Hey guys new cat owner. Planning some modifications to make it a unique/personalized car. Will post up pics of my progress.

What did you buy?

Hi Alan, I recently purchased a 1987 xjs v12 couple. Planning to do a bunch of stuff. Something in the area of:
-350 fuel injection swap
-4 or 5 speed trans
-New wheels and tires
-New reargears/posi
-Suspension rejuvenation
-Carbon fiber seats
- give the rest of a car a once over and fix any issues
And a bunch of other carbon fiber parts, hood fenders etc.
- custom side exhaust
-do something with the bumpers

I'm going to try to make it a daily driver/auto cross. That's the plan anyway well see how it all transpires I guess

Already started disassembling it

here are some before and current pictures of the progress. going to get the parts ready for molding and then crank some parts out. going to take part the front end as well as i have found rust and hopefully powder coat or at least enamel all the parts and replace the bushings.

Welcome to the board, Crafty, and thanks for the pics! Man that car seems way too nice to turn into an auto x. Are you going to sell the heavy discarded bits?

Man do I wish this Forum had a "lumps" area.

Hey Flint, JT. Yeah it's going g to be a daily drive plus a little track attitude. The way I see is like this: jag parts are not regularly stocked off the shelf, v12's have the gremlins and I want something I can get in and enjoy. Granted the "lump" title is welcome, hell being half brit myself I guess I could be considered lump. technically "lump" could be carried from horizon to horizon based on genetic heritage. But what I want to do with this is car is make it completely enjoyable and reliable day to day with no bullshit. The styling is killer. Just looking g at it and you can't help keeping you foot off the right pedal. I'm going to make it as street worthy as possible. Yes the heavy bits and anything I don't want on the car are up for grabs and yes it is going to be a driver's car. But I am aiming to have it as an awesome daily car, great track car and just BAMF when I stop at a red light. Stay tuned.

What "gremlins" are you referring too?. I've had my share of GM push rod motors ( last 3800 V6 in my sons Firebird was a horrid POS) my V-12 has been virtually gremlin free for some 8 plus years now. I DD it quite a bit. As for parts, I've had zero problem obtaining anything as of yet and usually for a low price. Sorry, I just don't see it, maybe I've got V-12 blinders on.

I'll leave this thread, have fun in your endeavor, sooner or later I'll just get in trouble with the mod's. Better I just say "Cheers" and leave you to your car.

It's up to you whether to put in the 350 engine, but will it ever sound like this!?

Crafty. Does the V12 in your car run. If so I wouldn't lump it. Buy one with a shot engine and start with that. It would be a shameful waste to just toss out a classic V12. The V12 is an awesome motor when they run. Having said that I have a 86 XJS with sbc and I couldn't be happier. I'm approx 400hp and torque. The performance and reliability are second to none. I believe that I have the best of both worlds.
People on this forum are pretty nasty to us lumpers. I've had both V12 and V8 cars and I personally prefer the sbc. It would cost $15-20000 to get 400hp out of the V12. A heavy car like this needs MORE POWER.

hey all, thanks for the inputs and comments. yes the motors runs it has 78,000 original kilometers on it, about 48,500 miles. has some starting issues when i started it in the cold. the parts options available for the sbc are everywhere. the jag in the video sounds amazing BUT, to get it to that level... the jag is 2/3 "lump" right from the factory floor if you consider the trans and diff. planning on making some ultra light parts for it so trying to shave as much weight as possible. have my eye on a sbc with a m22 rock crusher trans, should be interesting

Crafty, this is true. There are kits out there going for about $5000 for the manual conversion. And you're right, I'm sure the V12 engine is very heavy (700+ pounds)?

I'm sure someone would be interested in buying that motor, given the low mileage!

hi Alan, from what i can find, the v12 is about 792, a 350 with aluminum heads and intake is about 525 or so. huge difference for about the same output, if not more from the 350 so the power to weight ratio favors the 350. i'm looking to make about 420-450 hp with the 350.

Odd, I lumped my 83 S3, when it's DOHC cooked.


It got a transplanted SBC LT1 with 4L60E sourced from a
94 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham.


I call it English elegance, Italian flair and dependable American
power.


Got it in 2001, still having fun with it.


Oh, the swap was not cheap and not without travail!!!


On another forum, lumpers took some heat, me included.
I merely backed off. Most found it just fine. The hecklers seem to have gone away!!!


Here, I've no issues. Everyone just fine.


Most share my view, that there is room under the tent for all.


Carl

Some ideas... Consider LT1 is the best bank for the buck SBC, better heads, better PCM, smoother running, best serpentine system for SBC, LT1 is the the best iron SBC block GM ever produced. 350 HP is easy to get with headers, mild cam upgrade and roller rockers. Want even more power...enter the 396 LT1, that's a 350 LT1 with a 3.875 inch stroker crank. A near square engine... so with the proper mild cam they make amazing power and torque. Globs of torque and 425 HP with a smoothish idle.

thats something i dont get either. i'm not going to showcase this car in a museum, retire off of how much its going to be, or not going to be, worth. care to much about maintaining the heritage etc etc. i just want to drive it. i think enjoying it fully and not pulling your hair out over dealing with issues all day is much better. its going to be my car, not just another jag

the lt1 is a nice engine. i'll have to keep digging through the classifieds

Everyone gets along here because if you raise a hand against "Lumping" you get a quick PM from numerous moderators.mmits not a question of harmony it's a question of restricted speech.

The "problem" isn't weight vs power it's a poor 3speed trans gearing and a 2:88 rear set. The "Lump" isn't the cure all for the V-12's woes but I've banged my head on the wall enough here. It's about smooth power delivery, proper trans and read gearing, the V-12 at 295 HP with proper setup is plenty enough, most put a low power V8 topping out at 190 Hp and think they've solved something. We've learned one thing here, let it go or the Mod's will come along and let you go....ask me how I know.

Shoot, shoulda put a smiley face on the end of that! Cheers fella's, enjoy your project. 😀