As stated in my earlier posts, the 1985 "Project Car" I am unable to turn the engine using a 3/4 inch breaker bar with an 18 inch extension. The engine is locked up solid.
In the meantime I am in the process of assembling the car and doing other chores while I figure out what is going on with the engine.
So far, I have installed all the glass on the car and slowly putting the interior together.
I was working in the trunk area today trying to put the trunk carpet puzzle together when I noticed that the ECU is missing from the car and investigating further I went to the engine bay and saw that the main harness to the engine was also disconnected.
"Some History"
The executor(son) of the PO's estate has been in touch with me since I purchased the vehicle because he is interested in seeing what could have been, had his Dad not passed away.
Being curious, I gave him a call to inquire why the ECU was missing and the engine harness disconnected.
He told me that his Dad was racing the car in 2015 at a track in Gainsville (Florida) and during the race he heard a clatter in the engine and the car started to overheat. He said that his Dad continued to race the car until the engine locked up.
He also told me that his Dad was getting ready to pull the engine when he got sick and after he recovered, he decided to strip the car down to repaint it, change the engine and then give the car to him. He told me that is why he is curious to see the car whole again.
Now I know why the engine is locked solid.
Given the above I am no longer going to ponder about what to do with this engine.
After I am done with the interior,electrical and all of the other cosmetics, I will figure out what drivetrain I am going to put in the car.
I will post details on this in the near future.

 

BUGGA

 

This is one of those rare situation where a "unlike" button should exist.

On the positive side - at least you know

I also believe that the Jag TH400 bell housing is unique to the Jag V12 block, just something else to consider when you are thinking about drive lines

Cheers
Steve

 

I would not be entertaining that transmission at all.

If this thing has locked up due to overheating, the transmission has also been cooked.

The trans cooler is in the "hot" side of the radiator dont forget.

 

On the positive side the body is rust free, so is the under carriage.
I am not afraid of the mechanical issues the car has.
In the interim, I will try to resolve all of the other issues on the car.
$700 not a bad deal considering the circumstances.

 

Sounds like an excuse to buy another XJS? You have a parts mule.

 

Or it might be the opportunity to place Vancouver's diesel engine idea under the bonnet

Endless possibilities - and I like the thought processes almost as much as like the doing

Years ago - my boss had a 7.4l (?) diesel twin turbo - that was a beast (F250 by memory - 25 odd years ago)

Cheers
Steve

 

Ahh now I'm tempted. There is a matching red XJ12 near me at a fair price. My truck's engine cranks out 600hp but the vehicle itself is not insurable now.

These cars are old enough that the gauge cluster isn't dependent on ECU imputs it would be relatively easy to fit something interesting.

 

If I were to purchase another running Jag for the engine, transmission and missing electrical components, I still will not know the condition of said components.
For me a running/non running car is not an option because of my homeowner association rules. As it is I still have about 2 weeks left before they start harassing me again about the non registered Jag in my driveway. I presently have 4 cars in my driveway, one in my two car garage. I am trying to clear up the other side of the garage, which has all the extra parts I got when I purchased the car. I just have to figure things out and go from there.

 

One of my kids moved out, so I had all this room available - so I had things organized and thought this is cool. Then my kid move back home. So now I have things in plastic containers in one of my garden sheds and the bigger stuff in the lounge room.

Fortunately I have a very understanding wife.

Presently have 5 cars and 1 boat out the front of the place, my wife does look at me funny when I keep tabs of the "cars for sale" column. Missed the chance on a XJ6 the other day, I was both relieved and disappointed at the same time

Cheers

 

Yep. I also have a very understanding wife. She tells me that she does not care about the cars as long as it keeps me out of trouble.
Anyway, I went to my storage facility today to see what I had in there. It is a 10 x 16 storage rental where I put stuff I think I would not need in a hurry.
It is packed with crap pretty much up to the ceiling. So much stuff that I had to go to my local unemployment office and hire a daily paid worker ($70) to help clear a pathway into the storage unit because I knew I had a couple of running engines in there.
First one I found was a 1600 CC VW engine.
Next I found a Chevy 305 with a 350 transmission.
Now for the part the "PURISTS" will not like:
Lastly,I found what I was looking for. A Chevy 350 with a 700R4 transmission. This engine has a 4 bbl Holley 750 carburetor and ran well.
I had removed this engine from a Series 1 Jaguar I purchased about 4 years ago ($300) for parts as the body was too rusted and rotted to save.
I removed all of the parts I thought I would need down the road and junked the rest of the car.
So, I have an installation kit, an engine and transmission. I will have a single piece driveshaft made for the XJS.
I am going to freshen up the engine and transmission and convert it to a fuel injection system.
Cost: Approximately $500-$600 to get this car rolling. Time frame 2-3 weeks.

 

lm a 'purist'.......................................... .......and i think you deserve a medal for saving what and how you did it!. looking forward to the final result.

 

@anyoldiron: I have saved a few Jags from the scrapyard over the years

Series 3 saved from the scrapyard 5 years ago.

1990 XJ40

1992 XJ40 saved.


1990 saved. I am still working on this one.

Body work completed. Awaiting paint.

and the XJS which I purchased totally disassembled

 

I was going to suggest a 6.0 Chevy LS and 4l80E out of a 2500 Silverado, but since you already have the 350 with 700R4, that looks like a no brainer. Why convert to fuel injection? The carburetors work pretty good. And you already have it.

 

I have done the deed.
I removed the V12 and sent it to the graveyard.
Over the past week, I installed my Chevy 350 and 700R4 transmission, new 4 core radiator and dual electric cooling fans.
Presently, I have an MSD ignition system, and a Holley 4 bbl carburetor installed but I have on order an Edelbrock Pro Force 4 fuel injection system to be installed after I get this running.
I still have to get it to the muffler shop to get an exhaust installed.
In the meantime................... Pictures are not too clear. I update with some better pictures after I get the exhaust done.


MSD Ignition system

 

.

HEY Steve this is the DIESEL engine i been lovin for 10yrs or so!
just a simple tuning MAP upgrade puts it over 700hp , and world stopping 1000Lb torque, NO taking the engine APART?
trans mission i'd go for GM 4L85E, they even have a trans , GM 4L90E, altho nowadays there are some great 8 speed automatics!
this engine was BANNED by most racing venues, Le Mans ,etc bunch of useless *******s!
mostly Penske,he has a very powerful say in some of the world racing places!
after its 1st yr they said add 200lbs weight, this is a RACE car ?, so they did , 2nd yrs won most races it particepated in, FIA add another 100lbs, and REDUCE FUEL TANK volume by 20%,that was the check mark when AUDI dropped out of a lot of racing, went to much smaller engines,diesels , again they said , finally when Diesel Torque was so low it seemed Futile to show what could be done!
they did the same to Mazda and the rotary engine! and latest news is F1 says they may go back to using 2 stroke engines, with Ultra modern computer technologies!
its a SIMPLE thing "just do as i say NOT as i do"!
ron

 

QUESTION ;; are " we the people are the victims of the insane"!
John Lennon 1970.

 

??????????!

 

.

san, got off topic,sorry, i refer to the Diesel Steve was refering too!
and the powers that be Banning the engine from racing, making restrictions till it was useless!
i do like your cars and conversion!!
ron

 

No offence taken. I do enjoy your posts