Could anyone who has completed an auto to manual conversion in the not too distant past post what their total $pend was? I need to yank the thing for a seal replacement and keep wandering the classifieds for 'boxs.

Thanks (last question of the day - promise)..

Jeff

 

I haven't done it but I wish you the best of luck. I am going to guess though. $14,000 all in.

 

I haven't done it either, but I remember seeing kits (Keisler Engineering - seem to have gone bankrupt) that were way less than $14k installed. More like $6-8k installed I think.

 

That sounds really reasonable.

 

I have not done mine yet, but have all the parts here ready to do it. Mine all came from a Jaguar dealer in Melbourn for a racing car mod, I found somebody that bought them but then decided to do a complete motor transplant from an XR6 Turbo Falcon and sold me all the bits plus thier v12.
Dellows in Aus do a kit for them and off memory came to about 1.5K for the kit, minus peddle box and transmission. A peddle box will cost you around 3-4 hundred for a good one and a T5 they recommend one from an XR6 which has the correct lengh input shaft and higher ratios best suited to the taller diff of the xjs can be bought for a couple of hundred, I know before I bought my complete kit I found a box for $150 in great condition, only thing is the flywheel, I can't remember where I found one on the net but was pretty cheap anyway.
I realise your in the US and Im in Aus but have a talk to Jeff Dellow in Sydney. Home - Dellow Conversions
Good luck!

 

I too, am in the process of doing this conversion to my 89 with ABS. It is a pretty expensive venture, no matter how you go about it. If budget is your primary concern, I would replace the seal, and start buying the bits and pieces. The correct transmission (new) is about 2600.00. The bellhousing is readily available, 650.00. The flywheel, maybe 350-400. Then figure for pedal housing, pedal(s), clutch master, hydraulic release bearing, driveshaft repair, yoke, shifter, etc.....Really easy to run through 5-7K realistically. Maybe less depending on luck, timing, patience.

 

Then if you pull the engine to do it you will want to refresh seals, change the starter and anything else that is more accessible...

 

True words of wisdom, I would pull the motor and fit the box out of the car, leaving the motor intact would be a pain in the preverables. Thats why I have second motor that I will build, then fit the box out of the car and simply do a total transplant.

 

I'm pulling the motor, and switching it to a 6.0. Geeting together some mad money for the big liners and pistons. The engine I have ran great in the 94 XJ12, but has 129,000 miles on it, and 190lbs compression on one cylinder, and 230+ on all the rest. I am about to take it apart. New tensioner, gaskets, etc. I have rebuilt 2 5.3s, and neither of them "really needed" bearings, but did them anyway.

 

Thanks all. My gut was saying sub $10K, but I needed reinforcement.. ;-)

My car is very low miles, and very original, but IMO, fitting a manual will do nothing but fuel value / desire should I ever "shift" it (bad joke sorry).

Not I only have to get my bank manager (wifey) to approve..

Cheers,

Jeff

 

Do it, the sooner the better. The car should have been a stick shift when new. You won't sell it so who cares what it costs Your wife will be pleased to see you happy.

 

I am curious as to others thoughts on the following.

Some 35 ish years ago I converted my series I xj12 to manual using jag 4 speed O/D box and loved it for many years, still have it in the shed. It was streets ahead of the B/W slush box it replaced and I may just move the same box into my '76 xjs.

On the other hand I have recently transplanted a 6 litre along with 4L80E into my '89 xjr-s. Box is controlled by aftermarket computer and very much adjustable with sport mode and paddle shift capability if I wish. Did my first long stint in it recently and love it as much as the manual all those years ago.

It has all the performance I could ever use, auto convenience in city traffic, effortless lock-up cruising on highway and returns manual like fuel figures in the 12/13 litres per 100 km range.

I think maybe the advantages of conversion to manual over auto are not as great as they were those years ago.
What do you think?

 

I think with the way modern cars have gone there is not that much that can be gained over one or the other , actually I think the new 4/6 speed quick shift autos are quicker compared to a manuel 5/6 speeds, there are some difference of couse. The newer gearboxes are definetly streets ahead of the manual shifter, but I still preffer pure simplicity, put in the gear and its there till I say so "direct drive".
Personnally I grew up with the maual gearbox's, started in dad's "1964" Toyota truck 4 on the tree and every car since then has had a clutch and aywhere between 3/5 gears on the tree or floor, except one! My beloved XJS, I did look into a TH700 but the lure of 5 gears and total control was too overpowering in the end, so its manual all the way for this little black duck, the other thing is my left leg and arm are so use to moving things around it maybe a hard and freightening habbit to break.

 

baxtor, do you have a sense what the parts and pieces ran you for the 4L80e?
while i'd love a manual swap, i'm not going to be able to do the work myself, and i have a feeling the fabrication and unique bits would push the labor hours over what might be reasonable.
and if the 4L80 is as good as everyone says, and should be a simple switch for anyone with transmission experience, it might be the option i go with.

 

I put a Tremec 5 speed in my XJ12 Coupe. I bought the kit from The Driven Man. Robert Hall is the guy to talk to about this. I did it myself in my garage. A 4-post lift really helps! It's not all that difficult to do. Cost of the kit was about 5k.
Jaguar Performance Parts & Classic Car Performance - The Driven Man

 

I was thinking about a 5 spd manual, but instead decided on a 4 spd auto. This car is more of a touring car than a sports car and auto just seems to fit it better for me. That and a 5 spd manual would be aournd 10K and 4 spd auto 4-5K. The early 4L80 without the e or electronic are what fits easiest into the car. It is basically an evolution of the 700r4. I am told this will use the same flywheel and starter. I didn't want to loose that XJS sound. Johnscars sells the conversion kit and driveshaft. Using the non-electronic version should make it easier to install compared to having to utilize a computer for trans control. I am moderately handy, but the V-12 XJS is more than I am comfortable with and I am having it done by an indy shop that specializes in Jags and he does a lot of XJS work. FYI, that was his quote - about 10K for 5 spd and 4-5K for 4 spd auto.