Seems like a great forum... I just bought a farm here in Montana and buried out in the weeds.... there sits a 1989 XJS.. paint is shot, but body is straight and interior looks good and the engine is at least clean... I am thinking its a project car.. I tried starting it, witha new battery it turns over, with starting fluid it fires... thinking I will dig in... haul it home and just start tinkering.... (I have a 55 Chevy, 49 Packard, 52 MG GT and a few other toys.. so this fits nice with my collection... and if I get it where I need it, it makes a great story... any and all advice and or insight appreciated.

 

First off WELCOME.

Finds like that are getting fewer, and the fact it fires with starter fluid is at the very least, encouraging.

The list will be looooooong and involved, MAYBE.

I would expect the fuel pump to be SHOT, and the filter (behind the spare wheel) will be worse.

The fuel tank/s will be full of crud, and maybe rust just for fun. The small fuel tank, under the battery cradle, is the supply tank TO the fuel pump, so a filter from some car parts mod in that 1/2" line would be mandatory, although there is a filter on the pick up pipe inside that small tank, an extra will do NO harm until the car is sorted somewhat, coz you will FRY your new pump if ANY crud gets into it from those fuel tanks.

The fuel lines, ALL of them, will be shot, and engine fires on these from fuel hoses is all too common, so PLEASE be BLOODY careful, or just replace them so a BBQ Jag is not on the menu.

I would get it "home" as you say, and check it out, it is probably NOT as bad as it may appear. The V12 is one TOUGH engine, however some of the "add ons" are a tad suspect, until updated, then reliability is as good as any car on the road.