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Wow! That is a pain.
My mom has owned XJR's & XKR since '01 and has had zero issues (aside from saggy headliner and crappy floor mats).
Her '92 XJ6 VandenPlas was a complete nightmare, everything broke on that car.
The 5.3 is an even better choice. The big advantage of using the truck engines is that they are $1500-$2000 less expensive than comparable LS1's and can make nearly the same HP in stock form (with just a good intake and exhaust system). One of the cars you see on my page above was built using a 99 4.8 drivetrain package that was only $1000 complete with everything. Even when we do the few extra things truck engines need to be compatible with the swap that package was still nearly $2000 less than a regular LS1. And the 5.3's are similar. There was a nice 99 5.3 package for sale on Ebay recently, complete, and with only 77k miles for $1500..... Hard to argue with that....
I can probably tell you a thing or 2 about it- we are the only company that does anything with these cars. Give a call any time during business hours- Mon-Sat 8am-8pm California time
Has a 2004 xj8 base model been swap with the Ls1 yet because I have a 04 xj8 with high miles that once its done i want a Ls in there..I kinda feel like im waiting on it to die...
Sorry no, there is nothing available for LS into these cars and nothing from the older models will work. These models did not have the serious mechanical problems of the earlier cars so there is virtually no call for conversions on them. The key aspect here is being able to get everything on the chassis to work with the LS- gauges, AC system, etc.,. That requires a special CANBUS interpretor box that would speak the CAN language of the car. Nothing like that exists for these Jag models. Like all modern cars, these cars run on software, with special messaging traveling all over the car on a 2 wire network, and the Jaguar language is unique to them (and no, it is not Ford either)
We spent thousands of $$$ developing our own special CANBUS units used for the 97-02 XK8 and 98-03 XJ8, and the same process would have to be followed again for these cars. And it is not possible to "wire around" any of this- all of the car's systems are connected together and rely on each other. If one isn't working, like the dash cluster for example,
Could you get an LS engine and transmission physically in the car and likely running- possibly. But that would be it...
This is Andrew from Jaguar Specialties (www.JaguarSpecialties.com)- I've been reading through the many LS conversions in this section and they're all great. We've done a lot of work with LS engines into Jaguar cars over the last 3 or so years, and now have pretty good set of kits and parts for these sort of conversions. And these are fabulous cars to drive with LS power. In case you're not familiar with them, these cars all have fully independent suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes, and power rack & pinion steering. And of course they're comfortable as well- leather interiors, full power etc.,. Fast, stylish and comfortable- what's not to like??
Our kits cover the following models:
1970-1987 XJ6 XJ6C XJ6L XJ12 XJ12C and Vanden Plas
1976-1996 XJS and XJSC
1998-2003 XJ8 XJ8L XJR and Vanden Plas
1997-2002 XK8 and XKR
Here are a few pics of cars built by us and our customers recently- I hope you like them. Email back with questions, comments, etc.,.
[I'm currently working on a xj6 that now has an LS motor and I'm still waiting on the t56 trans to come in and I was basically just trying to to get an idea of what I'm going to have to do to this thing because it was an automatic trans to begin with and now it's going to be a manual. Also I was just kinda curious as to what you have done for the driver side exhaust header to get around the steering assembly.
QUOTE=the-jag-guy;20548985]Yes, occasionally we offer (sell) the manual ahead of a LS kit purchase for a customer or installer looking to get an idea of what's involved
The manual is $300 and we credit that back towards the kit/package purchase when done within 60 days.
The how and what we do for LS into XJ6 on oil pan, exhaust manifolds, and so much more (like how we get all the standard Jag gauges to work with the LS without even removing them from the dash) is all part of the info that comes in the conversion manual with a Jag-LS conversion package (a variety of parts needed to do this installation correctly). We have been doing LS into these cars for some 15+ years now with several hundred in the field all over world. Honestly, you will save a ton of time and $$ by going with one of our Jag-LS packages rather than trying to do it all yourself.
We have done a 1/2 dozen LS manual Jags here and have helped customers do another 20+ in the field over the years.
Also, we make the manual pedal boxes for XJ6 and XJS cars going manual from automatic- basically a drop in unit with a Wilwood clutch master cylinder installed and ready to go. See attached.
From here I would say give me a call and we could talk further- 408 839 5569
Andrew
Originally Posted by customcar
[I'm currently working on a xj6 that now has an LS motor and I'm still waiting on the t56 trans to come in and I was basically just trying to to get an idea of what I'm going to have to do to this thing because it was an automatic trans to begin with and now it's going to be a manual. Also I was just kinda curious as to what you have done for the driver side exhaust header to get around the steering assembly.
QUOTE=the-jag-guy;20548985]Yes, occasionally we offer (sell) the manual ahead of a LS kit purchase for a customer or installer looking to get an idea of what's involved
The manual is $300 and we credit that back towards the kit/package purchase when done within 60 days.
04-05-2013, 12:10 AM
LS Donor Engines for XJ8 or XK8 
