Just a short rundown on what I intend to do to improve (in my opinion) the XJS
The engine is sound and the car drives well on the road but under the bonnet (hood for our American friends) a lot of things have been neglected.

Iam going to convert it to LPG only, no injection, no computer, no sensors, no vacuum hoses (most have rotted off) and most of all no distributor.
It will be fitted with crankshaft trigger, two EDIS ignition sets, which I tried to buy today but was outbid, and it should be a very reliable road car.

Hopefully all works out, Neil.

 

Not to dis your idea, but the distributor doesn't make it unreliable, nor does vacuum lines. You can spend 20 bucks on vacuum hose and have the whole thing done in half an hour. Yeah they can leak and cause problems, but like you said, it was neglected. Replace hoses and lines and you are good to go for another 15 years. I have seen next to zero threads in this forum about the distributor, it just is not even close to being a weak point on the XJS, or close to being any cause for it being unreliable.

How big of a tank can you fit into an XJS for LPG? Sounds like a lot of work, is LPG really viable down there? I mean, it is around here, most for fleet vehicles, but I can't imagine converting an XJS to one, the cost difference is almost non existent for running LPG in the states. Only pro is it is renewable.

If you want to make the v12 XJS reliable, get it back up to where it needs to be on maintenance items any car would need, hoses, bushings, the lot, then get the cooling system doing a proper job, and you will be good to go. Seriously 90% of the problems on this forum are cooling system issues or issues ANY older car would have, it just isn't as bad as people make it sound.

 

Hi Sidescrollin,

thank you for your reply and advice.
In Australia LPG is available at just about every petrol station and priced between 70 cents to 90 cents per liter, depending on where you are.
Petrol to run a V12 on is at least 95 octane better to be 98 octane and can be $1.65 to $1.80 per ltr.
Not sure what size LPG tank will fit but have seen one fitted where petrol tank goes.
I would like to remove the distributor so I can put an inlet manifold between the heads for the LPG.
Maybe Iam a bit nuts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All the best, Neil.

 

here We have one CNG station and it is at 3500psi and a Gallon = is selling for 2.05 a gallon 98 octane is 3.149

I was thinking of putting in the fuel injected CNG kit... a year ago..
the kit come with pressure regulator to step down the pressure and injectors for the compressed gas... ( one way you buy injectors that go in the regular injector place and the gasoline injector piggy-backs though it.. the other way is you have to drill new hole in your manifold for the CNG injectors (very small ones...) and the wiring harness is the same you plug it into your gas injectors and then the gas injectors terminal in to it... and you get to switch from running one or the other...

now that I have bought my v12 the gas price here just keeps going down... it was 4.249 a gallon last year...

a nice system but.. unless gas goes back up it would not pay for itself...

running over 3000 us$ not counting the tank(s)

not worth it to me any more if the price of petro keep going down...
I am hoping it will go below 2.499 soon

does that mean you guys are paying up to 6.813738 a US gallon
that is 5.87 AU dollars a US gallon.....
it would be worth it...

 

oh the same company does LPG also
the only difference is the pressure you set the regulator at.... and the tanks and piping

YOU should never put CNG in a LPG tank (LOUD BOOOMMMM!)
CNG tanks a heavy, expensive....

 

Interesting project. Keep me posted.
Good luck

 

Hi Neil, I might also think you are a bit nuts, but aren't we all to be taken up with pricey old cars. I do find your project interesting, and hope you post details of it as you proceed.
Sure you need the room in the Vee for the manifold? Keeping the distributor would simplify the conversion, and reduce cost.
BTW, what year is your car?

 

maybe it is useful to you down there. Here the efficiency and price works out to the same as using gas. Either way, for the price I think I would save more money buying second car, bike or putting a 6 speed in the jag. I just don't really care about them fuel costs and don't think those are parts of the system that really affect its reliability.

I used to have a teacher that was big into lpg and cng though, so if it is your thing I am not saying you should go for it.

 

My LPG carbs and vaporizer arrived today (very exciting)
Iam using the BLOS carbs and OMVL R90 high output vaporizer from Poland.
He is very helpful and good to deal with.
The BLOS carbs look and work like SUs and are more efficient than the ring mixers.
This project is probably going to upset the purists, but it is something I want to do.
Here is a photo of the carbs and vaporizer.
Another photo of an XJS for sale in Melbourne fitted with LPG. But I wouldn't use the second tank.
My XJS is a 1984 HE.

 

Hi all,
I have just purchased my dual EDIS systems from the US for the XJS project.
Reading in the forums I believe I need a delay module connected between the EDIS modules for the B bank on the V12 to get correct timing.
A bloke by the name of Philip Lochner in South Africa designed one but after trying a couple of email addresses for him they have both been rejected.
Does anyone have a contact for him please?

Forging on into the darkness, Neil.

 

I bought one from Philip and have not used it, it is sitting in my shed if you are interested.

 

Hi Warren,
thank you for your reply, yes I would be very interested in the module.
It would save me trying to find Philip and you are much closer for postage.
Would you like to PM me with the cost and I would let you know?

The darkness is getting lighter

Much appreciated, Neil.