Sold 1992 XJS V12, MoTd, 91K - £SOLD!

[Dead_E23]

The federal spec headlamps were wildly expensive when new, iirc.  

 

My brother worked for a Jaguar specialist at the time and I remember them seeming massively brighter than the standard ones.  

 

I like the look of them, but if you don't I'd imagine you could probably sell them to a Jaguar Drivers Club cove for £££.

[Partridge]

Also, don't forget the Le Mans special eds got the US style headlamps.

[Bear]

But with body colour surrounds, I think? Mine are chrome/stainless/plastic-chrome (haven't sussed it out yet. Still debating leaving the car intact to do the engine work, or whipping off all the front end panels and bonnet to give the best access and also tackle any rust. Part of me thinks that's the right plan, part of me thinks "one step at a time").

[Uncle Jimmy]

Do what the septics did and get rid of the v12 of many tubes and fit a Chevy 350 or an LS1.

Wrong forum M8.

[Bren]

Do yourself a favour - while the top end is in bits change the plugs nearest the front.

 

They are such a PITA to replace they are often left well alone - the others get replaced but not these.

 

Personally I think you must be a bit batshit to take this on but I take my hat off to you - at least you are having a pop yourself.

 

If it we me I would be measuring up for a ford V4.

 

Good luck.

[Bear]

Oh, I wouldn't do that level of stripdown and not replace the plugs. Injector seals, valve stem seals, anything that wears out will be replaced. Only bit I hope I don't need to do is a bottom end rebuild or piston rings - the latter because it's a wet liner engine and I'm worried that if they move I'll have no end of bother making it go back together properly, and the former because V12, OMG, Way too big to move.

[garethj]

If I remember right it's tight to get the head off, to take the exhaust manifold off you can jack the engine up a little and stre-e-etch the engine mounts a bit, that gives you enough access.  But it was about 15 years ago that I did mine.

 

It's common that the spark plug under the aircon compressor isn't changed during a service so that's always entertaining to see when you get it apart.  There were lots of V11 and V10 Jaguars running around and most owners didn't even notice.

[Junkman]

Oh, I wouldn't do that level of stripdown and not replace the plugs. Injector seals, valve stem seals, anything that wears out will be replaced. Only bit I hope I don't need to do is a bottom end rebuild or piston rings - the latter because it's a wet liner engine and I'm worried that if they move I'll have no end of bother making it go back together properly, and the former because V12, OMG, Way too big to move.

 

Bottom end is fairly bullet proof.

[Taff]

can you use engine compression to lift these heads successfully? I did it with a SBC once, gentle pressure wouldn't shift the heads, nor did increasing levels of violence. So we gave up, put the plugs back in and flicked it over on the starter with the acorn nuts just one turn loose. That lifted the heads first time but not enough to cause any damage.

[John F]

^ Risky with wet liners tbh...

[purplebargeken]

C'mon John, get stuck in and stop us from wetting ourselves with tension.

[Taff]

^ Risky with wet liners tbh...

 

good point, I had missed that bit.

 

No such problem on good ole' yankee tin.

[Bear]

6.0 block is closed-deck. I'm either going to go for the engine crane (or use the chain/pulleys in the tractor shed originally used for moving kit - I want to see if I can hook them all up again, there's a rolling gantry in the roof) or lots of penetrating oil and patience.

 

Just out of interest - what IS the worst that can happen with wet liners? Presumably they have a specific place to fit into and as long as the lower gaskets are replaced as well, the engine will go back together? And having wet liners also means that should they be scored/damaged, rings & bores can be as new again without having to send the block to an engineering firm?

[twosmoke300]

I did a full (12) set of plugs on a HE v12 last year , took all fucking day !

I was really careful not to snap the stupid taper seat things . The rh front plug hadnt ever been changed .

 

Do I remember some of the head studs having slots in the top so you can remove them to ease head removal ?

Cant see those undoing that easy .

Good luck

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

This V12 will be the 5.3 litre version - the car is too early to have the six litre engine.

 

Quite a lot of people seem to remove the heads with a removal tool. Whether this is necessary or not I cannot say, having never done it.

 

http://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xjs-x27-32/v12-head-removal-tool-measurements-91535/

 

http://www.xj13.eu/XJ13Blog/post/2010/01/28/V12-Head-Removal.aspx

[Bear]

I know mine's a 5.3 - I was just making the point that a later XJS would be a slightly simpler task. That "The Beast" tool looks epic - wonder how well it would fit in an engine bay though.

 

Do wonder if it's easier to remove the engine, crossmember and gearbox then work on it. I shall be joining some of those forums!

[Station]

Remove the whole engine attached to the subframe underneath and move the car off it, I say. It'll take half the time and no* injuries.

[Bear]

700kg though, for the engine & box. It is my first thought though, as I have the space to do that. Plus it would make any bodywork repairs really straightforward. I shall talk to some specialists.

[michael1703]

700? That's nearly half the weight of the car

 

Engine is about 300/350ish box is liftable by hand so 40ish?

[Bren]

Should you struggle some divine intervention may help

 

 

 

 

 

He works on Vauxhall's so a jag should be within his remit.

[spike60]

700? That's nearly half the weight of the car

 

Engine is about 300/350ish box is liftable by hand so 40ish?

ZF auto box for my BMW 540i was 108kg when i weighed a spare one in for scrap, would guess Jag box similar.

[michael1703]

Borg warners are light,I'm thinking of sovereign box possibly

[Bear]

GM400 in this. Also, I may be mistaken about 6.0 blocks being closed-deck. I now cannot work out where the hell I got that idea - I distinctly remember seeing a 6.0 V12 with closed-deck block, but the XJS V12 6.0 as in the fully-facelifted cars remains wet liner.

 

Apparently the V12 is too wide to go out through the bottom. This is gonna be SO MUCH FUN

[Bear]

700? That's nearly half the weight of the car

 

Engine is about 300/350ish box is liftable by hand so 40ish?

 

1992 XJS V12 is 1900Kg give or take a bit. I think it cracks 2K Kg in USA-spec.

 

The 700Kg includes the subframe, I believe. GM400 box probably weighs 100Kg from what I've read.

 

Also had my confusion over dry/wet engines - the TWR racing ones are closed-deck - but they're also 4V heads.

[DeeJay]

Weigh it when you take it out.

Hurry up (don't forget some more pics)

[steve_earwig]

Weigh it when you take it out.

 

For some reason my mind inserted the word "in" somewhere the first time I read that...

 

I can't remember seeing an XJS in the flesh for at least 25 years and that was a mate's neighbour's, which seemed to be rustier every time I saw it. I'm pretty sure I haven't seen one since (and that's not likely to change where I am now.)

 

It all looks horrendously complicated to me. Jolly good luck to you!

[Bear]

It's been a very interesting handful of weeks (and I realise I still haven't emailed Pete about how the car is getting on, need to be more organised!) and so far, not a lot has happened with the XJS. But, as I was testing a camera (Fuji X-T10 if anyone's interested - I use an X-T1 fairly often, currently have a graphite model with grip which is really comfortable to use, but the X-T10 is a much cheaper camera. Strangely they've not taken any of the 'meat' out of the X-T1 spec - same sensor, processing, Wi-Fi, almost imperceptible EVF lag - it's just a bit smaller and trades direct ISO control for extra bracketing/filter positions) I figured I'd have a bit of a play.

 

[Skizzer]

Great picture.

 

Not sure if I'm looking forward to your updates on the head change or dreading them...

[Bear]

You and me both. I'm not starting until I have a clear head to do this right, which means I have to get the E320 fixed or replaced.

[anonymous user]

Weigh it when you take it out.

Hurry up (don't forget some more pics)

Did anyone else read this as weigh it in?