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...
Worth getting so someone can build a v12 Challenge car.
Locost.
ditch the 12 and drop a SBC or a BMW 3.5 i6 into it
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.
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.
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.
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.
And you had to ask, why? 
... and alltogether now: "There is nothing more expensive than a free Jaguar"
Get it!
Bob
I say drivetrain donor for a Locost inspired Deuce Lowboy.
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.
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.
take one part free XJS, add a dash of P71 engine and trans, two parts home made mounts. Shake and serve.
Just take the damned thing. You can figure out what to do with it later.
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.
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? 
Sorry, I was just looking at the Errrr WTF thread.
MiatarPowar wrote: Just take the damned thing. You can figure out what to do with it later.
^ this.
/thread
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.
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.
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.
I didn't even think about making the engine a coffee table. That would be killer in my shop.
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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