Jag V12

Hi Guys
I am thinking of building a kitcar and putting a 5.3 HE jag V12 in it. Seen one I like, but... and its a big but... Does anyone know how long the V12 is, I know it weighs 300kg but I have to get it in the back of a Ford focus

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indeed.
Can't help you with the dimensions, but this I gotta see. Nick please post updates if this project gets off the ground.

P.S. If the Jag V12 is too long, how about a small block V8?

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I don't want to do a V8, already got one of those in the GT4 I am just googling jag V12, and it looks like they are about 34" long and a 3rd of a tonne.

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Go with the Jag 12, make everything possible to fit the engine, it would be wayy cool to have that engine. If properly tuned they run great, and if you fit some nice headers and Webers it is a monster.

I think it will fit in the back of the Focus but how will you lift it in and out?

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Fork lift truck his end, gravity mine I guess, probably make a ramp and slide it out attached to a block and tackle.

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Dunno yet, saw the lump and am buying it, figure out what to put it in next. I fancy building some kind of space framed chassis mid engined thing. Next I need to source a gearbox/tranny unit I can mate up to the V12, Once I have all the bits I can work on where I can put it all.

Hi Grant
I now have my V12, its huge!!
However, i need to convert it to a manual flywheel. do you know whether the flywheels on straight six's and interchangeable with the V12's?
My fly wheel is 345mm in diameter and has 12 bolt holes in the middle 92mm pcd

Also if anyone can help with the engine type..
number 8S 16503 HA

Any help would be awesome!

You'll need a flywheel from a Series 3 Etype.

This is the LEAST of your problems.

and an inverted Porsche transaxle if your going mid engined.

was a keen kit car person in my youth - you are about to climb a mountain - check you oxygen supply, altitude does funny things to the brain, before you know it you'll be saying "how hard can it be"...

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Go on then Tim, what’s the biggest problem?
I am going to build a spaceframe chassis, mount the V12 in the middle coupled to either a Renault UN1 or Audi/VW transaxle via an adapter plate. Running gear will hopefully be mk3 Granada.

Hi Nick
it's an HE engine looking at the fuel injection rail, it should have small spark plugs [ they are a nightmare to change as the thread seizes up as they don't get change often enough as they are hard to get at.
Good luck with it and keep us informed.
Grant

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I'll start by saying that I work on 12 cylinder Jags and own one.

Considering size and weight it is very underpowered, prone to overheating and leaks and very expensive to rebuild. The result is a not really attractive engine (compared to other V12's) that has a pretty unimpressive sound.

Unless you know the history of the engine you bought, expect to spend a lot to get it right.

The intake system is pretty restrictive and is a lot of the reason for the poor performance. I would throw it out and go with downdraft Webers if you can afford the cost and increased height.

I once dreamed of a project like you are describing and I assembled many of the components (including the Webers and manifolds). After a while the insanity passed.

Good Luck, if you go forward I hope you'll document it and keep us informed.

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Hi Grant
It has standard plugs , N9YC - Unipart GSP4362 plugs, I pulled them out to see how it last ran, and everyone looks OK, the oil is clean, and it turns over, albeit you can feel loads of compression - and that's without oily bores.
The motor had only done 70k miles, so not a lot for a big lump like this. I checked the only resource I could find and it seemed to suggest that this engine is a early pre HE block (the 8s in the engine number?)

Thanks for the tip re flywheel. I will post a blog somewhere when i ger started. This weekend i am starting by making a 10th scale model so i can mount the V12 and check for stresses etc..
Cheers
Nick

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I have always wanted to make a car from scratch, so now's the chance - the regs around registration are pretty tough now, everything has to be TIG welded, and made from CDS tube. I am also going to cast my own body, the idea to make something that resembles a ZONDA C12. I was thinking of doing a Lambo, but there are too many of them around

I have drawn rough plans for the chassis, will hopefully order up some bits of steel next week (subject to wife permitting).

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The early engines are prone to dropped valve seats (from overheating), have low compression ratios (cylinder heads are flat, combustion chambers are in dished piston tops.

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I was told that the pre HE engines are the best for tuning, due to the flat cylinder head?

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Not sure why that would be so.