'79 Jaguar XJ6

[Hoffman]

Model: 1979 Jaguar XJ6L
Engine: Chevrolet 383 stroker V8

Engine:

Chevrolet 383 stroker V8. Balanced. ~9.5:1 static compression ratio. Comp' Cams #12-235-2 camshaft (0.447"/0.462" lift, 210°/218° duration, 111° separation.) World Products S/R Torquer cylinder heads. 2.02" intake and 1.60" exhaust valves. Z28 springs. Edelbrock Performer EGR intake manifold. Edelbrock Performer 600cfm carburetor. Delco HEI ignition, augmented with MSD6AL capacitive discharge system.

Cooling: 4-row GM radiator. Perma-Cool oil cooler with 180° thermostat.

Exhaust: Sanderson CC2 headers with air injection added. 2.5" exhaust system with mandrel bends and a crossover pipe. Magnaflow mufflers.

Transmission: high performance 700r4 automatic transmission from Phoenix Transmissions. One piece drive shaft from Inland Empire Driveline.

Rear End: 3.54:1.

Front Suspension: stock, except lowered about 2".

Rear Suspension: stock Jaguar independent suspension, rebuilt with all new bearings, bushings, u-joints, etc.

Wheels/Tires: '88 Jaguar XJ6 (15"x7") wheels. BFGoodrich T/A tires (front: 215/70-15. rear: 225/70-15).

Brakes: stock (Jaguar ventilated discs front, solid discs rear.)

Instruments: stock Jaguar gauges, plus Auto Meter oil temperature gauge and Edelbrock air/fuel ratio meter.

Weight: approximately 4000 lbs. (i.e. ~200lbs. less than stock.)

Other: Louvered hood. Outer headlights converted to ram-air intakes.

[TransAmMike]

Wow Tim thats gotta be a fun and comfortable ride!!

[espo]

2 hours ago, Hoffman said:

Model: 1979 Jaguar XJ6L
Engine: Chevrolet 383 stroker V8

Engine:

Chevrolet 383 stroker V8. Balanced. ~9.5:1 static compression ratio. Comp' Cams #12-235-2 camshaft (0.447"/0.462" lift, 210°/218° duration, 111° separation.) World Products S/R Torquer cylinder heads. 2.02" intake and 1.60" exhaust valves. Z28 springs. Edelbrock Performer EGR intake manifold. Edelbrock Performer 600cfm carburetor. Delco HEI ignition, augmented with MSD6AL capacitive discharge system.

Cooling: 4-row GM radiator. Perma-Cool oil cooler with 180° thermostat.

Exhaust: Sanderson CC2 headers with air injection added. 2.5" exhaust system with mandrel bends and a crossover pipe. Magnaflow mufflers.

Transmission: high performance 700r4 automatic transmission from Phoenix Transmissions. One piece drive shaft from Inland Empire Driveline.

Rear End: 3.54:1.

Front Suspension: stock, except lowered about 2".

Rear Suspension: stock Jaguar independent suspension, rebuilt with all new bearings, bushings, u-joints, etc.

Wheels/Tires: '88 Jaguar XJ6 (15"x7") wheels. BFGoodrich T/A tires (front: 215/70-15. rear: 225/70-15).

Brakes: stock (Jaguar ventilated discs front, solid discs rear.)

Instruments: stock Jaguar gauges, plus Auto Meter oil temperature gauge and Edelbrock air/fuel ratio meter.

Weight: approximately 4000 lbs. (i.e. ~200lbs. less than stock.)

Other: Louvered hood. Outer headlights converted to ram-air intakes.

Jaguars have always been beautiful looking cars and with the Chevrolet drivetrain and finished to this standard this would be a must have car. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Yup, they're beautiful, great handling cars with a supple ride and good brakes, but the emissions-strangled ones are slow.

The American engine swap makes them pretty much the perfect fast tourer.

I already did the 700R4 conversion in my '86, and the extra gear makes a world of difference to acceleration...and with the lockup converter, she'll get better than 20MPG at 70+ mph cruise.

Edited October 25, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy

[iamsuperdan]

Have always liked these Jags. 

Love that it looks basically stock.

I've seen a few of these conversions where the owners feel the need to add wheels and stuff. 

 

[Bugatti Fan]

A very nice conversion and not detracting too much from the look of the original vehicle. Not sure about the appearance of the louvers on the hood though unless they were actually necessary for cooling purposes and not just decorative.

I believe that Jaguar themselves made a very up rated car of similar styling but cannot remember their actual model designation or specification for the car. It may have had a V12 engine fitted and many of the body panels replaced with aluminium. There may be a Jaguar enthusiast out there who can fill in the details.

Those big Jag saloons have been around a while, and the styling looks good, even today. I believe that there may have been a Daimler version using this body style named a double six as it had the V12 engine. 

Edited October 27, 2023 by Bugatti Fan

[stitchdup]

45 minutes ago, Bugatti Fan said:

A very nice conversion and not detracting too much from the look of the original vehicle. Not sure about the appearance of the louvers on the hood though unless they were actually necessary for cooling purposes and not just decorative.

I believe that Jaguar themselves made a very up rated car of similar styling but cannot remember their actual model designation or specification for the car. It may have had a V12 engine fitted and many of the body panels replaced with aluminium. There may be a Jaguar enthusiast out there who can fill in the details.

Those big Jag saloons have been around a while, and the styling looks good, even today. I believe that there may have been a Daimler version using this body style named a double six as it had the V12 engine. 

broadspeed xj, based on the two door body but it has wider wheel arches and the engine could be tuned up for road or race. I dont think many had panels replaced with aly but they were acid dipped to reduce the weight and the race versions had thinner glass, the one my uncle has is all steel but due to the induction on the engine it has an e type bonnet bulge which might be standard to it

Edited October 27, 2023 by stitchdup

[Bugatti Fan]

I'd forgotten about the Broadspeed ones Les.

The model spec that I cannot remember I am almost sure was a factory built road car. I am going to have to look up about Jags built on the XJ6 body style. It might be the 308 that I might be thinking of. Incredible to think that this particular body style originated in the sixties and carried on with subtle changes right through to the nineties.

I read that Jaguar dismissed the idea of bonnet (hood) louvers when they uprated the engines as they would spoil the appearance of the car. They set about uprating the radiator and cooling system instead to retain the car's smooth lines.

A 1/24 th scale kit has never appeared of any versions of this luxury saloon despite its longevity.

Edited October 27, 2023 by Bugatti Fan

[stitchdup]

31 minutes ago, Bugatti Fan said:

I'd forgotten about the Broadspeed ones Les.

The model spec that I cannot remember I am almost sure was a factory built road car. I am going to have to look up about Jags built on the XJ6 body style. It might be the 308 that I might be thinking of. Incredible to think that this particular body style originated in the sixties and carried on with subtle changes right through to the nineties.

I read that Jaguar dismissed the idea of bonnet (hood) louvers when they uprated the engines as they would spoil the appearance of the car. They set about uprating the radiator and cooling system instead to retain the car's smooth lines.

A 1/24 th scale kit has never appeared of any versions of this luxury saloon despite its longevity.

theres a resin kit available. you often see them advertised in diecast magazines but i dont think i've seen them in model shops. I have seen one built though and it looked decent. maybe beemax or nunu (or whatever their name is now) will see fit to kit one since they are doing the sd1. I read somewhere that jaguar, under william lyons, designed the car body first then engineered the rest to fit. The first designs and pics were done at his house instead of the factory. I believe the xj6 was the last car he designed before british leyland took over and gave us the xj-s.

Edited October 27, 2023 by stitchdup