Jaguar XJS V12 Track Car Introduction

It's time to stop teasing people with glimpses of the 1987 Jaguar XJS Track Car and do a formal introduction. The car first went on track in 2010 and has been used ever since to do research and test my ideas regarding preserving the Jaguar 5.3 liter V-12 on the street and track.
#jaguarxjstrackcar #Jaguarxjsv12manualtransmission #jaguarxjsv12weberconversion

[@jeffreywilliams506]

I am glade I found this channel. I have a 92 xjs v12 that I am bringing back to life.

[@alecjones7299]

I’m very interested in any progress you might’ve made I am wanting to do a gearbox swap for mine

[@jay22nup]

Thank you for sharing this. It’s really helping me with my project.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ferrariguy8278]

I've been there.... put (in retrospect) a crack in the front hub clutch pack retaining lip. Not long after driving to a friends house... I lost all forward gears coasting over a railroad track. The rest of the way was.. mostly down hill. Coasted for over a mile....but that I needed to turn in on was uphill. Yeah. From there on it was reverse. It took about an hour to find my keys after I threw them into the woods.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

:-D

[@aretardridesmotard6128]

I love that wiring job!

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

Thank you and thanks for the comment.

[@josephsaukuru5102]

Really waiting for more of this awesome one guys

[@jongodsell88]

Great to see you back Capt' Bob. Here in the Uk it's just about warm enough to start putting the rear sub frame back on the car.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

Great to be back. The weather here in Minnesota is pretty nice. Just when you think winter will never end you get a couple of nice weeks and the farmers are out working up the ground.

[@merseymarineimages6283]

@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 Cap’’n Bob, a bit of trivia for you on the 4th of April 1996 the final XJ’s come off the production line at Browns Lane, Coventry. Gone cold again today with an Artic blast covering the UK so no mounting of the subframe yet, anyway I forgot to get any locking wire for the bolts holding the diff in position.

[@hectoraceves1494]

Awesome car, thank you for sharing!!!

[@rickprindle3971]

Good to see someone doing this.. I had a V-12 XJS coupe that I bought for $300 that I was going to do up as vintage race car. Inspired by the TWS race cars of days past. I sold the project to a friend. Still have an 88 XJS V-12 convertible that is in good original condition for car shows and weekend drives. Also have 1975 XJC V-12 2 door hardtop project. Oh - also there is my L-29 Delfin 2 seat military jet that will be modified to use a General Electric J-85 engine with afterburner for more power. Boys and their toys!

[@leedoak2274]

Loving this, can't wait to see your progress 👌👍

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

Thank you!! 😊

[@paulcrombach7262]

Just stumbled on this channel. Love it!

[@larabrown5253]

Great post, really looking forward to seeing everything you are planning.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

More to come!

[@danielwojciechowski2668]

Always good to see well made jaguar project car

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

Thank you, sir.

[@Rust2Rome]

Can't wait to see this amazing car in person some day soon! Brilliant video thanks for this!

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

Thanks, Marco. The coffee pot is on anytime.

[@markwallis7199]

@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 I only just spotted this, my two favourite Jag guys chatting. My own rust to Rome was planned with my '87 V12 as my girlfriend is from Rome but now that my XJS is fixed up and ready to go we've both banned each other from entry without quarantine.

[@markdoyle6414]

They are a thing of beauty, just subscribed and will keep watching.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

I'll start publishing more videos starting this friday.

[@hanoiboy9839]

Amazing video, well done. Looking forward to see more.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

Thank you.

[@bringbacknames]

I've really been looking forward to this.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

I hope you enjoy the new series.

[@carljoshua9477]

you probably dont give a shit but if you guys are bored like me atm then you can stream pretty much all the latest series on instaflixxer. I've been streaming with my gf for the last weeks xD

[@maximoandres6528]

@Carl Joshua Definitely, I've been using Instaflixxer for years myself =)

[@tvdinner325]

Gorgeous!

[@1SECRETBILLY]

Just splendid and what a intrduction story lol

[@jimclarke1108]

Clever guy, great choice (V12)😍

[@ronbros]

nice , i like it, we just have to fall in love with the car, the rest is history!

[@1nnu3ndo]

I didn't expect it, but those new wheels look really good on this classic

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

There's a fine line between what looks good on an XJS and what looks awful.

[@michaelbahe5370]

Have a '73 E-Type V-12 which I converted from auto to a 3.6 XJS Getrag. Having fun with clutch linkage and TO bearing - plus Getrag will probably not handle much more that a stock 5.3. Your mule just sounds great. Can't wait to see it action post mule. Mike Bahe

[@XeroBritt]

Excellent! ❤️

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

Thanks for the comment.

[@scotty6346]

I'm in the UK and about to buy a 1989 V12 XJS, Subscribed.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

I hope you find the videos helpful. And hopeful. 😉

[@stevestone4346]

Just discovered your channel. Look forward to working my way through all your videos.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

You really need to watch them all twice to fully appreciate them. ;-)

[@stevestone4346]

@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 the more the merrier.

[@specialvehicleimports7466]

Love it

[@57kevy33]

very nice

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

Thanks

[@GeneFraxby]

"We ran with the stock electrical system" As it's "Lucas" that's one hell of a brave move - no wonder you changed eventually

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

I've never been disappointed by the lucas system except I was stranded at Road America when it overheated. I got it running again before the tow arrived. Moving the amplifier forward of the upper radiator support will solve that problem. But I've driven Lucas cars on 5000 mile road trips with no issues. A simple reliable system as far as my experience goes.

[@JAYHARRIS85]

KEEP.MAKING.VIDEOS Please! 😊

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

That's the plan if we get some traction. Share the channel with everyone you know.

[@minimeee04]

Great job looks the Business.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

Thank you, sir.

[@MickeyMishra]

With all the bad news in the world. Good to see these happy things going on. The XJ-S, will always be one of my Favorite cars. There is something so uniquely British. It's a car that was the Snarling Cat in the BTCC, and could put on a tuxedo and take someone out to brunch. Thankfully, all the new kids don't want anything to do with cars all that much as we use too. Better for me anyways!

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

But the kids that DO like cars are doing amazing things. Thanks for the comment.

[@Daimler30a]

Hi Bob. Good to see the new season start. Very tidy XJS! Recommend switching your rear callipers to outboard as per the facelift car. This will cure your fade with high boiling point fluid with standard callipers. An easy swap. Also recommend Allan Scott’s book on the TWR XJS touring car campaign for inspiration & ideas. All the best for 2021

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

I've been thinking about the brake swap but want to exhaust all other possibilities first to fully understand what's going on with the rear brakes. As I began to drive faster the car began to get unstable under heavy braking which leads me to believe the stock XJS is set up with too much bias to the rear. You can see it in next weeks Tuesday Extra. I'll try a proportioning valve and ducting first and if that doesn't work, we've got the big guns in reserve.

[@ferrariguy8278]

@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 Interesting. Norman Lutz bores out his rear calipers for larger pistons to change the brake bias back to about 60/40 rather than the later OEM 73/27. Donald Miles I think also noted that having more rear bias worked. IDK. You wouldn't think so with the car being so front biased..... You have a potential different rear caliper setup than OEM? Considered XK8R hubs for outboards?

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

@@ferrariguy8278 The stock set-up seems to work fine until I started braking at #4 instead of #5 prior to a turn. It got more unstable as the session went on. I replaced two sets of rear pads for every one set on the front. Some of that may be due to heat build up because of lack of air flow around the diff but i have my doubts. I'll try a proportioning valve first and then go to the big brake conversion after I've learned all I can.

[@ferrariguy8278]

@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 I've had that feeling myself, jostling my all-stock XJS around the Savanna Hutchinson Island track back when it was all brush and tall grass and unmonitored. Surely that's where I also killed my transmission... but yeah.. loosing braking coming into a turn is no fun... pumped it out and stopped to let them cool down (DOT4). I guess you put a lot more heat into the system much faster when you brake harder closer in to the turn.... Running EBC compound? Or? That is odd ... re needing to replace the rear set more often. I wonder how much heat transfer occurs back there via direct contact vs convective currents...

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

@@ferrariguy8278 Call I took the front of the trunk call on the bulkhead right behind the differential and angled it back in about a 45° angle so that should improve the airflow somewhat.

[@hasletjoe5984]

Hello, been looking for a Jag V12 powered car for a while. Several I should have bought, but laid an egg. Do you offer products for these XJS series? Main thing I would like is a manual transmission. Love the video, binge watching now! Thank you

[@thedrivechannel83]

A lot of XJS racers move the rear brakes outboard. I believe TWR did back in the day.....

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

That's true and I believe Group 44 did eventually as well.

[@stevestone4346]

She sounds just like a Le Mans jag. Awesome.

[@randysteiner9235]

Looking forward to see the carb work. Would also be interested in how you solved the manual conversion. I have a couple i am looking to do that will be one off behind the v12.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

I hope to do a video series on a homebuilt manual conversion this year but the schedule is filling up fast.

[@frenchydampier2209]

Hi Bob. Are you thinking of anymore track days this year? If so, here in Dakota county or Elkhart Lake.?

[@theflyingferret77]

I’ve been looking forward to seeing more about the V12 track car Bob. I was wondering why you chose to go with the I6 over the V12 for the Champcar? I really would like to build a V12 XJS Champcar but he main deterrent for me is the crap 3spd auto with no budget options for manual conversion here in the US. It would still leave a lot of mechanical and electrical mods around the engine but the gearbox is the showstopper. Looking forward to seeing more on this one and the Champcar build.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

The main issue with the V12 for endurance racing is fuel consumption. I've never actually calculated fuel consumption on Frankenkar, but it's massive. We'd be stopping every 40 minutes for fuel. If we develop a modern EFI management system for the V12, then maybe. Since we fabricate our own bellhousing/clutch set-up we can install any trans we wish. Starting out with a Tremec T5 with some strengthening mods but we can go to anything if that doesn't pan out. Thanks for watching.

[@theflyingferret77]

@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 Do you sell a manual conversion kit Bob?

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

@@theflyingferret77 No. It works for us to do our own but no one would pay what we would have to get to mske it worth while.

[@magnoliav12]

I've been thinking of installing a powered oil cooler on my Jag as well. That should help in stop and go traffic.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

only if the oil temperature exceeds the coolant temp. Unless the engine is running at 220ºF of course. Oil temp is usually a function of RPMs.

[@Zaze09]

Sorry if I missed it but what are the horsepower and torque figures after modifications?

[@frenchydampier2209]

Does the 4.0 six cylinder use the same location for the alignment pins as the V12?

[@rocketkinger2506]

Holy crap

[@barryphillips7327]

Tom Walkinshaw in UK could make such a car get round a track fairly quickly and reliably.

[@ludovic5087]

Nice project, do you still have stock exhaust manifold ? And it's a 5.3 or 6l ? Thanks

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

It's a 5.3L and has headers that I will be presenting an episode this season, perhaps this summer. That project ruined my life for three months.

[@bixkauldhar1566]

Go for an outboard brake conversion on the rear.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

From my experience this far, the rears are doing waaaay too much of the braking. I'll be installing a proportioning valve first to get the fronts to contribute their fair share and see what happens. I've got another plan after that.

[@alecjones7299]

What gearbox did you use for this? I know you said, but I’m not familiar.

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

Borg Warner T56

[@ThunderAppeal]

Did I miss the part where you discuss top speed in reverse?

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

Nope.

[@peterhatch1583]

Where can you buy the intake manifold and brand of rims please

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

The wheels are no longer available. The intake manifolds are available at our website. jaguarpreserve.com/ If you are interested in the manifolds I can get a current quote for you. Lead time is 6-8 weeks.

[@MSG4LIF3]

If i would like to do a xjs 1984 v12 would you be able to supply the custom parts that you made with the carbureted conversion?

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

We currently make the manifolds to order and they will take a couple of months to do because the shops are really busy right now. I have three products I will be developing for sale this winter, one of which will bee the linkage kit.

[@MSG4LIF3]

@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 please keep me up dated! Maybe you'd like to make a video showing all the parts And specs it took to make the conversion?

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

I'll be pulling the engine out of the track car this winter and that would be a good time to do it.

[@master6435]

How do these V12 handle boost?

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

I've only heard of two cases where a Jag V-12 was boosted. a twin supercharged car in New England that was rather famous for a time that was taken on-track and worked well and an Australian twin turbocharged car that I never heard of again. The engine is very robust and should handle it well and the HE engine should have a wide margin for detonation given it was designed to burn very lean mixtures. It's all about keeping enough cool oil at the crankshaft bearings. Finding room for a large enough intercooler might be a challenge as well. Maybe not.

[@giuseppe4909]

Maybe put the battery in a sealed box and vented outside the trunk compartment.

[@billstewartxxx]

did you Dyno it? with the carbys...

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

I'd have to look for the dyno sheet but I think it was 365bhp at the crank. Not just webers but mild cam upgrade and headers as well.

[@billstewartxxx]

@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 interesting. What are the Cam Specs? thanks for doing the series!!

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

@@billstewartxxx www.pipercams.co.uk/product/jag12bp270r

[@jsquared1013]

@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 are those still HE heads? Pardon if it's in another video, I'm just getting started watching the series 😁

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

Yes, 1987 HE. It's what I had and it's doing what I need it to do. Things could change this winter, though.@@jsquared1013

[@billstewartxxx]

carbys? huh??

[@thecampchaoschronicles9567]

Yup. More tuneable than the stock EFI.

[@dantheman1998]

You said follow you on facebook but you didnt leave a link?

[@dantheman1998]

Tried looking for you and all I can find is puppy rescue stuff