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  • Dec. 17, 2009 11:11 a.m. skruffy Dork

    Like the title says, I've been offered a free (or nearly free) Jag XJS. Don't know the year yet but it supposedly has a clean body and a ran-when-parked v12. I guess it's been sitting for the better part of two decades. Anyone know anything about these?

    I'd have to imagine this thing is pretty heavy, so it may even be worth dragging it home just for scrap value...

  • splitime

    Dec. 17, 2009 11:13 a.m. splitime Reader

    Worth getting so someone can build a v12 Challenge car.

  • 914Driver

    Dec. 17, 2009 11:18 a.m. 914Driver UltraDork

    Locost.

  • mad_machine

    Dec. 17, 2009 11:20 a.m. mad_machine PowerDork

    ditch the 12 and drop a SBC or a BMW 3.5 i6 into it

  • BoxheadTim

    Dec. 17, 2009 11:20 a.m. BoxheadTim Reader

    They rust badly. No, worse than that.

    Oh, and if the engine needs work - your wallet will cower in fear, somewhere in a dark corner.

  • Woody

    Dec. 17, 2009 11:27 a.m. Woody SuperDork

    mad_machine wrote:

    ditch the 12 and drop a SBC or a BMW 3.5 i6 into it

    Yes, SBC swap, although I ordinarily don't advocate that kind of thing.

    I remember being a little kid and seeing my first one ever parked in front of an Atlantic City Casino. As I recall, I said that I'd rather have one of those than a Ferrari 308. I have since changed my mind, but you get the idea.

  • wheelsmithy

    Dec. 17, 2009 11:30 a.m. wheelsmithy New Reader

    The folks had jags when I was a kid. The 63 3.8 sedan required lifting the car, dropping the front suspension, dropping the engine and transmission all just to get them out/apart. I think it was easier to work on than the XJ-12. All that said, Go For It! I like the Chevy route-, and the 12s can be made to run.Just might be better to save the 12 for a cooler project-one where you could strip all the accessories, and maybe get a stick shift behind it.

  • Carson

    Dec. 17, 2009 11:32 a.m. Carson Dork

    I hear they make an excellent alternative heat source. Maybe something ton consider this winter.

    It's a shame too because they look sooooo good.

  • 81gtv6

    Dec. 17, 2009 11:36 a.m. 81gtv6 Reader

    And you had to ask, why?

  • BoxheadTim

    Dec. 17, 2009 11:39 a.m. BoxheadTim Reader

    ... and alltogether now: "There is nothing more expensive than a free Jaguar"

  • Schmidlap

    Dec. 17, 2009 11:41 a.m. Schmidlap Reader

    Get it!

    Bob

  • John Brown

    Dec. 17, 2009 11:41 a.m. John Brown MegaDork

    I say drivetrain donor for a Locost inspired Deuce Lowboy.

  • alex

    Dec. 17, 2009 11:58 a.m. alex Dork

    I'll take it off your hands. I've got a big block Ford to drop in the Jag, and the 12 cyl. will go in my Model A sedan. This has been a dream/nightmare of mine for some time now.

  • Woody

    Dec. 17, 2009 12:09 p.m. Woody SuperDork

    alex wrote:

    I'll take it off your hands. I've got a big block Ford to drop in the Jag, and the 12 cyl. will go in my Model A sedan. This has been a dream/nightmare of mine for some time now.

    I've had similar fantasies about a Jag 3.8 in a Model A, but you, my friend, have take evil to a new level.

  • Rza

    Dec. 17, 2009 12:11 p.m. Rza HalfDork

    take one part free XJS, add a dash of P71 engine and trans, two parts home made mounts. Shake and serve.

  • MiatarPowar

    Dec. 17, 2009 12:31 p.m. MiatarPowar HalfDork

    Just take the damned thing. You can figure out what to do with it later.

  • cwh

    Dec. 17, 2009 12:34 p.m. cwh SuperDork

    I saw one of those at the Moroso drags a few years ago with a 383 SBC. A beast! Lot's of room to work on, too.

  • 914Driver

    Dec. 17, 2009 12:35 p.m. 914Driver UltraDork

    alex wrote:

    I'll take it off your hands. I've got a big block Ford to drop in the Jag, and the 12 cyl. will go in my Model A sedan. This has been a dream/nightmare of mine for some time now.

    You're nibbling on paint chips right now aren't you?

  • Rusnak_322

    Dec. 17, 2009 12:37 p.m. Rusnak_322 Reader

    Sorry, I was just looking at the Errrr WTF thread.

  • ValuePack

    Dec. 17, 2009 12:38 p.m. ValuePack HalfDork

    MiatarPowar wrote:

    Just take the damned thing. You can figure out what to do with it later.

    ^ this.

    /thread

  • neon4891

    Dec. 17, 2009 12:43 p.m. neon4891 UberDork

    doitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoit...

    If the engine is bad, you get a coffee table and drop in an SBC

    I hate my new work schedual. Before when I went in on sundays and I would walk past a sweeeeet XJS 'vert. Now I'm not in till that old couple is gone.

  • Treb

    Dec. 17, 2009 1:46 p.m. Treb Reader

    And if the motor can be made to run, spend the entire challenge budget on downdraft webers and a Group 44 paint job.

    Do it.

  • John Brown

    Dec. 17, 2009 1:57 p.m. John Brown MegaDork

    914Driver wrote:

    You're nibbling on paint chips right now aren't you?

    Best served with a diff cover full of axle grease and a tumbler of antifreeze over ice.

  • Dec. 17, 2009 2:57 p.m. skruffy Dork

    I didn't even think about making the engine a coffee table. That would be killer in my shop.

  • daytonaer

    Dec. 17, 2009 4:09 p.m. daytonaer Reader

    Treb wrote:

    And if the motor can be made to run, spend the entire challenge budget on downdraft webers and a Group 44 paint job.

    Do it.

    If I mastered megasquirt, I would own one of these cars. synchronizing 6 carbs intimidates me more.

    Stock engine management is not acceptable IMO. Eliminating emissions + stock finicky control would vastly improve reliability.

    get it, MS/or lots of carbs, straight pipes and perhaps look into fabbing a manual trans setup. or stick with the auto if it works :-)

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