I'd say it's concentrated on the trunk pan, door bottoms, and rockers which are all pretty easy to fix.
Here are some pics...

 

I have a parts car in the back yard in that colour, looks (looked) good.
You can still buy brand new rocker panels from the UK if you are dedicated and they are a simple shape to fabricate if not.
Trunk floor is equally easy being mainly flat panels.
My only wish is that Jaguar had put the prototype chrome bumpers on the early cars, they would've looked great. Damn your country and it's stupid 5mph impact laws!

 

Yeah I'm pretty sure I will be making the panels myself. I have welded a lot of sheet metal into cars since I live in Pennsylvania with their damn salt. My X-type is the only car I've ever had that doesn't have any rust on it, but it's from California. I got under the car for the first time today, and things don't look too bad. The structure is solid as a rock, and the only additional rot I found was the front jack points are gone, but that should be simple enough to remedy. Also, I found that there is only about two gallons of gas in the tank, which smells like varnish, but it is still in liquid form. I plan on getting it started this weekend hopefully.

 

I do like a green Jag. You are a brave men and I look forward to following this thread. I'm considering a project myself. Good luck and keep the photos coming.

 

So I have ripped out pretty much everything from the front of the car. I have verified that the engine is not seized and I have cranked it over via the starter by jumping the relay since I can't get it to crank via the ignition. I changed the plugs too, and the compression test seems to be good. I am currently at a standstill with the car. I got it to make a small pop today by cranking a spraying starting fluid, but nothing else. I don't believe any of the ignition modules are getting power, so I guess it is time to start tracing wires. My question is where do I get any kind of diagrams for a 1977 xjs. It seems to be impossible to find anything in depth. I will post more pictures tomorrow.

 

Hi Darren, I got the Jaguar heritage cd rom to cover tech stuff although it does have a bit of a bias to the later cars I've noticed.

 

Hi everyone,

So... its been some time and the project is getting started again. I have removed the engine out of my car (don't worry its going back in, I'm not an LS swap guy) and I am starting the bodywork phase. I have found a 1987 XJS with factory sunroof that I am going to be using as my parts car. Believe it or not its super clean compared to mine except for the hood, but my hood is rust free. Im getting it for $250 minus the rear end, wheels in the pictures, steering column, and headliner. I'll probably pull over $3000 in parts from it though. I will be starting to regularly post build pics as well. I am shooting for a TWR XJS replica. Wow, that engine was a bear to get out, Its true about the 45 degree removal angle though. Also, I will be putting a manual transmission in this car, and I am not buying a kit, so a lot of information should come from that. I'm really hoping to drive this car before winter.

updates coming soon,

Darren

 

Good to see that you are moving forward. I could use some motivation and will be very interested in your progress. Best of luck.

 

Hi Everyone,

I have the front body panels removed from my car. It took me all day due to stubborn fasteners, rusty bolts, and lack of info. I have both the haynes manual, and the XJS shop manual and neither explain how to remove the front panels. The bumper comes off by removing the two nuts on the left and right side of the radiator. the bumper just slides out after that. The wings come off by removing the bolts along the top of the wing, four bolts that are accesible from under the corner trim under the headlight, 5 more bolts behinf the rear splash panel in the wheel well, and two above the headlight. The headlights are kind of self explanatory. Also, I found out that I have the borg warner type 12 transmission. I am curious if I can use that bell housing and mate it to a manual gearbox since its detachable unlike the GM 400 transmission. Lastly, I have verified that I have a 100% numbers matching car.

Until the next rainy day in my garage,

Darren