Advice on what my cars worth ls1/t56 swapped xk8
#21
07-01-2015, 06:25 PM
This is a pretty neat conversion. It is a corvette engine but not really a corvette powertrain since the vette uses a rear mounted transmission. Vettes are a good bit more expensive than XK8s though, all else equal so in terms of cost buying a vette is probably quite a bit more than an XK8+LS1 swap.
I looked into the LS swap before I bought my XKR. LS1 engines are a dime a dozen and the manual transmission would be the cats meow. An LS1 is a significant bump in power over the XK8 but to get the kind of power you get on an XKR you would need a newer LS3 or later engine and those aren't cheap (and you still would not have equivalent low end torque of the XKR).
So in general if you want more power in an XK8 body in terms of cost you are probably better off selling and getting an XKR. If you want the manual the LS swap is the way to go.
As far as the computer, there are numerous aftermarket solutions available to run the LS motor, the problem is interfacing them with the Jags ABS, instrument panel, suspension, cruise etc.
I looked into the LS swap before I bought my XKR. LS1 engines are a dime a dozen and the manual transmission would be the cats meow. An LS1 is a significant bump in power over the XK8 but to get the kind of power you get on an XKR you would need a newer LS3 or later engine and those aren't cheap (and you still would not have equivalent low end torque of the XKR).
So in general if you want more power in an XK8 body in terms of cost you are probably better off selling and getting an XKR. If you want the manual the LS swap is the way to go.
As far as the computer, there are numerous aftermarket solutions available to run the LS motor, the problem is interfacing them with the Jags ABS, instrument panel, suspension, cruise etc.
#22
07-01-2015, 07:10 PM
And you can work around pretty much everything but the damned anti-lock brakes. (They generally use a Camaro or Pontiac donor because of the Corvette transmission issue). What would be fun is start with an XK8, do the engine swap then do the XK-180 conversion. Now that would be a great looking relatively reliable exotic. XK180.com - Price
#23
07-01-2015, 11:59 PM
Senior Member
A used car dealer friend of mine and I went over your auction specifics, and this is what we came up with.
Basically what you have is a lease vehicle, with a couple of accidents, that has had 6 owners, and auctioned across the country, and has a negative Autocheck score, that needs an AC compressor installed, around $300 on the light side, and $6500 worth of Camaro drivetrain, where the entire Camaro wasn't worth but $4500, in average condition at auction price, according to a 2 year old NADA book. I go to auctions with this dealer friend, in both Florida, and Illinois, to inspect them, and get a little sun.
To get on, you have spent $25,700 just on parts. This has not counted your time and odds and ends, plus the price of the original car. On the plus side, it has good eye appeal, and the interior is beautiful.
The auction ends on Friday, and you have one $4000 bid. The 2000 XK8 convertible, with not as much curb appeal has a whole lot more bids, and has $50 more bid on it. If I were you, I would close the auction, and pay what Ebay penalizes you, or see if you could move it to another classification. I would list the car as a custom car, because Jaguar buyers want Jaguars as a rule. I think you would have a wider audience.
I don't really mean to paint such a negative picture, but the car is worth much more in parts, than what you are probably going to get as a whole. From what I see, you didn't put a reserve on the car either, so you get what you get. Just the guys in this forum would probably buy it up for parts, and get you more than what the auction will.
I would drive it until the wheels fall off, or part it out. Hope this advice helps....Be cool.....Mike
Basically what you have is a lease vehicle, with a couple of accidents, that has had 6 owners, and auctioned across the country, and has a negative Autocheck score, that needs an AC compressor installed, around $300 on the light side, and $6500 worth of Camaro drivetrain, where the entire Camaro wasn't worth but $4500, in average condition at auction price, according to a 2 year old NADA book. I go to auctions with this dealer friend, in both Florida, and Illinois, to inspect them, and get a little sun.
To get on, you have spent $25,700 just on parts. This has not counted your time and odds and ends, plus the price of the original car. On the plus side, it has good eye appeal, and the interior is beautiful.
The auction ends on Friday, and you have one $4000 bid. The 2000 XK8 convertible, with not as much curb appeal has a whole lot more bids, and has $50 more bid on it. If I were you, I would close the auction, and pay what Ebay penalizes you, or see if you could move it to another classification. I would list the car as a custom car, because Jaguar buyers want Jaguars as a rule. I think you would have a wider audience.
I don't really mean to paint such a negative picture, but the car is worth much more in parts, than what you are probably going to get as a whole. From what I see, you didn't put a reserve on the car either, so you get what you get. Just the guys in this forum would probably buy it up for parts, and get you more than what the auction will.
I would drive it until the wheels fall off, or part it out. Hope this advice helps....Be cool.....Mike
It would also help greatly if the OP had more than just 2 eBay feedback credentials as a seller.
Last edited by MediaBobNY; 07-02-2015 at 12:10 AM.
#24
07-02-2015, 07:12 AM
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Thanks for all the comments folks! I'm selling the jag simply because I lost interested in it, there's a lot of money and countless hours of time in it and no I won't sell the car for $4000! My 2 feedback as a seller was both for cars. Again my numbers list on the listing anyone can come drive the car. I fully disclosed what it needs done to my knowledge.
#25
07-02-2015, 02:59 PM
Veteran Member
As I see it, you have to sell it for whatever the bidding ends on, or get negative feedback, because you don't have a reserve set, and at the moment you are only at $4450. What is your price? You never know, I could go insane, and buy it off of you. I would still close the auction early, and list it under customized cars, with no end date. Just a price with OBO that someone can talk over with you. I wouldn't buy anything from a seller with a 50% approval rate.....Be cool......Mike
#26
07-02-2015, 04:15 PM
Veteran Member
It's kind of a sad thing looking at that listing. The actual body and interior look pretty decent. I dare to say that if you undid all of the mechanical swaps and returned back to stock XK8 you would fetch more money. I don't think anyone who Uber-modifies their vehicle ever gets anywhere near the time and money they sunk into it.
Doug
Doug
#28
07-03-2015, 12:59 PM
#30
07-03-2015, 10:27 PM
Veteran Member
Slowjag, you said you would not let it go for $4K a few threads back and now you are stepping up and saying it will sell for whatever eBay brings. I just checked and with less tha an hour and a half to go it's sitting at $5778. I sure hope there is a last minute bidding war for you as I hate to see folks take a bath on their labor of love.
Good luck!
Good luck!
#32
07-04-2015, 11:57 AM
I saw that, wish I had room for it. I have project in mind the car would have been perfect for but I'm not ready to start it yet and didn't have the room for the car. Damn, I'm likely going to regret this a lot.
SloJag: Anyway congrats on the sale and you should let us know what your next project will be.
SloJag: Anyway congrats on the sale and you should let us know what your next project will be.
#33
07-04-2015, 04:31 PM
Veteran Member
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