5k: CA Bar’d 350 TPI: 1984 Jaguar XJ6 V8 Swap
You might look at this next feature and say “oh great, another classic Jaguar ruined by some butcher’s knife and a small block Chevy” — and I might agree. However, if you take a look at this next feature, it might just have enough polish to be worth a second look. Find this 1984 Jaguar XJ6 V8 Swap with CA smog legal Corvette V8 here on eBay
currently bidding for $5,000 reserve-not-met, located in Fresno, CA.
The Jaguar XJ6 was offered in Europe with a
wide range of lesser (smaller displacement) engines, the US version was
given the the venerable 4.2 litre inline-6, an engine that is not
without its charm…but…is frequently tossed aside for something from Detroit.
Under the hood is a 5.7 liter V8 from a 1991 Chevrolet Corvette that has been through the rigorous procedure to make the swap legal for street use in California. That brings a lot of value on the west coast, but it also informs sellers from other regions that everything is in place — this is no ordinary hack job with dangling wires…oops…wait…the wiring is ugly.
As with most XJ6-to-V8 swaps, the seller is using an automatic transmission, probably because the stock slushbox in the XJ6 is a GM unit that will bolt right up to the small block.
See a better way to cruise
It got through the BAR referee with that open-element air filter? Presumably it was EO'd for the Corvette application, or the parts that were actually on the car at the time it went to the referee are now in the trunk?
That 'slap the Corvette ECM up next to the booster where the only question is whether exhaust heat cooks it before enough water puddles in the non-weathersealed connector to bugger the thing' doesn't impress me much.
Last I checked it doesn't rain in California. Water puddles weren't a concern for the builder.
It rains here just often enough to corrode unsealed wiring. Voice of experience.
I don't recall the motors being problematic on a Jag…. I do recall the wiring and terrible fitment of panels to be the main problems. Though correct me if I am wrong!