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Well, a little about me. I live in Calgary, Canada. I've loved the looks of a jaguar ever since I was young. 2 Years ago I went and purchased my car. I read extensively on maintenance and repair, spent several thousand dollars on changing out parts, preventative maintenance, hose replacements, distributor cap replacement, etc.... everything I read that were things to watch out for. Unfortunately after about 200km of driving, I dropped a valve and took out my head, and block.
I let the car sit for almost 2 years, partly out of frustration, and also I tried to read up more and decide on which route I would take, either a swap, or conversion. I took the plunge and am now underway on a conversion, more of a resto mod I suppose at the end of the day.
Anyways, here is my journey, and I wanted to share my experience with you as I work through this....
The car: 1985, cream white, beautiful shape, fell in love with it when I saw it.
New engine parts, top to bottom all new. Engine shop estimates about 420hp pre-dyno. Block done being bored and punched out, should be back to put in by April 15th. New tranny purchased, 700r4 to be mated with the engine
Conversion kit here from Jaguar Specialties out of California. speedo, tach etc conversion, engine brackets, new crossmember, suspension parts. I never did take a pick of those parts, so please forgive that. All new hoses came with the kit as well as lowering springs for the lighter weight engine. Parts were reasonable and quick delivery.
Shame about the engine. I bet it would be cheaper to fix, but at least you're getting a nice power increase. The exterior is beautiful! Got some interior shots?
Here's the only interior pic I have while I am away for work. It is in really good shape, minus the hairline cracks in the wood veneer, but there are some great write ups on here on how to repair. The hard part of where I live is there is only one reputable place to get a Jaguar engine rebuilt, and I was quoted $18,000. I tried the approach of a donor car, or even buying one off E bay and getting it shipped. It was either send to a scrap yard, or do a conversion, and I could't bear to see a car in such good shape go and get taken apart, or worse yet, crushed.
It is a very rare car up here. As it was getting towed on a flat deck to the mechanic, the tow driver actually got pulled over by another driver on the freeway and asked if they could get my number, and if I was interested in selling it. They are beautiful cars, truly a piece of art. I don't know of any other north american car in that era that can really compare. I just wish the engine would have held up.
Heads are edelbrock, high volume oil pump, hydraulic lifters, hei low profile RTR distributor, high volume long neck pump, comp cam xe274h, chromoly pushrods, block planed, bored .30 over, balanced and blue printed, 600 carb, new crank, rods, pistons, 2600 stall torque converter.
It should be a solid engine and some nice snap. The suspension should be nice and tight, the car is so heavy, it’s needed some firming up. I should have the old girl done in about 3 weeks, last pieces are a new rad and electric fans, and some wider rubber on some 18’s or 19’s, but I want to see the stance first and do some runs in the highway to see how it handles first.
That gives me a good indication of sizing. I stumbled across a picture a few weeks ago of this car. I don't have any details on it as it was a you tube video I saw. I think they look like older corvette wheels, and I should be able to pick up a set fairly easily. I was hoping to drop the car about 1.5-2". The ultimate plan is to build a rally car. We live right next to the mountains, and the scenery and roads are beautiful.
$18k to rebuild what a THIEF. Tell you what - for $15k I'll have it shipped to me, pop in a mildly souped up V12, and ship it back to you. What's the rationale for carbs vs fuel injection? Can't be cost.
04-05-2019, 12:15 PM
My 85 XJS Build
what a THIEF. Tell you what - for $15k I'll have it shipped to me, pop in a mildly souped up V12, and ship it back to you. What's the rationale for carbs vs fuel injection? Can't be cost.
