1975 Jaguar XJ Coupe 6.0 V12

[alabbasi]

The guy I bought my car from is based in TN and builds 5 and 6 speed manual conversions for the v12. I'd like to go that route someday with mine. He says it transforms the car.

Too many cars. Not enough time

[craigjm]

alabbasi said:

The guy I bought my car from is based in TN and builds 5 and 6 speed manual conversions for the v12. I'd like to go that route someday with mine. He says it transforms the car.

Too many cars. Not enough time

It does but the clutch is quite heavy and totally changes the character of the car. I’ve driven one with a manual conversion and I couldn’t live with it every day but as a weekend bit of fun would be great.

[alabbasi]

Maybe I'll leave it as is. I have many other fish to fry with this car. It was converted to propane and took some heavy lifting to convert back to Lucas D-jetronic. Everything was removed, wiring, fuel tanks, computer... everything. I need to find some time to put it together. Right now it's sitting in that corner while I work through some other projects.

Consider getting a Nardi steering wheel if you can find one. I have one in one of my 6.3's. It's classy and period correct (if you like that sort of thing).

[craigjm]

alabbasi said:

Consider getting a Nardi steering wheel if you can find one. I have one in one of my 6.3's. It's classy and period correct (if you like that sort of thing).

Period correct is not a word in this cars vocabulary

This is the wheel it’s getting with a Jaguar centre logo



All the wood is being made black to match

[alabbasi]

Looks great, your work will one day inspire me to get started on mine.

[alabbasi]

Strela said:

How many 6.3's do you have, by the way?

2 6.3 , a 300SEL 3.5 and a 280SEL 4.5 which will become a parts car. I also have a couple of 450SEL 6.9's and a few other cars.

I've been documenting the 6.3's progress on youtube. There are 7 parts so far and I've only just recently got it running.

The first video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7k3QTG7whs

and here's the short version:

|

[gforceg]

Any updates Craig?
Are you nearly there?

[craigjm]

Stalled a bit due to funds but by end of the month the stuff left to do will be -

Get the wheels delivered and fluids back in car so ride height can be sorted

Fit all the interior tech and make the new veneered dash panels

Fit out the interior at the trimmers

My new target date is anytime this year with a view to on the road as soon as the salt is over in March 19

[gforceg]

Thanks. It'll be all the sweeter when the job's done and the corks pop.

[craigjm]

Busy day today.... been to the trimmers to make all the final choices on carpet and leather and all that. Then over to the restorers to get some measurements for a couple of things I need to order and now on my way to the audio place to book that in. All systems go now that the money is flowing again

[craigjm]

Seeking opinions..... As you know this car will be very modern inside and pride of place in the centre will be a 9 inch Alpine Freestyle unit to provide all of the modern functionality. This got me thinking about the T-bar shifter stick and the Umbrella handbrake. I have two options for each.....

Keep the T-shifter and veneer the wood handle in black or modify the shaft and fit a modern piano black gearknob with Jaguar logo

and secondly

Keep the Umbrella handbrake and veneer the wood handle in black or remove it completely and make the handbrake a switch on the centre console to match all of the other alluminium switches that are replacing all the 70s plastic rubbish

What do you think?

[JimbobVFR]

For me keep the original gear selector but junk the hand brake.

[craigjm]

JimbobVFR said:

For me keep the original gear selector but junk the hand brake.

Thanks for your opinion.

[davepoth]

craigjm said:

Keep the T-shifter and veneer the wood handle in black or modify the shaft and fit a modern piano black gearknob with Jaguar logo

On this one - are you using the original TH400 gearbox? There are tons of electronic shifting options for it in the USA so you could do away with the shifter completely if you wanted. That means you could go for a push-button, or steering wheel paddles, or even a rotary gear selector from the latest Jags?

Just a thought...

[craigjm]

davepoth said:

On this one - are you using the original TH400 gearbox? There are tons of electronic shifting options for it in the USA so you could do away with the shifter completely if you wanted. That means you could go for a push-button, or steering wheel paddles, or even a rotary gear selector from the latest Jags?

Just a thought...

Not quite. Upgrading to the TH700R4 to give the extra gear. If your statement still applies can you point me in the direction please

[davepoth]

craigjm said:

Not quite. Upgrading to the TH700R4 to give the extra gear. If your statement still applies can you point me in the direction please

It looks like it does!

https://www.altronicsinc.com/electronic-push-butto...

https://transmissioncenter.net/shop/gsm-push-butto...

I'm sure there are more but it was just a googled idle thought - I don't know anything about this stuff! I guess if you look at US based hot rodding or drag racing sites you might find some more info.

[craigjm]

Yeah I found the bottom one after your post and in silver

https://www.powertraincontrolsolutions.com/Perform...

Just a shame it has that horrible blue logo on it and the screen showing mode is grim. Will keep looking

[davepoth]

I found a nicer looking one.

https://www.mastershift.com/index.php/2013-07-31-0...

And here's a video of a guy playing with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci-6Euu0E_Y

[craigjm]

Cheers I’ve mailed them to ask if it can be had without the company logo on it and for some clearer pics. Looks like just what I want but £2000 is a big price! Mind you it will totally fit in with the new modern ambience of the interior.

[davepoth]

craigjm said:

Cheers I’ve mailed them to ask if it can be had without the company logo on it and for some clearer pics. Looks like just what I want but £2000 is a big price! Mind you it will totally fit in with the new modern ambience of the interior.

It's big money. I did find one other one, and this might be a potential other avenue to go down:

http://www.steeringdevelopments.co.uk/products/dri...