Description:

Here is a great daily driver just in time for Fall! It is not everyday that you see a Jaguar with a GM LS series engine swapped into it. This 2002 XJ8 currently has 144,600 miles on it. Approximately 1,000 miles have been put on it since completion. This is a 2 owner car with most of its maintenance taking place at the Jaguar dealership. The conversion was professionally done and is not a "sloppy" swap by any means. The car was built with the intentions of being a reliable, economical, and fun driver. A ls1 swapped 1975 XJ6C recently sold for $103k. This is your chance to own a quality custom vehicle for a fraction of the price.



Jaguar has uniquely distinct iconic styling cues and design. The XJ8 is a very timeless car that is easy on the eyes, with the low roofline, and sloping tail. The comfort of the XJ8 is impeccable, with leather, and wood accents throughout. The handling of the car is that of comfort. It maneuvers the bumps of the road as if you were floating over them. If you enjoy a quiet, comfortable and classy ride, you will find that you'll have little to no road noise, and no interruptions from the drone of the exhaust.



Jaguar Specialties:

The main focus of the swap centers around the Jaguar Specialties basic swap kit. Jaguar Specialties is an aftermarket company that specializes in innovative and unique products for a number of Jaguar models. This kit is minimally invasive and helps preserve the heritage of the Jaguar. The swap looks as if the XJ8 left the assembly line with the Chevrolet drivetrain from the factory.



Jaguar Specialties spent a lot of time and money developing an interface module that allows communication between the GM computer and the Jaguars computers. The module allows for all of the factory gauges to remain and operate as if there was not a LS based GM engine crammed between the frame rails.



Engine/Cooling:

The engine used for this particular swap was a 5.3l with 30k mileson it. It was torn down and inspected before installation. The engine looked brand new inside. A new GTO oil pan was fabricated so that it would fit and the intake manifold is from an LS1 engine. The custom air intake was fabricated to let the engine breathe better than stock.



The front accessories are comprised of a Chevrolet Performance CTS-V accessory kit. These are authentic CTS-V parts, utilizing a better compressor and 150 amp alternator. The new compressor and alternator are superior over the older designed components. A new F-body water pump was installed to ensure proper cooling. The radiator has just been replaced with a new factory Jaguar radiator.



Transmission:

The transmission used for the swap was a 4l80e transmission. To my knowledge, this is the first XJ8 conversion that uses the 4l80e transmission. The kit was originally designed around a 4l60e transmission. A new factory GM 4l80e was used. The 4l80 was used in this swap due to its reliability and strength. The 4l80 is a superior transmission to the 4l60. This transmission can handle performance upgrades with ease. A new billet torque converterfrom PTC was used and an external transmission cooler was added for increased cooling capacity . The factory shifter is still used with this conversion.



Exhaust: A set of LS3 exhaust manifolds were used for this application. A custom set of stainless steel mid pipes were fabricated and connected to the factory exhaust. The factory mufflers were reused. The exhaust note is very quiet with no drone and it fits the subtle lines of the XJ8 very well.



Wiring/Tuning :

The engine / transmission wiring harness was custom made for this application. The harness was made to proper lengths and loomed to give the engine bay a "factory" look. A factory GM computer was used and tuned for reliability and drivability. A brand new battery and fuel pump were also installed while going through this process.



Interior:

The Cashmere interior is completely original. The old distressed leather shifter was replaced with a new handmade wooden Jaguar ****. The rear seats look brand new, as if they have never held a passenger. There is a little wear on the driver's seat, but that is to be expected from a 2002 vehicle that was a daily driver. The interior overall is in great shape. The wood accents have some minor distress cracks in them, but they are hardly noticeable.



Exterior:

The exterior of the XJ8 is completely stock and looks like the classic car that it is. The Anthracite Pearl paint is original and is in great shape for its age. The subtle chrome accents complement the Anthracite Pearl very well. There are minor dents and dings in a few places on the car, but otherwise in good shape.



Cons:

Just like a human body, there is a little wear that the trained eye will see. There is some wear from daily use on the driver's seat from use. There are not any tears, but the leather is faded. The headliner is not as tight as I would like it. I don't think the liner needs to be replaced, but it could be rehung. The exterior is in great shape for its age, but it is not perfect. There are a few scratches and dings. The car is meant to be a driver. The rear antenna will get hung up at times, but the radio plays.



Possibilities:

This XJ8 could be taken to the next level of performance. The heads and camshaft could be changed for something a little more aggressive to get more power out of the current setup. You could get as wild as adding a set of turbos to the 5.3L and creating a real "sleeper". The 4l80 transmission was installed for this idea in mind. The rear end can be swapped with a XJ6, which is a stronger rear end and has a higher gear ratio. The possibilities are endless with this chassis, and that is what makes it so appealing.



Closing:

This XJ8 would make for a great daily drive as is. It averages around 20 MPG on 87 octane. The XJ8 is a timeless offering from Jaguar that offers comfort and style. This car is priced to sell and I believe is a fair price for the craftsmanship presented. The price is $18,897 OBO and I am motivated to sell. I will entertain all serious offers.This is a steal compared to the XJ6 which sold last year for $103,000.



The car will be detailed inside and out before the new owner takes possession



Feel free to call or text with questions. Leave a message if I don't answer, and I will return your call. (615)-308-4844