I got a XJS question and Frenchy ain't here... :(

I have no serious interest in this but the thought crossed my mind--what would be to stop you from taking a derelect XJS and then "ghetto-karting" it with a faux D-Type fiberglass body?  I I realize you'd have to probably stiffen the crap out of it to make up for the loss of the roof, but...  There used to be a kit car D-Type made by Predator Performance in Florida.  I don' t know if they're still operating but maybe they could supply a body for an Easy Button...  

Oh, yeah, the XJS wheelbase is about 10" long, too.  

Be careful, that's once..

Stroker, you want to Ghetto kart something?  OK, but that seems like a lot of work for the price of a D Type Jag body.  BUT, and this makes me smile, I see a guy once a summer with an XJ-6 engine in the front of an MG Midget.  Ghetto?  Maybe.    Scary?   Fn A!

Not sure if this is the car, it was white but now blue.

Maybe easier to find that D-type replica body, build a frame for that body, which also has pickup points designed for whatever Jag bits you want to canibalize.  What would that be, though, besides the engine and possibly the trans if you found a rare manual-trans XJS?  Rear suspension isn't like a D-type and very fast (so it's very trustworthy) internet searches says rear track width is about a food wider on the XJS.  Maybe front suspension and steering parts but with custom arms?  Anyway it sounds like a huge project and probably easier to just do whatever the replica body manufacturer recommends if possible.

stroker said:

I have no serious interest in this but the thought crossed my mind--what would be to stop you from taking a derelect XJS and then "ghetto-karting" it with a faux D-Type fiberglass body?  I I realize you'd have to probably stiffen the crap out of it to make up for the loss of the roof, but...  There used to be a kit car D-Type made by Predator Performance in Florida.  I don' t know if they're still operating but maybe they could supply a body for an Easy Button...  

Oh, yeah, the XJS wheelbase is about 10" long, too.  

The last time I tried to buy a derelect XJS the guy wanted $6,000 for it. I think he still does.

Well, I see XJS for sale occasionally cheap, but again, the idea isn't to make a D-Type replica, it's to make something inspired by (perhaps an "homage") to the D-Type.  

One of these days those V12's are going to dry up...

Here is the thing. The XJS is a big, fat cruiser with a very slushy GM automatic behind it.  What they are good at is crossing a continent in comfort. I don't think removing all the comfort bits would make it a sportier car, just a worse car. 

A 5 speed swapped XJS with good dampers all around does a pretty good job of being the BMW your mom says you have at home.

Regarding manual swapping one. I have done it twice now. Both the  Marelli or Bosch ecus have their quirks and both aren't happy when a manual transmission gets put behind the 12. There is a "guy" that the owners send their ECUs to and he modifies them so they won't die when stopping at a light. Now before you think "GM transmission! they must share a common bell housing bolt pattern!" Nope. Different casting on the Jags. The 5 speed kit from "The Driven Man" is not a bolt in affair and even the custom bell housing needs to be modified to work. You will be either importing an XJ6 clutch pedal or making something yourself. I use a classic mini brake master cylinder with a custom pedal and bracket.

 

In reply to Trent :

Along those lines, couldn't you start with a 6 cylinder XJS (which were available with a manual in some years) and turn up the power a bit?  I'm not sure how much power potential the earlier 4.2 liter XK engine has, but the AJ6 and AJ16 3.6 and 4.0 can be turned up a bit, as seen in the 90s XJR which basically got a 4 liter AJ16 with an Eaton M90 stuck to it.  And even in its low powered 3.6 liter form, I think the AJ6 is a pretty likeable engine. 

Pull the body off of this:

Then build an E type around it.

rslifkin said:

In reply to Trent :

Along those lines, couldn't you start with a 6 cylinder XJS (which were available with a manual in some years) and turn up the power a bit?  I'm not sure how much power potential the earlier 4.2 liter XK engine has, but the AJ6 and AJ16 3.6 and 4.0 can be turned up a bit, as seen in the 90s XJR which basically got a 4 liter AJ16 with an Eaton M90 stuck to it.  And even in its low powered 3.6 liter form, I think the AJ6 is a pretty likeable engine. 

I don't get to play with the AJ series motors since they are not vintage yet. On paper they look great and I would love to swap one into a Mk2. I do have pics somewhere of the 4.2 cast iron long block from a 70's jag on a scale weighing in at 860lbs. Anything lighter than that would be a major benefit. 

But I assumed the OP was wanting the V12. They do make glorious noises.

6 cyl manual XJs are rare - about 100 imported nationwide. It would be easier to just put an LS powertain out of a Camaro or something in it.