I got a Moss Motors catalog the other day, and while browsing through it came across this kit to convert the 3 speed auto tranny to a 5 speed manual box, and supposedly the transmission is geared to work with the 2.88 rearend. It appears to be a fairly new offering for them, but I was wondering if anyone has any experience or thoughts on this? The idea of having a 5 speed manual tranny is appealing. Not sure how it would affect the value of the car, certainly wouldn't add what it costs. I'm not thinking of selling anytime soon anyways, my XJ-S is my toy to play with, and I didn't get it for an investment (good thing!) My car is a 1986 Coupe and is in very good condition and has run flawlessly the 3 years I have owned it.

https://mossmotors.com/37-5250-cp-tk...-transmissions

 

I could be completely wrong, but I think this kit used to be offered by XKs Unlimited. It was in their catalog with the same picture, but the link to the website was broken. That was around 2020. Moss acquired XKs Unlimited in 2017 apparently and that's how they got into the Jaguar business I believe. Mostly MG/AH/Triumph before that. Looks like they finally got around to relisting it.

 

I don't think the conversion would hurt value. It might hurt marketability. More buyers would want the automatic.

Those wanting a 5-speed XJS would probably pay a bit more for an already-converted 5-speed car.....as opposed to an otherwise same condition automatic car. I would, at least. The seller can't recoup his full investment on the conversion. I would be buying that investment for maybe 25 cent on the dollar.

But forget all that.

Near as I can tell everyone who has done the conversion is very happy they did. That's what counts !

Cheers
DD

 

Not much information listed. For the price, it better be a pretty damn complete kit with pedal box.

 

You’d want a tkx over a TKO.

i did the conversion, i am about the same $$ into it.

I didnt use their kit.

 

I have been buying from Moss Motors since the late 1960’s. I’ve always found their offerings well worth the cost.

Yes I understand XK’s unlimited acquired Moss Motors but I’ve always thought they were an excellent source of Jaguar parts.

My conversions have been for racing. The current one is a Senz 5 speed Dog ring* quick change. ( that is the gears slide out the back and can quickly be changed if, say 3rd gear is wrong for a particular track. It’s a few minutes job rather than a complete overhaul). However from all I hear the street versions completely improve the sporty character of the car
* Dog ring Means no syncro’s so shifting is clutch less and massively faster than syncro’s.

Having said that I’ve always done my own conversions. When I did my first one I used a 4 speed from a rusted out XKE. Today those parts would cost twice what the kit does and the donor car would be restored instead of parted out.

Now I do a little fabricating and can achieve the same thing for about 1/2 the cost of the kit.
The big bit is taking a plate of aluminum and making a simple Chevy bell housing adaptor. It takes me about 4 hours to fabricate. The only thing that is critical is the thickness of the plate and getting the two alignment holes exactly right.
The bell housing bolt holes act only as a clamping device rather than any sort of locating . ( notice the holes in factory bell housings are larger than the bolts?)

if you don’t or won’t fabricate things then buying the kit is the easy button. Well worth the money.
Me? I’m retired yet still working at 75 in order to play with my Jaguars.

 

I just checked the pics in the link, this is the same kit as TheDrivenMan sells.

Driven man sells it with a TKX now, i assume this one will too.

also, was not a drop in fit for me.

i had to modify bell housing to get it up to my standards.

didnt use their clutch master, i bought an oem.

also, i didnt use their pedal “kit”.

better off sourcing an oem one.

if i were to do it over, id just buy a bellhousing and transmission and source the rest myself

 

Where did you see pictures on the Moss link? I see “product image coming soon” and that it.

 

There's a drop down menu with three options. When you select one of those it adds a picture.

 

 

My friend down the Interstate is doing his own auto to 5 spd conversion....but he is a nuclear engineer and likes that kind of challenge. LOL

 

its actually very simple. These cars are very simple to swap.

 

I’m not a nuclear engineer, you barely have to get out of high school to do your own transmission swap. If you’ve never worked on a car before buy the kit and have someone install it for you.

Doing it yourself will save you about 50% of the cost of a premade kit. Even more if you source a used transmission.
I posted the simple adaptor I made to use a Chevy Bell housing. You can use a Ford Bellhousing too but it’s slightly different. And not as common.
Ask , I’ll walk you through the process.


by You will need 2 things. A drill press and a way to cut aluminum plate. I have a band saw but you can use a saber saw, it will just add an extra 1/2 hour or so.

 

I would be very cautious about buying anything from moss motors. It seems their customer service has gone downhil. Alot of people are complaining about them and their parts, shipping prices. I waited nine month for a S.O. part that was supposed to be there in 2 months.

 

I have ordered from moss several times in the last 12 months, no issues.

 

Same here.