Michael,
I see you’ve received a lot of grief from the list regarding your V8
aspirations. Quite frankly I’m tempted to give you another dose, but I’d
rather be constructive and encouraging, something this list is well known for
except when we venture into lump discussions (and we’re still tastefully
restrained there, I think)
Anyway, peruse Hemmings (printed, not online) and you will probably find a
few running 4.2 or 3.8 XK units pretty cheap (under $2K with carbs).
From here you will find that the beauty of the E-type is more than skin deep.
I drove my 66fhc daily for a year an a half before it was forced into ground
up restoration when it was ground up by a 17-year old’s Volvo.
It was utterly reliable and a total joy. It exhibited 30 year old car
syndrome, i.e., all the rubber had perished, requiring suspension and brake
rebuilds, etc… Your Nevada car will require the same. You will need a
cooling system to accomodate a V8 conversion. Instead purchase one of Dan
Mooney’s alloy radiators with integrated high CFM fans for your XK - ABSOLUTE
TOTAL COOLING RELIABILITY. Check his starter and ignition systems as well.
If you don’t install a proper Jaguar XK, you will never know the joy of being
at a Hot Rod Cruise night with the bonnet open and having some self
proclaimed expert behold the shiny XK and explain to his 2 young sons the
“problems with those V-12’s”. Seriously, you will stand out. The XK
provides the sort of presence that a crude, run-of-the-mill lump can never
provide, no matter how many chrome bits you hang on it. You say you’ve never
driven one - if you don’t install an XK, you won’t know the meaning of
throttle response. A V8 hooked up to a slush pump will not provide the same
feeling.
And for crying out loud, lose the fender flares. Body mods to an E-type will
insure you’re perceived as a dumb@ss redneck pimp who drove a 914 with an
open shirt displaying gold chains in an earlier life. So much for
constructive
Best Regards,
Eric Scott Williams
66fhc
2000 BMW 323i (it’s ok)
2000 Tacoma
91 Miata
Hey, look at that, they’re all rear wheel drive!