Well, I enjoy a challenge and bringing unique creations to life. I have a crazy idea, and have the stuff to do it. Use a 4.9 Cadillac V8 in my Jaguar XJS, stripping the original wiring harness and going full Cadillac. Let me give some background and my reasonings for the idea.

Jaguar 1989 XJS: bought it lumped for a project car. 305, screwed wiring, shotty engine. Real pretty exterior. Not so much interior. Paid alil over 1000 USD for it.

Cadillac 1994 Deville: Rough body, great engine, bad transmission, perfect wiring. Has an amazing 4.9 V8. Tiny motor, maybe 350lb. Gave 200$ for whole car

Basically taking the good from the Cadi to replace the bad in the Jag.

Anyone have any particular thoughts on this?

 

Replacing the small block with an other sbc would be easier. Do they make a kit for that engine. Im buying 87 xjs coupe with sbc. Will use parts in my 89 xjs convertible.

 

There is a kit to make.that 4.9 manual transmission and RWD. Just a thought

 

The 4.9 share the GM i4 and v6 bell housing. Makes things easier than hunting down BOP parts.

 

Also, I understand easier, but easy is too easy! Plus I got all the parts I need from both vehicles to do it with little to know outside costs. Also I don't trust the Jag's current wiring.

The 4.9 also would get good gas mileage in the Jag, it gets 21-23 MPG in the aerodynamic-as-two-stacked-boxed 4200lb Cadillac xD

 

Just buy a Cadillac or a corvette...?

 

I don't like corvettes. There was too many made for them to have unique style.I do like Cadillacs, but I want a sporty car and not a land boat.

I could not afford to do a true restore, with XJS in the condition it is in. All the wiring and systems are pretty much shot. Parts are also way more common for the Cadillac than the XJS

 

What exhaust manifolds? What fuel injection system? How 'bout the sump, will it clear or will a custom oil pan and pickup be required? The 4.9 is 200HP on a good day and will be underwhelming in the XJS. Other than the fact that you have it, I see only risks and no rewards with the 4.9 over a 305, 350, 383, 406... to install it you'll be making many parts and that cost time and money. If you're conversion kit is good freshn' up that engine bay with a crate 383 in front of 700R4. Wanna get funky...install TPI or some other fuel injection system or perhap even a LS. There's good reason to do so. SBC'd XJS routinely sell for more than XJS' with their original V12.

 

I am looking forward to seeing how it all works out. I have enjoyed seeing many of you take a dead XJS and bring it back to life. Not that I would tackle that myself as I enjoy having the 4.0L AJ16 motor but I understand that you have a good engine and sounds like the time and energy to make it work-good for you and I wish you well in getting it done. Please take lots of photos so we can see how it goes.

 

Thanks for the support LuvmyXJS'!

The 4.9 is only 200hp and 275 ft/lb torque, but it has tons of home brewed performance mods. Stronger than the 140 horse/240 torque 305.

The 305 was installed without any kind of kit. I'm surprised it didn't fall out. Driving was literally causing the motor mounts to detach... Very worrysome. The 305 was also ECU controlled, but no ECU came in it.

As for the fuel injection, I'm going to modify both the ECU and BCU to work in the Jag, as most stock things don't work well in it as it is.

The 4.9 only wieghts like 350lb, way less than an SBC. It is also basically the size of around a Chevrolet 2.8 V6, they fit in the same tiny fwd bay.

 

Uh, Zaeris?
A few things come to mind when reading this:
1. The PILES of panties that got bunched in and rode up when I mentioned the idea of motor swaps done by a tried and true company that does GREAT work and goes to great lengths to maintain integrity and class in the cars they do.

2. Your use of the word EASY… Maybe your a master fabricator, aerospace engineer, practitioner of black magic or ALL 3, but in my travels as a car guy, I find that those who throw around "EASY" when speaking of a motor swap even BRAND TO BRAND, often wind up saying their grace over that very word.

3. How EASY it would be to sell the caddy and use the $ toward a roll over Camaro or Vette and putting THAT in your car with parts from THIS guy:

Jaguar Specialties

 

YEAH. ^^^^
What HE said.

 

Mostly because I wanted something original that no one else has. But I've found a good deal on a 1996 Caprice station wagon. I'm going to look into getting it.
If I do, I'm going to do the same thing that i was going to with the Cadillac. And I was saying the word easy jokingly. No engine swap is easy.

 

I also wanted my car to run soundly, I don't care if it is a powerhouse. I've driven in the Cadillac before the transmission failed. I loved the buttery smooth ride and the feel of the 4.9 v8. It felt refined and clean. They are also reliable. Also appealing to me is putting a luxury car motor in a luxury car.

 

Agreed...Consider an 1992 to 95 LT1 from a full size Cadillac, Buick Roadmaster or Caprice. The 1996 is going to be OBD2 and much more difficult to swap. The LT1's are very smooth

 

Thanks, I planned on putting all the wirings from whatever donor I end up using in the Jaguar. The Jag's current wiring seems like a fire waiting to happen.