The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Project XJ-PU V12

I got the front grill assembly buttoned up plus the light buckets and radiator, moved the engine forward 4.5" which improved things all around will post pictures also watch out for the caged leaper, I thought it was a nice touch.

I have the fuel injectors back from cleaning and testing fitted onto the fuel rail new seals and hoses, air intakes cleaned up and modified, air induction system blocked off, exhaust manifolds sprayed with high temp paint welded a 2.5in flex pipe to the down pipes, new oxegen sensors, now ready for a set of side pipes will post some pictures later and update my album

Nice work, will you be out in it this year?

Hi Stu,

I should have the engine running this summer, the cab needs a lot of work plus I need a bed and so many other bits and pieces so no I will not be out in it this year

cheers Paul

Paul,that just sounds so painfully familiar!

Joking apart, keep up the good work,if you approach the bodywork with the same professionalism as you have done with the running gear,it'll be a fantastic truck.

It'll be done when it's done.......

the build looks great. looking at the pictures I am impressed. However are those just cracks in the primer for the outer rear hubs, or do your castings have stress cracks?

Hey Scott,

They were cracked I had them ground and welded XJS is a heavy car and on bad roads its a common problem in the States.

John I did not buy a welder just to make the garage look good its time to pay me back and boy do I have a lot of work for it but it keeps me out of the pub ;-)

I bought another donor car $500 1987 XJ-S V12 Coupe the guy drove it to my house seems a shame to break it but needs must, has new alternator, steering rack, steering pump,poly bushings, brake pads,tires on lattace sport wheels all in the last 12 months to good to pass up

That's a deal and you can probably sell off parts you don't need if you want and get your $500 back.

Distributor rebuilt and fitted, new plugs and wires, new mallory coil, rebuilt ign amp, throttle tower in new TPS ready for rewire. Started work on the cab a lot of stress fractures to be repaired and a lot welding to be done check pics on flickr

Paul,I see one of your pics was titled "Just before it fell off the lift."

I hope you're OK and there wasn't too much carnage to the truck either?

Yeh it was like in slow motion its kinda firwall heavy and the tie back let me down, I was stood at the side and could do nothing it dented the front fire wall so it was an easy fix.
Trying to find some info on converting from the opening front wind screen to a fixed sealed type do you know anyone that has done that?

Funny Paul,it's usually guys wanting to go the other way,to get the opening windscreen to work!
I'm not familiar with the windscreen aperature 'anatomy' but I'm pretty sure you could bond a screen in.
I'm a glass guy to trade and would relish the challenge,only problem is the travelling time would be hideous (and expensive)!

I know a few guys in the HAMB in Va,i'll put the word out and see what I can find out.

The PO must have got a plasma cutter for Christmas he cut everything out including the hinges for the wind screen all the supports and bracing for the cab and doors so a lot more work than anticipated I will check out the glass shop cheers John

thanks Paul

Just looked at your pix. Very straight rear of cab and fire wall. Entire cab looks realy sraight. My cab rear took me a month to straighten. Great project.
Al

Just added few more pics engine is dressed need to start wiring

Knowing you fabbed and modified the front end and relocated some, it's still surprising to me to see how well and low the V12 fits the chassis. I think your "day job" experience puts you ahead of any of us to try to do that mod. Really hope to see the completed rod some day, somewhere.

Hey Drew,

The V12 is at 60 degrees which makes it narrow but long its taken a lot of planning to get this far, when I see front ends priced at $3000 and back ends at $5000 people shy away from the Jaguars but at $500 for a used XJS its a steal, a lot of engineering for little money. I am sure there will be a few more changes along the way but its been fun so far, the day job sure does help but my training and previous experience is the key.

cheers Paul

Had a major mock up yesterday set the cab position need to add a six inch wide strip to the cab or hood I want to vent this piece to help the air flow, got some good ideas on where I want things, thought about a really cool cold air intakes positioned just under the head light brackets. Added some pics to the album

cheers Paul

Fitted the Jaguar brake master cylinder and booster last weekend using a custom frame mount, this made more sense than using a different assembly as the XJS has excellent stopping power with discs all around. Will need to modify the pedal location and make a coupling but both are an easy fix, couple of new pics in the album

cheers Paul

I had seen the pics earlier Paul,nice job as usual.
Like I commented in Flickr it makes sense to use 'matched' components,at least you know they were designed to work together.

BTW.Were Jaguar not the first manufacturer to install disc brakes on a mass produced car?

They were indeed John, they introduced discs (rotors for the US)in there racing cars and wiped the floor with everybody, the other teams complained they were cheating the judges then discovered all the Jags had disc brakes and thats why they out performed the other cars. it was not long after that they apperaed in production cars late 50's early 60's

Paul,thanks for the clarification,it's just I remember seeing an old MK2 Jag a while back with an enamel badge on the rear bumper proudly proclaiming the fact.

If memory serves they were developed on the D type Le Mans cars.
Now there's a Jag I wouldn't mind owning!

Thats right John Le Mans winning D Type's I like the C Type better but the ultimate is the XJ13 "Now there's a Jag"

Any updates? I'm dying to seen more pictures!

Me too, seems like I have been following this project forever.Going to be worth the wait.

Don't the English refer to the windshield as a windscreen?

sorry guys I have been busy with the truck I will post more pics on flickr, BTW windscreen is correct term British people use

Not much to take pictures of, I have been making up my wiring harness and connecting lights and other things

I made the last of the wiring harness's today and thats installed all I need to do now is connect everything then the fun will start see what fuses blow first

first to blow electric cooling fan fuse 15amp not big enough 30amp installed works great,horn and lights work,engine cranks over thanks to a gear reduction starter and I have a big fat spark at the plugs, need to add fuel and coolent and maybe we will have a running engine, posted a few more pics

What electric fan are you running? I have a 2500 CFM flex-a-lite that calls for a 40 Amp relay. Just for a reference.

Not sure what it is had it for a few years lost the box and instructions I will put my current clamp on the feed wire and see what it draws, it seems happy at 30 amps

Have been wiring the lights and other circuits this week, wired my Oxygen sensors today I think thats all the major wiring completed and working, posted a few pics of the dash board well pleased with the way it turned out

Very clean look while using very modern gauges. A really nice approach. That is also an outstandingly finished steering wheel. It's yacht quality.

Thanks, I got the look I wanted, steering wheel came on an XKE I restored had to buy the boss for the XJS steering column, I agree it has a great finish and goes well with the polished aluminum

Just scrolling thru your photo album. What a great project !
You obviously have the skills to take on a hybrid like this. Looking forward to seeing the completed. Great job !!!

Thanks to everyone who is following my project and for the positive comments, I have picked up some negative flak for other so called Hotrod sites for being "none traditional" I see it as I saved a Chevy from the crusher also a Jaguar drive train and I fueled my ambition to build a custom pickup truck.
I need to get my bottom hose sorted out so I can run the engine, maybe I will have a go at posting a video of the startup.

Thanks for taking an interest it inspires me to push on.

Have to laugh at that comment from other sites. Since when does "Hot Rod" mean cookie cutter cars. Years ago I saw a '32 Ford/XK120 engine project. JUST KEEP TRUCKIN'!

Its become a "Cottage industry" you have to have, small block chevy,350 trans,mustang II front end,9 bolt rear end that is "Traditional" or so they say. If you have this set up and it works for you then god bless you but dont critisize me for being different.

This was my reply to the other websites