Something different to build

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Penstarpurist

Penstarpurist

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Off and on now for a couple years I've debated building a sbc swapped Jaguar xj. I know, I know it's not a mopar. Lol, but dang they sure are nice looking rigs. I see them up for sale in really good shape overall but needing a new drivetrain. And I know shops like broken kittie and jaguar specialties sell kits for them from carburerated and ls swaps. Seem fairly straightforward to pull off. Certainly doable for anyone who has done a big block swap into an A-body I would think. I can find jaguar xj's for less than a grand. Small block chevies are abundant always. I don't know if I would go old school 327/350/383 stroker or ls. I have seen them done for sale for probably less than I could build one. Like $1500 or less from time to time. Not looking to start a project before I finish my current one, but I would be willing to start collecting the neccessary stuff to do one if I find the right start. Or complete running driving one cheap enough.
 
Back in the 1990's a friend of mine did it.

wasn't too difficult IIRC, there's even a kit available.
 
I definitely have thought about it with a mopar engine. That said I know from looking that no one is making a swap kit using a mopar engine. And I don't want to have to create that kit. As for topics not matching my name, lol, I have half a dozen all original mopars. I like to think outside the mopar box occasionally and see what I can come up with. Besides no one would feel sad about flogging on a p.o.s swapped jaguar. It's just a thought anyway at this point. Would it help if I said I am also looking for an srt4?
 
65 mercury comet is a good looking car. I would admit to being guilty of having a respectable appreciation for many brands of American made cars for sure. And I would never buy to drive a jaguar if I didn't have plans to put an American made engine in it. And I would fully go mopar drivetrain in it, like I said, if someone made a straightforward swap kit for it to do that. I doubt if I will ever actually get to doing something like that, but I can't promise myself that it might never happen. Lol. I will have to definitely get my mopar projects all done first. And there's a few waiting to go first. Just getting opinions. YY1, did your buddy think it was a worthy project that ripped up the pavement?
 
Friend of mine had an XJ with a SBC. Made for a pretty slick ride. However the Lucas Electrics curse followed it as it does most Jags.
 
Something about those Brit cars in the 60s an 70s. MG, Triumph, Jag, about everyone I encountered had electrical issues on a frequent basis.
 
Yeah, I know those years were the same with mopars because of the wiper pivot letting water get into the fuse block. Our 71 cuda had it's fair share of electrical gremlins. It liked to go into stealth mode suddenly when driving at night. Every single light on the dash, exterior driving lights, etc would just go out. Scary as we lived down a long windy country road, and it never gave any warning. Replaced fuses, bulbs, cleaned grounds up. Would seem to be better, then out of nowhere, would happen again. While I miss that sweet car, that's the one thing I couldn't stand about it.
 
Penstarpurist said:
Yeah, I know those years were the same with mopars because of the wiper pivot letting water get into the fuse block. Our 71 cuda had it's fair share of electrical gremlins. It liked to go into stealth mode suddenly when driving at night. Every single light on the dash, exterior driving lights, etc would just go out. Scary as we lived down a long windy country road, and it never gave any warning. Replaced fuses, bulbs, cleaned grounds up. Would seem to be better, then out of nowhere, would happen again. While I miss that sweet car, that's the one thing I couldn't stand about it.
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I completely forgot about the draguar. Lol. That is cool, and not too bad looking either. Though I would keep it all fitting under the hood.
 
Penstarpurist said:
Yeah, I know those years were the same with mopars because of the wiper pivot letting water get into the fuse block. Our 71 cuda had it's fair share of electrical gremlins. It liked to go into stealth mode suddenly when driving at night. Every single light on the dash, exterior driving lights, etc would just go out. Scary as we lived down a long windy country road, and it never gave any warning. Replaced fuses, bulbs, cleaned grounds up. Would seem to be better, then out of nowhere, would happen again. While I miss that sweet car, that's the one thing I couldn't stand about it.
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My Ranchero did the same thing with the lights going out despite attempts to fix it! It would also beep its horn randomly, usually about 2 AM LOL
 
Drop a low mile LS in it with a 4L60 and don't look back! Wiring harnesses for those motors are dirt cheap, and unlike a Mopar Magnum harness...there's dozens of people on You Tube showing you how to convert a factory harness to a hot rod harness!
 
Look into the site "Jags that run", they have kits to convert Jags to SBC.
 
The problem with Jags is that they rust, they have endless electrical problems, and they rust a lot. a. lot. If you want to go full quirky throw a Hyundai Elantra motor in it or dare I say a rotary
 
please can anyone tell me if a SBM fits into a 2002ish Hyundai Accent GS hatchback? Nottabad looking mini-car, fastback and all. Lessee how can I put 245/325s on that? Wait I know, I'll get me a mini-truck chassis, like the Datsun my neighbor has, and just slide it on under there. A lil cutting here and a lil folding there, some stretching and pounding, and...... forget it; my 66 year old bones, are complaining just at the thinking part lol.
Yeah those XJs look pretty cool. I remember the first time I looked at one up close; Hyup that looked like a nice chassis. And the body was pretty sexy too.

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AJ/FormS said:
please can anyone tell me if a SBM fits into a 2002ish Hyundai Accent GS hatchback? Nottabad looking mini-car, fastback and all. Lessee how can I put 245/325s on that? Wait I know, I'll get me a mini-truck chassis, like the Datsun my neighbor has, and just slide it on under there. A lil cutting here and a lil folding there, some stretching and pounding, and...... forget it; my 66 year old bones, are complaining just at the thinking part lol.
Yeah those XJs look pretty cool. I remember the first time I looked at one up close; Hyup that looked like a nice chassis. And the body was pretty sexy too.

View attachment 1715375164View attachment 1715375165
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With a welder and saw zaw anything will fit
 
Why don't do you do something a bit different? Has anyone done a Gen III in a Jag?
 
Penstarpurist said:
I completely forgot about the draguar. Lol. That is cool, and not too bad looking either. Though I would keep it all fitting under the hood.
Click to expand...

When I lived in CA. a friend had an XJ with just the basic Jag shell on a Chevy frame.
 
3 comments
1. those jag engine bays are HUGE. We have a local racer running a buick 455 based engine in one. Saw one at the auction and it was probably the WIDEST engine bay i have seen in a long nose car.
2. Hemi and LS Motor mount points, and Header spacing, are near identical. In fact most Jeep LS/Hemi swap motor mounts are the same part number.
3. the Draguar has a BluePrint Engine :)
 
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