You are correct and what is being missed by others on this post is understanding the X150 architecture . Having done various chevy to jag. engine swaps the mechanics are really not that difficult. Designing engine and transmission mounts along with drive shafts and radiator mods is not brain surgery . The major issue is the electronics integration . I see that as the roadblock. Now if you want to rip out all of the wiring and install a new dash and aftermarket infotainment system and build a new wiring harness you can do the conversion. There are aftermarket wiring and ECU stand alone units so it would be able to run . Once again you need to remove all of the various processor modules and replace with aftermarket. The last conversion I did was installing a TPI chevy in a 76 Jag XJS with a 4 sp OD auto box. Great conversion. Took me 3 months . I'll look for some pictures.

 

Of course the smaller, lighter XK150 can do better than 0-60 in 4 seconds given V8 power; wouldn't a cool xk150 classic on the outside yet a sleeper that would do 0-60 in the 3's for 0-60 that you can not worry about racking up miles because the maintenance is easy and cheap and have more thumbs up than any new car be nice? My 1963 3.8s is 4 door and is much heavier.

I know the electronics is what most people do not realize, I have done it on my 63' Jag with a LS1. Sure every person has their brand favorite from Ford, Jag, and other V8's but why the GM LS V8's are so prevalent is that there are so many aftermarket options to make the electronics way easier. An LS V8 has multiple companies making most every part you need for a swap and so many can tune the factory ECU to your car's needs so it makes the difficult process way more manageable. Yes if you want to keep it all Jag and use a modern Jag V8, the electronics will be difficult, but an LS is way easier and there are not only so many options but you can find so many tuners that can tune it for you and your specific needs.

I not only have an LS1 restomod classic but in 5 years I have over 200,000 daily driven street miles clocked. A restomod classic will always turn more heads and for me is a joy to drive daily and not worrying about racking the miles as it is affordable to rebuild them or upgrade to new. While this looks to be an expensive V8 swap the performance of this sleeper XK150 is pretty cool https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10150592933417503






Yes a microwave oven, 3000 watt sine wave inverter, color lazar jet printer, and I've added a scanner enables the Jag to be a mobile office work horse M-F and on the weekend the quick release removes the RAM mount laptop and the hidden Focal & JL Audio subwoofer sound system makes it an ideal street car, plus front/rear cameras, AC, electronic seats, wifi, hands free phone, and more than all of the electronic toys a new car has...

 

Uhhh, I just realised your confusion, because of the thread title...

This is the X150 forum, XK's & XKR's built from 2006-2014, with two-dozen computers in them and electric everything...

This is not the XK150 forum, as in the XK150 from the 1950's with a half-dozen wires and a few fuses.

 

Yep I believe the OP thinks that the ECU is a stand alone processor in the X150 platform so he doesn't see how integrated the total electrical system is. The X100 platform was the last to have separate system modules which would still let you do an easier engine transplant. As an example EVERTHING in the X150 talks to the ECU so even though you could install an LS you would not be able to start it nor would anything electrical in the car work. His conversion was relatively simple in comparison. As I mentioned with my XJS conversion all I had to do is unplug the Jag ECU and attach the key switch wiring to the starter. Heater , AC , radio and all of the gauges and lighting systems stayed the same. They did a nice job with his car and if you like that old styling then it is great.

 

1. Actually the ECU is not as much of an issue as you may think. Motec have one which is suitable to both the 4.2 and the 5.0. The challenge is the TCU on the 6HP26 transmission. There’s been some R&D on interfaces, but it’s not all there yet. As for the rest of the electrics, we’ll yes there’s no solution for that other than ripping it all out. I agree with Cambo though, I had a thought that perhaps he was thinking of the XK150.

 

I actually meant that primaz thinks we're talking about XK150's, not X150's

 

Yes, that is what I meant.

 

Let's find out!
This thread was started by v8moise and primaz has been outspoken as well....
Are we talking about THIS:





Or THIS:

 

Both would look good in my driveway.

 

sorry my bad. I would have thought they are too new to have engine issues? I know Andrew at Jaguar Specialties has done them up to 2003 and done all of the ECU tweaks so that all of the factory electronics work fine, etc. using the LS V8's because it is a fairly open architecture.

Yes Cee Jay I was thinking of the XK150 convertible classic, my bad...

 

No issues and and plenty of stock cars have had remaps and other tweaks for more power. Sure the LS has tons of aftermarket support, Jag doesn’t hence the limited tweaks available now.

 

Jaguar also did one hell of a job getting more than 500 HP out of a tiny V8 without reducing reliability (much).

 

LS engine swaps are everywhere, and are sooo yesterday. You'll really turn heads with a fan-tastic hovercraft swap in your XK140 restomod. 🇬🇧



P.S. It's not a fan-tasy, it's doable.

 

Yep. LS swaps are the cheapo-creepo way out and are so played out that Chevys don't even do it anymore.
Do a 7.3L Godzilla swap. They take up less room as they are not cammers, and they are plug n play.

 

Yes and no..5litre V8 is not tiny in todays world.
they used a supercharger to get 510hp ,,the NA Jag 5.0 is only 385hp
by comparison the NA 5.0 in the Mustang makes 460hp without a supercharger. Models like
the Roush Mustang with a supercharger similiar to ours make 700hp and still has factory warranty.
Both 5.0s came out at about the same time (2010) .
The fact our 5.0 was made in a Ford factory makes it even more confusing!

 

Well, that was a big typo. XK150 is what I was talking about.

 

Your talking about x150 as in your profile you have a xkr (so it was correctly titled in the thread, it was just primaz that got confused)

The xk150 is the vintage car in the photo

 

To summarize for future readers as this question's brought up frequently on these forums, like most if not all "modern" cars, since the advent of networks like CANbus, integration of electrics and modules and mechanics is rarely "open" architecture, if keeping it "stock" and the intent's simply swapping out the engine with a different make, good luck or have a massive budget. If gutting the car and replacing EVERYTHING with custom, can be done, but still a massive budget needed. If more power's the only goal, that's easier than some might think. You can achieve over 500HP with the 4.2 and simple modifications, perhaps more power with more extensive modifications (it's been done). If you've a 5.0 litre, then the power increase ratio's even more in your favour. Jaguar's done over 600HP in house and other's have done over 700. If that's not enough, then you ought to consider something else as the X150 platform is not really conducive to that, IMHO...

 

Yeah its quite odd it only develops 385hp as it has direct injection, variable runners in the inlet manifold , variables valve lift and also variable camshaft profiles, by memory the inlet valves are 36mm (4.2 has 35mm) all I can think of is the standard headers would be holding it back and a very conservative ecu map from the factory .

​​​​​​With all that good gear in there with aftermarket headers and a tune surely it would have to get close to 450bhp .

 

I think you make good points. While it is true that the GM V8's and finally Ford got their V8's a little closer to GM, both do produce way more HP in all motor configuration and crazy more power when boosted, etc.; I thought the Jaguar V8's of the X150 and newer have decent reliability? It is ok that they are not that powerful if they can run a lot of miles reliably, then it would be a good option to just rebuild the engine? If those V8's are not that reliable then when they get older maybe Andrew at Jaguar Specialties or someone else will make a kit so all of the ECU and electronics are sorted like he has done for the 2003 and other Jags where they had powerplants that were not as reliable and were nearing an age that a swap kit would be a good option. It is not easy to do a swap on a newer car as you have to deal with all of the smog and other requirements so to me it can be an option when the stock powerplant is not that reliable but if it is then rebuild it or get a stock crate motor.