OK... So I just got my new toy, a 33 Chevy truck..... I am messing about trying to get ahold of a decent motor, tranny, rear end, etc. I came across a guy that has a complete 1963 or 64 Jaguar 3.8L inline 6 motor and 4 speed tranny..... I am looking for opinions on wheather this would be a good motor to replace the stock 207ci that I have..... I could get both engine and tranny prety cheap..... I could even try and make up a manifold to throw a trio of 97's... Acording to the website I went to, that is rated at 220 HP......(my truck would have 56 .....if it ran...)
EDIT: OK the engine is growin on me. I like it alot better with the diff carbs. Those SU's or Stromburgs remind me too much of a 240z or a TR6 or something. That engine is gorgeous! It could be pretty cool. I don't think I'd wanna pay to rebuild one though, if that engine needs it. No way jag parts will be cheap. It does look nice and is different, and when you pop the hood everybody's gonna stare at it.
kinda makes you wonder why the motor was removed from the jag in the first place....is there something wrong with it?
Guy pulled the motor and tranny from a wrecked Jag to use in a project, and the project never happened..... I am thinking that it is a runner, but you can never be sure... Even if the motor ends up being crap, for the price, I could make the money back parting it out to the Jag restoration guys.....
Jaguar engines are so unreliable that Johns Jaguar in Dallas has made a living replacing them with small block chevy engines
Jag motors aren't unreliable at all, they have their issues like every engine but if they're treated right 200k miles is very achievable. They make a lot of power for their displacement.
It's pretty standard proceedure here to rip the Jag engine after owners give up on multi rebuilds or get the cost of a rebuild(eek!), toss them (who'd want one, people are trying to get rid of them) and replace it with a Chev smallblock. The Chev weighs less, makes more power, uses less fuel and is reliable. The V12's are even worse.
sounds like with the money invested all you stand to lose is time. If time is not an issue, I say do it!
ya but isn't that one of the biggest gripes here " not another small block chevy" bla bla bla i say put it in there or don't and send me the motor and trans and i'll find a way to put it in my wifes car tom
Do it! Beautiful engines. Tell everyone you got it out of a wrecked XKE you found at Dead Man's Curve. -Dave
Gorgeous engines - that one should easily make over 250 hp. Jag engines are mechanically nearly bullet proof, but they do have some quirks if you need a rebuild. Things like setting cam timing are done differently than your SBC. The later Jag engines got a reputation for unreliability because the emissions engines sold in the US would run hot on the exhaust side, causing valve seats to drop. This usually happened on poorly maintained cars that were badly out of tune. Not an issue on cars in other markets. One thing I would do is to adapt a 700R4 or a five speed to the engine. Jag transmissions were never the best.
Gotta go with the rest on this. The emissions spec 4.2s in the Series III XJ6s would loosen valve tappet guides if the upper catalytic converter got too hot (it was only inches away from the head), causing the guide to rise up and get hit by the cam (sending shards through the engine). but there's a $25 kit that eliminates the problem. I've put the kit into a pair of '86 Xj6s that I owned, both of which already had over 150k miles on them at the time. The early 3.8 and really any non catalist converter equipped I6 Jag engine won't have the problem. The reliability issues with jags had nothing to do with the engines, but with the surrounding electrical systems, specifically the starter, alternator, and sending units for the later injection and temp/pressure guages, (and things like electric window lifts, A/C controls, and the complex fuel switching systems for the XJ6 dual fuel tanks), Swapping the engines for a Chevy did away with the starter, alternator, injection and sending unit issues. if you just use GM parts for those things, you are good to go. The engines themselves are VERY robust. Rarely needing rebuilds. Luckily, once you get the 3.8 in there, you can swap all the vintage looking parts (carbs, exhaust, cam covers) onto a later, more powerful 4.2 if you ever need to replace or rebuild it. You can find running but rusted out 4.2 liter XJ6s for $500 or so laying all over the place. As was said, however, find a way of swapping transmissions if you want an autobox. The Borg Warner unit behind the Jag 6s is a weak point. The manuals from the XKEs is pretty strong, though.
the motor will look killer and should move the truck down the road with ease!!! make up a 6 in to 2 in to 1 set of headers with a glass pack should produce a real nice 6 pot howl.........
My dad always said if you owned a Jag you needed to own a ford to chase parts in. My dad knew his chit. That said I've worked on a few, if you can deal wtih the electrics you're fine. I like 'em and they do look cool as the devil.
The problem with the Jag motors is that people don't maintain them, great motors, the V12 was hard to work on in the confined space and thus got a bad rep. If you have a good Jag mechanic or are willing to do it yourself they'll last a lifetime. And the knowledge of be able to do it yourself is worth a lot. Go for it....
Paint the lower end of the engine some dismal OEM color, grind off all Jag ID marks, put on a dummy remote filter...and tell everyone you have the prototype and only DOHC conversion for a 235 developed by California Bill in 1953...
ALL I CAN TELL YA IS .......... I KNOW CHUCK, THE GUY WITH THE CHEV & JAG POSTED EIRLIER IN THE RANT, ......... HE DRIVES HIS EVERYWHERE, AND I MEEN EVERYWHERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! VERY COOL ENGINE IN HIS CONVERT, ID SAY DOO IT !!!!!!!!!! ANYONE CAN DO A SMALL BLOCK CHEV .... BE A MAN AND THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND BUILD SUMPTHIN COOL !!!!!!!!!
Do you happen to have any pictures from the carb side of the motor? I am curious what the intake for downdrafts looks like.
Yep- replace the Jag electrical stuff with SBC stuff and you are good to go- mechanically very stout motors.... The main reason they have a bad rep is because of look at who buys brand new jags-- Rich People.... And rich people rarely take care of their cars.... I work in a garage and from time to time we will get some Rich Asshat come in with a Jag or a Mercedes or something, wondering why it's running like puke... you pull the dipstick and it's usually bone-dry, or maybe a little black tar-like substance on the end... same with the coolant, trans fluid, etc etc.... have seen (more than several times) expensive cars with 30-40 thousands miles on them and they have never seen routine maintenence.... just my 2 cents.... I say go for it... it'd be different and like you said, you could always part it out if needed....
Some more inspiration. Love the headers: http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2000-2003/2003-Jaguar-Select-Edition-Racing-E-Type-Roadster-1962-Engine-1280x960.jpg http://www.atspeedimages.com/limerock_2004/concours/1955_jaguar_d-type/1955_jaguar_d-type_engine_intake_side.jpg The basic architecture was the same from '48-'87. I think it'd make a great rod/custom engine. And if people worry about fitment, here it is in an MG Midget... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/914Dan/Img_0242.jpg
I didn't like the whole Jag idea until I saw this suggestion. But instead of crediting California Bill I'd claim it was a Bruce, little known competitor of the Wayne. Then go on to tell how this very motor powered the Batmobile from the first movie. Okay the Bruce Wayne connection might be pushing it. I usually take my best stories one step too far.
Olaf, that Jag mill is bad ass. Always loved those two polished valve covers from the early 60s Jags.
Do you even need a motor? There is a reason I call you Big Olaf....The Jag is cool. Just don't change your mind part way through....Ordering parts will be a little tougher than just calling Westside though...EVILT
I have a friend of mine who is an auto spark with his own company he has around 15 jags/daimlers many series 1 or 2's with v12s in and he has very little trouble with them ....only there fuel consumption as he drives them hard, go on put it in and be different
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