Hi all, I need guidance on my 1985 XJSC V12.
I have a pre HE engine (B6317P33441 LB) from Japan I think and the in-car HE (H574 8S37281SB vin no. SAJJNACY3CC125) which I think was run without coolant at some point.

I hope to get one of them rebuilt but I'm undecided on what would be the better motor to do up and so I would welcome suggestions from the forum.
Secondly, can anyone suggest a workshop/mechanic in Australia that could do such a rebuild?

Lastly, if I were to attempt the rebuild myself, can you tell me from where I can source parts like head gaskets, rings and bearings etc. Also a replacement for the rusted out cooant crossover pipe ideally in stainless steel?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

OOPS

Your car being a HE, and P Digital EFI system, as apposed to teh PreHE "spare" that runs a D Jetronic system.

Anything is doable, but I doubt thi is any realm I woould even consider.

The fact the HE has been "cooked" means its basically a boat anchor, SAD, but fact.

The e electronic/wiring/etc, to fit a PreHE to a HE car, mind blowing in MY opinion. Again, doable, but why????
There would be HE "uncooked" engines out there I would think, maybe not at the local wrecker, but certainly out there.

Parts:

JagDaim in Melbourne is a good source for me over 40 years.
Talk to Doug about an engine, ya never know.

 

Bundy1,

I'm not sure what is that pre-HE engine? The number you've quoted is not an XJS pre-HE engine number. The number would be 8S then 5 digits then SA, SB, HA or HB. As per your HE engine (the H574 is not part of the engine serial number).

As Grant has said, I don't think I'd try and fit that other engine (even if it really is from an XJS pre-HE) into your car. If your engine really is beyond economic repair, I'd probably try and source another HE engine which would be so much easier to fit.

Good luck

Paul

 

Thanks Paul.
The second engine I have has the numbers I quoted. Is it possible to work out what the engine is?
I include here a photo of its engine numbers.

 

Thanks Paul.
The second engine I have has the numbers I quoted. Is it possible to work out what the engine is?
I include here a photo of its engine numbers.

 

I think that's a low compression engine out of an early Series 3 XJ12 saloon.

Paul

 

Can anybody decode the number, there must be records of engine numbers somewhere although I did try Sean Straws decoder without success?

 

Thanks Grant. I think I errored buying the pre he engine but there items I can use on it like the water pump etc.

I know I said it may have overheated at some point due to the very rusty crossover coolant pipe, the motor has good compression. The lowest being 120psi so it should be okay would you agree?

 

Perfectly OK. All the crossover pipes go rusty unless looked after.

 

Thank you for that, I was a bit concerned when told it's more likely to be a boat anchor.
Would you know where I can aquire a stainless steel crossover or any sort of crossover?

 

The V12 is not hard to overhaul and rebuild, but to do a good job is time consuming.
The one caveat to that statement is getting the heads off the block.
That alone can be many hours, but once done most other things to do are straightforward.

It tends to be an expensive exercise if you have somebody do it for you.
With a reasonable set of tools, a bit of mechanical aptitude and help from this and other forums you can do it.
All the parts are usually available in Oz.
If time and money is limited it is a fair bet you can get away with just reworking the heads and leave the bottom end alone.
Take the heads off the HE V12 and report back.
Forget about a pre HE engine except for some parts you might be able to use.

 

It is a fair bet that all you need to do is renew the injector hoses and fuel feed and return pipes, clean up the earths and all the connectors, renew the coolant hoses, renew the plugs, leads, dizzy cap and rotor, and coils and start the engine!

 

All good advice thank you.

I've asked about a replacement crossover pipe three times now and no-one has mentioned it yet it's my main issue.

Where do I get a replacement coolant crossover pipe, I've tried Moss motors and others but they are no help. It looks like it will be something home made but by who?

 

Try Simply Performance in the UK. They have been working on a stainless steel crossover. It may be ready by now. You can Google them for their website. Email them if it's not on their website yet. Ben at Simply Performance is very responsive and helpful.

 

You srr Downunder.

Talk to JagDaim, as suggested way back.
Prestige (H&H) Spares, also in Vic.

?bay, maybe.

There was a group in Tassie, some 35 years ago, making them, and the steel header tank in stainless, memory hahaha, is giving me Jagspares, but that is a guess at best.

EAC4191 is the part number, and YES, I know they are NLA, but the search engines dont know that, sometimes you get lucky.

 

Loads on UK ebay.

 

NOTHING is a waste. You may not need some item, but someone will eventually, as parts for these dry up by the day, too gfast for my liking.

Your HE is a 12.5:1 comp engine. 120 is LOW, but remember, it probably has not run fo a long time, and when it did, was driven with kid gloves, which is a huge NO NO. The are built to run,m and run HARD.

My PreHE has just topped 700000kms, and is as made in the good old UK in 1976. Bolt on engine bay stuff, of course, have replaced as they wear out, but the heart and soul is OE. Others are well into the high 300K kms range.

Do the basics, get it running PROPERLY, then go for a road trip, and settle the sucker down. The harder the better. I dont drive mine anywhere near the way they need, thats where the kids come in now. One eye, age, one leg, all slow the madman down, life goes on.

 

Prestige (H&H) Spares, also in Vic.

Sorry Grant, but they closed the business a few months ago and auctioned everything off.
They did have some S/S items like header tanks, which were made by an old guy on the Gold Coast who is maybe in a better place now.
I bought one 20 years ago, well made and reasonable price.

 

Thanks for the, BUGGA is all I can say. Phil and Co, top guys, knew their stuff.

 

Tried them also ebay and I can't find one.

Perhaps you could post a link to one, I would be most grateful.