We now have reached the point to consider an engine swap to a basic LS series engine and transmission as a last resort before getting rid of the car. For $2500 or so, you get it all, including the wiring harness and a good shop will do the entire swap for next to nothing. Very common with these cars. Values are low anyway, so one way or the other, it can become a very reliable beast with more power.
For me, depends on the definition of “next to nothing.” How many shop hours to perform the swap and what’s the shop rate? I had not heard of LS swaps being common for X100 XK8 model Jags.
If someone has developed modules to integrate the LS engine control harnesses with the Jag electronic control bus, this could be a good swap. If there is no electronic integration, then half of the accessories on a XK8 won’t work and I’d call such a swap a real bastardization.
Don’t get me started if they stick a 4-barrel carb on the LS…
Dave
No! Nothing like that. There is a company that offers the whole monty, and it includes the harness to hook everything back up, and they have done a few already, so it is not the monster project a swap used to be. A shame so many of these cars have bitten the dust because of failed engines and transmissions.
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I wanted an XK8: I disabused myself of that notion, reading the many posts from those who’ve suffered them.
Now I know why they can be had so cheap.
Well, each to their own. Despite all the problems I love mine and as you say, they are fantastic value for money.
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I considered an LS swap a back-up plan for my XK8, should the engine reach a tragic demise. That being said, I’ve done several engine swaps recently in other cars, and I estimate about $8K for an LS swap ( $2500 for engine/trans/ECM/Wiring, $2K for the conversion kit, $1.5K for exhaust, AC, other misc parts you didn’t think about, and at least $2K for labor if you don’t do it yourself). At those prices, installing a re-manufactured Jag engine starts to look promising. However, with the failure rate on the Jag transmission, it’s not a stretch to go for the LS. Having owned a C5 vette, it would be hard not to consider just buying a used Vette at that point, as the resale on the XK8 will not grow with the cost of the swap.
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Bingo: were I ever to Jones for a V8–hasn’t happened yet!–Id damn sure get a C5/6 Vette, before going to the considerable hassle of a swap.
Do you think a Corvette would be a replacement for a Jaguar? Have driven those things over the years, and never found one that satisfied. And the absence of any styling is a major turnoff. Check the classifieds and get amazed at how many are for sale. Must be a reason.
Not a replacement: another suitable toy, far more practical on a day-to-day basis.
Lots of everyday drivers out there, and why would you want to crawl in and out of a Corvette and be seen? Even the new mid-engine one is not good looking. They go like hell, but at what price? Nope. Happier with my Jag, even if it lives in the garage.
got one, everything works perfectly.
I’m negotiating on an XJR and plan to put that driveline into one of my XJS convertible project cars.
I am also negotiating on a 79 Corvette. Maybe I’ll put one of my 5.3 V12’s and a five speed into that.
Mike Darby is right. There’s no cheap conversion worth the effort if it’s not done with the goal of a complete and fully functional car. Plan on $10k if you already own the car. The extra nickels and dimes add up. The LS conversion is wonderful in the XK8 if done right with components from a company that has invested lots of time and effort into making it all integrate correctly. Hats off the them as this was no small feat! As with all car projects, don’t do it based on potential resale value. That seldom works out. Do it because it’s what you want to do.
Everyone throwing out figures but no mentioning of specific shops doing it…? Let’s see some results.
Do anyone know any automotive Shop in Texas, who perform V8 Jaguar engine swap.
check with Jag Mac in Dallas… they work on older Jags… fixed problems on my 2006 XK8 aand my 2008 XJ8… Don