[Lumps!] Conversion Information

Hello Everybody,

I am new to this list and wish to introduce myself and start
gathering information for my pending conversion.

I have a 1973 XJ6. It has 31K miles on it. I bought it used
in 1975. It has been stored (in my garage with a car cover)
for the past 17 years. The car has no rust, interior is
perfect, so is the chrome.

I have decided to convert to a big block chevy with the T400
transmission.

The first (many) questions I have is:

  1. I am planning to buy the conversion kit from John’s Cars.
    Does anyone have any first hand experience with his
    conversions (pro/con)?

BTW, please don’t try to talk me out of the big block. I am
a product of the 60’s muscle car era and my creedo has
always been. ‘‘there isn’t any substitution for cubic inches.’’–
Charles De Saro
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed

Hello Charles,

Welcome! I’m all for big blocks, glad to see one going together.
First order would be to do some searching on your own thru the archives on
the jag-lovers.org site. You can go to the lumps forum there and use the
search engine which has all the former posts on this list. This topic has
been covered many times. Hours of good reading for you.

Enjoy,

Ross-----Original Message-----
From: owner-lumps@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-lumps@jag-lovers.org]On
Behalf Of Charles De Saro
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 12:04 PM
To: lumps@jag-lovers.org
Subject: [Lumps!] Conversion Information

Hello Everybody,

I am new to this list and wish to introduce myself and start
gathering information for my pending conversion.

I have a 1973 XJ6. It has 31K miles on it. I bought it used
in 1975. It has been stored (in my garage with a car cover)
for the past 17 years. The car has no rust, interior is
perfect, so is the chrome.

I have decided to convert to a big block chevy with the T400
transmission.

The first (many) questions I have is:

  1. I am planning to buy the conversion kit from John’s Cars.
    Does anyone have any first hand experience with his
    conversions (pro/con)?

BTW, please don’t try to talk me out of the big block. I am
a product of the 60’s muscle car era and my creedo has
always been. ‘‘there isn’t any substitution for cubic inches.’’

Charles De Saro
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed

$

[#] Hello,
I would not use the T400 why not use a 700R4. Surely there is a model that
will bolt up to a big block and handle the power? We have a 72 Jag with a
350/350 combo and really really would like to overdrive gear when on the
freeway. In fact in the JTR books he says don’t even consider another
trans.
Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA

$I have decided to convert to a big block chevy with the T400
$transmission.
$

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed

daniel,

you do realize that he’s probably dealing with over 600 pound feet of
torque? a similarly built 496 i recently installed put out
598lbft@3200rpm and 532hp@5200.

good luck getting an r4 to handle that kind of power without serious
modification. the jtr book says that they wouldn’t consider a non
overdrive because the engine is loud and at freeway speeds, the car
won’t sound or feel like a jaguar. i doubt someone with 600 pound feet
of torque under their right foot is probably not too concerned about
that.

the TH400 will handle a big block with big power without the hassle of
fiddling with a tv cable and the variables that they bring to the
table. don’t get me wrong, i run a 700r4 as well. but i’ve also seen
one of these hi-po crate big blocks in action in a similar weighted car
and i’ll tell you this…if you haven’t seen what they’re capable of…
stay home. :wink: these engines will break traction at 45mph in drive.
on a manual valvebody (aka no kickdown) transmission. their power is
unbelievable. first gear w/ a 2200rpm stall converter in my jag’s
donor car ('64 el camino) was capable of roasting the tires in
place…with no brakes…silently. that’s right. it would just
generate a cloud of smoke with no noise. it spun the tires so
effortlessly that they didn’t even put up enough resistance to whine.
and that’s a set of 245/60r15’s.

un-be-lievable. our friend with the xj6 should probably be running a
'glide if you ask me! :wink: the r4 is just going to be too difficult to
set up for any semblance of smoothe power. cracking that throttle
valve open with around 450 pound feet of torque on demand is going to
be messy.

adios,

jasonOn Tuesday, November 18, 2003, at 11:28 AM, Daniel Neuman wrote:

$

[#] Hello,
I would not use the T400 why not use a 700R4. Surely there is a model
that
will bolt up to a big block and handle the power? We have a 72 Jag
with a
350/350 combo and really really would like to overdrive gear when on
the
freeway. In fact in the JTR books he says don’t even consider another
trans.
Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA

$I have decided to convert to a big block chevy with the T400
$transmission.
$

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed

daniel,

you do realize that he’s probably dealing with over 600 pound feet of
torque? a similarly built 496 i recently installed put out
598lbft@3200rpm and 532hp@5200.

good luck getting an r4 to handle that kind of power without serious
modification. the jtr book says that they wouldn’t consider a non
overdrive because the engine is loud and at freeway speeds, the car
won’t sound or feel like a jaguar. i doubt someone with 600 pound feet
of torque under their right foot is probably not too concerned about
that.

the TH400 will handle a big block with big power without the hassle of
fiddling with a tv cable and the variables that they bring to the
table. don’t get me wrong, i run a 700r4 as well. but i’ve also seen
one of these hi-po crate big blocks in action in a similar weighted car
and i’ll tell you this…if you haven’t seen what they’re capable of…
stay home. :wink: these engines will break traction at 45mph in drive.
on a manual valvebody (aka no kickdown) transmission. their power is
unbelievable. first gear w/ a 2200rpm stalled bbc in my jag’s
donor car ('64 el camino) was capable of roasting the tires in
place…with no brakes…silently. that’s right. it would just
generate a cloud of smoke with no noise. it spun the tires so
effortlessly that they didn’t even put up enough resistance to whine.
and that’s a set of 245/60r15’s.

un-be-lievable. our friend with the xj6 should probably be running a
'glide if you ask me! :wink: the r4 is just going to be too difficult to
set up for any semblance of smoothe power. cracking that throttle
valve open with around 450 pound feet of torque on demand is going to
be messy.

adios,

jason

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed

In reply to a message from Daniel Neuman sent Tue 18 Nov 2003:

Hi Daniel,

One thing I learned years ago with conversions (street rods,
etc.) Keep it simple. I am favoring the 3 sp T400 over the
OD unit for that reason. Also my car will become (I hope) a
‘‘show and go’’ car. It will be driven, but only for pleasure
and I am looking forward to hear the engine rumble at 50 mph
and 3 grand on the tach!–
Charles De Saro
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed

In reply to a message from Ross Kuhns sent Tue 18 Nov 2003:

Hi All,

Wow! The number of responses and info is great. Thank you
all so much!–
Charles De Saro
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed

In reply to a message from Jason Griffith sent Tue 18 Nov 2003:

That’s what I want to hear! Loads of HP and T. I know there
will be a traction issue, but I’ll handle it at the
appropriate time.

BTW, I built and drove top fuel dragsters in the mid 60’s so
I think I can handle the output of the lump even though I am
a ‘‘bit’’ older now.–
The original message included these comments:

un-be-lievable. our friend with the xj6 should probably be running a
'glide if you ask me! :wink: the r4 is just going to be too difficult to
set up for any semblance of smoothe power. cracking that throttle
valve open with around 450 pound feet of torque on demand is going to
be messy.


Charles De Saro
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed

In reply to a message from Charles De Saro sent Tue 18 Nov 2003:

By the year of your vehicle, I would imagine you are smog exempt
just about everywhere…that is a really good thing. The big-
block/T400 is a tried and true combo, as you already know. I am
running a big-block Ford/C6 in my XJ Coupe, I bought a rebuilt 2.88
ratio DANA44 locker rear end from a 12 cyl XJS and put it in the
car before doing anything else. IMO neither the 700R4 nor the stock
XJ rear end is not strong enough to handle the torque that even a
mild big block can produce, without extensive (expensive)
modification.
If you are building a non-computerized, carbureted driveline, I
think you could probably do as well with a lower priced kit.–
The original message included these comments:

BTW, please don’t try to talk me out of the big block. I am
a product of the 60’s muscle car era and my creedo has
always been. ‘‘there isn’t any substitution for cubic inches.’’


1975 XJ6C N. Wisconsin U.S.A.
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed

In reply to a message from Charles De Saro sent Tue 18 Nov 2003:

… That line alwys makes me SMILE!–
The original message included these comments:

always been. ‘‘there isn’t any substitution for cubic inches.’’


Skip - Dallas
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed

At 09:03 AM 11/18/2003, Charles De Saro wrote:

Hello Everybody,

I am new to this list and wish to introduce myself and start
gathering information for my pending conversion.

I have a 1973 XJ6. It has 31K miles on it. I bought it used
in 1975. It has been stored (in my garage with a car cover)
for the past 17 years. The car has no rust, interior is
perfect, so is the chrome.

I have decided to convert to a big block chevy with the T400
transmission.

Welcome to the interesting world of Lumpdom.

For a great source of information on your project join the group through
Jag Lovers then sign up for the archives. They are searchable and a
tremendous source of information.

As far as your specs - sounds great. I would offer another big block to
consider … How about one of the old Cadillac 500+ cu. in. JTR or
Suncoast do I believe have some information on that beast. We had one in a
pickup with a 4L80 (OD of T400) transmission behind it. It would move
anything we wanted to move and would really sing on the highway.

Wes Channell

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed

In reply to a message from Skip - Dallas sent Wed 19 Nov 2003:

Is that a good smile or a bad smile?–
The original message included these comments:

… That line alwys makes me SMILE!

The original message included these comments:

always been. ‘‘there isn’t any substitution for cubic inches.’’


Charles De Saro
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed