Not all pre-facelift cars have cable speedo. Mine has electronic with speed sensor in the diff. I know 1989 cars have electronic but not sure when it was intorduced

 

My 1985 has an electronic speedo driven from the GM400. I have a vague feeling the change was in the early 1980s.
Greg

 

Based on what I've seen over the years, the electric speedo came out in 83 on the XJS, one year after the XJS-HE (US) introduction. From 83-87, the speedo was driven by a screw-on transducer on the transmission, and then in 88 the speed sensor was moved to the differential (mounted on the new cast alum rear cover) and it stayed there until the cars went out of production in 96. Note- the years mentioned here are for the US models- I think the UK breakpoints were all a year earlier.

I hope that helps

Andrew
Jaguar Specialties

 

Not entirely accurate

None of the Series III cars (which used both Smiths and Veglia instruments) used a voltage stabilizer.

All of the Series II cars (all Smiths instruments) did. Not sure about Series I

Presumably a change was made in the instruments to eliminate the need for the stabilizer. Having owned three Series IIIs I can attest that the meters never flicker. Quite the opposite.


The 140 mph XJ6 speedo (supposedly) won't read accurately if used with the V12 transducer. I have no direct experience here but others have reported so over the years. Series III V12 speedometers and tachometers are rare as hens teeth....at least in the USA. However the smaller gauges are a dime a dozen...you almost can't give 'em away. I have a couple boxes of them.

Incidentally, early Series III cars used a cable drive speedo, the change to electric coming circa 1983

The change to Veglia gauges in the Series III was a bit later....but it appears that not all markets got them.

Cheers
DD

 

The diff mounted speed sensor was introduced at VIN 144263....which I estimate to be about April 1987

The model year thing does get confusing, especially with XJSs.

For the USA market "1988 model year" commenced with VIN 139051 (or something close to that) which was February 1987. My 1988 XJS was 139152 (or close to that....going from memory here) with A Feb 1987 build date. In Jaguar tech literature these cars are often referred to as "1987½" model year

Cheers
DD

 

The smaller gauges in your picture look like they might be Series II items....but I'm still on my first cuppa coffee


cheers
DD

 

It looks like it would be easier to use aftermarket gauges for the whole cluster with a couple warning lights

 

my Buick GN, with LS2 conversion, uses a standalone GPS speedo,works great very accurate, has auto speed zone notification, and red light note!

plus other electronic gauges, RPM is digital(might not be everyones likes).

but all work fine, and automatic notes can be turned off when needed!

course this is 10yrs ago, and all these new electronic dash clusters have advanced!

 

as a side note ; had my Jag XJS at a show , and a guy was looking at it and said "MAN i love those vertical gages, i got those silly round ones, are yours special".

but myself i like round ones also.

 

That's what I am doing now. Can't wait to show you guys. It is going to look great; a very traditional look during the day, and a bit more wild at night.

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Anyone need a full XJ6 cluster? Cheap!

 

that Dakota Digital stuff looks great also.

 

Not my taste, but I can see how others might like it:

 

Yeah, tis surely a matter of choice. My 88 Tbird was full digital.
It's "evil eye" speedo that would not dim!!! Distracting at night.
Solved. A business card fit just right and darkened it, all he way.
No tacho, missed that.


My 94 Jeep is analog and digital. But, the analog is stabilized, so as not to scare me with real time numbers. It passed CA's SMOG and is ready to return to the road. Nice to drive my old friend again.


The Jaguar instruments, analog, of course, tell it like it is. Even with quirks, I like that.


That GN is wicked looking, I like that...


Carl

 

Been eyeballing this thread, there was a company back some 20 or so years ago that used to make a dash conversion for the XJS. Slips my mind right now who it was ( saw pics on jag-lovers many moons ago) I do have these sitting on my shelf if anyone (stateside) is interested, just pay for shipping and you can experiment away.

 

Found it, it was "Auto Style"

http://www.jagweb.com/burl_designs/index3.html

 

That link was brought up in #6. It was Myrtle products.

 

Sorry, there' was also another one I remember being out there. I'll have to dig a little deeper.

 

Their all smiths aftermarket that's why 2 off them needed the stabilizer the oil gauge is mechanical as I don't like the reliability of the big smiths sender, the actual hoods on the gauges aren't jaguar style but that's a choice matter. The speedo is 160 from a very late xj12 and reads very accurately but weren't cheap even second hand.

 

It was banham (where i got my crackle black one from) who made wide body xjs as well later to become myrtle

 

I agree with others about going with aftermarket gauges. I "think" my speedo & tach are ok, but the oil pressure & temp. are not. I installed two Auto Meter (AM) water temp sensors for the gauges in back of each water rail and AM oil pressure sensor right on the tower where the stock sensor one is located.