So I was doing searches for different things and ran across a thread with the LS1 swap. Really cool. But it got me thinking.
I really don't like seeing other manufactures engines in other manufactures cars,ie SBC in 32 Fords.that said the LS1 looks good in a XK.
But if my 4.2 XK8 gave up the ghost how difficult would it be to put a 5.0 SC in? Or even a 4.2 SC?

 

It would be very difficult, you would need engine, transmission, cooling, piping, exhaust, twin air filters, plumbing, also the Various PCM and transmission controls. This would be an excellent drive-line swap for any build but very difficult. The reason the LS1 swaps are so convenient is the tuning and wiring harness suppliers are so vast. You can tune the GM computers and Tune the GM transmissions very easily.
We do swaps all the time at my shop, and I use HP Tuners to recalibrate and turn off or on the functions I integrate into the swapped car. The last swap we did that just left the shop was a 1957 Chevrolet Belair/2005 Silverado 5.3,4l60e. Customer had removed a 383 hot/cam combo and was very pleased with the stock 5.3 replacement.
I wish someone would give me a Jaguar 5.0 SC drive-line to work with a harness conversion but the tuning part is out of my league, these newer cars depend on every module in the car to act properly so the PCM and trans controls will have to be simplified as well.
It would be great to use a Jaguar drive-line in a Chevy or Ford swap!

 

I was hoping it would be a bolt in for the 4.2SC. Especial for around the same year. Wasn't sure about the 5.0SC thought maybe it was the same but bored out.

 

The 5.0 is a whole different beast but a 4.2SC probably could be done, as it would at least fit in the space. There would be a lot of wiring and electronics to deal with, though.

Different wiring harnesses, (because there are additional sensors) different ECU, different fuel pump, different transmission programming (it's actually got some internal differences too but not sure how significant they are).

Not a project for the feint of heart...

 

I know there's a conversion kit for the 4.0 cars but nothing for the 4.2's.

Do we really need all the electronics.. Many a Hot Rodder has installed dumb engines and transmissions with just an electronic ignition box.

Couldn't we just take out everything engine and transmission related and drop in a LS1 or so with a 6 spd trany.

 

LS1 swaps are easy because they make standalone harnesses. Fabricating mounts etc is the easy part. The issue I see swapping in a 5.0 SC is even if you could get a Megasquirt or some other setup to work I have no idea what youde use for a transmission option. Some of the aftermarket systems do have transmission control for certain automatics...Would love to have one in my XKR but going from the 4.0 to a 4.2 seems enough for me!

 

I have a spare 2010 5.0L supercharged engine that came out of my 2010. On Friday, we were discussing putting it in my Pantera. There have been several LS1 transplants into Panteras, but I inquired since I have the 5.0 L. We decided against it and decided to add fuel injection to the Ford engine that is already there. I am not sure that our first gen. XKR's suspension can handle the huge difference in torque and horsepower. I know that the twin screw unit adds about the same amount of horsepower as the 5.0L, but I would be nervous having that much torque and power with my suspension the way it is.

 

Someone is doing it......... I shall say no more as I think they would want to keep it secret..... And no it is not me....

The most you can get out of the original XK engine is 4.7

 

just do the LSx change. there are so many motors from that LSx that can be used. Put some good pipes on the car, man it would sound mean and have the power to prove it.

 

They don't have a harness to swap the 4.2 with an LS1 unfortunately. Personally I think the mapping would be rather easy (more standard ECU) but you'd have to pay to have it done and I wouldn't want to be the first. Given the cost of an XKR it would just be a ton cheaper to buy an XKR than swapping out the motor and you'd know it would work.


Eventually I expect Jaguar Specialties or someone else will sort this with our newer cars but even I want someone else to pay for the knowledge as I expect it will be expensive.

 

Hypothetically, assuming the person to do this has very deep pockets, couldn't he drop in the 4.2 SC or the 5.0 SC (if it could fit) along with the ZF transmission it was originally mated to? Couldn't a good tech guy manage to sort out the software issues?

I know a few folks who are skilled enough with tech and harness fab to tackle such a problem.