'92 XJS, I keep reading that the alternator comes out the top after removing air pump. But could I drop one side of the antiroll bar and remove the alt from the bottom ? The reason I'd like to avoid the top method is because the wiring and vacuum tubing in my car is fragile from Miami heat and so the less I touch, the better.

 

Fix the wiring as well ,as the alt, Andy!

 

Now you have restarted the nightmares Andy. HA.

I doubt it.
MAYBE with the roll bar detached both sides, and MAYBE the angle of the dangle of the bars ends MIGHT let it out.

I remember looking at this 30 odd years ago, and went topside.

 

When I acquired my '85 XJ-SC V12 earlier this year, I noticed very quickly that the alternator wasn't working.
Talking to an auto-electrician and he was wanting to take it out the bottom, after a fair amount of disassembly.
Going to a Jaguar Specialist and he said it was much easier coming out the top . . . and I gave the job to him.
Good luck with your car.

 

Following up on this post for future searchers. I took the experts advice and remove through the top. What I did to protect my stiff wiring was to remove the radiator hose and entire airbox, (and then of course the air pump). Easy job, unless you treat it like the kids game of "Operation" and are avoiding touching any hoses or wires in the vicinity.

 

Ha, removing 5 or more things to get at #1 is NORMAL for a V12.

The people with the 1/2 an engine have no idea what fun they are missing.

 

Is that type 2, or type 3 fun?