Marelli to Lucas
 

Is it possible to use 86 jxs Lucas ignition car complete wiring, fuseblocks, distributor, everything under hood and install on 89 jxs? Found a donor car body rough but all electrical seems to be in good shape, haven't been able to find an 89 yet seems mid 80's more available around here! I understand you can't mix them but any issues with a total swap? Thanks

Nothing stopping you as long as it is all there. Grant will be the one to really advise you though. I believe that it is only the Lucas ignition amplifier (on the B bank manifold), the dizzy and vac capsule, and the ECU that have to be swapped. The vac capsule can be connected directly to the small tapping under the A bank throttle body, and you can forget about all the small tubes apart from that. You might need the Lucas injector loom too, but I am not sure.

The Marelli is a more modern system though, and the Lucas has no oxygen sensors etc in the exhaust, if they are required in your area?

Greg

The Lucas ignition V12s did indeed use oxygen sensors, at least in certain markets. USA, Canada, Japan....perhaps others


Cheers
DD

Thanks for the help, thought I would keep the Marelli parts and just go with what I can find right now. I just acquired what seems to be a 54,000 mile original mile 89 xjs in great shape except for the infamous Marelli fire damage so I know that there will be questions that arise and this is the place for answers! Thanks again Bill

After buying a 89 with Marelli issues, and then figuring the system out, I would try and stay with the Marelli. It is most likely lack of roper service that caused the problem, not the fact that the car has Marelli ignition. It is a very good system, but the plugs must be correct, as they will cause too much resistance on the rotor, and it allows one bank to short to ground. The Lucas EFI doesn't know when this occurs, so it keeps sending fuel, even when there is no spark. That is where the fire comes in to play.