Very nice Bob, looking forward to the manual conversion vids later in the year. I hope you are beginning to see your channel grow, you put a lot of effort into it and deserve the rewards.
Great video! I love making my own things also to find a cheaper solution to a problem I want to fix. I hope to manual swap an XJS some day when I have finished a few of my other projects
It's my hope to begin a series this winter on fabricating a manual trans conversion for an xjs using a tremec T-5. "The $1000 XJS Manual Transmission Conversion". Sounds crazy but it IS Camp Chaos.
Bob, well done. Humor, innovative solutions, great subjects… and even some points of wisdom for free. In this video you totally de-mystified the manual transmission adaptor problem.
Actually, for the '93, '94 MY, Jaguar offered the 4.0L XJS with a manual 5-speed Gertrag. I think about 100 were imported to the USA. I have one, and I see them for sale on rare occasions.
Not sure if you've already shown it but a good video would be how to drop a stock trans crossmember (big dangerous springs and all) without killing yourself. Love your videos BTW, almost no one makes instructionals on the Jag v12s.
I plan on putting a 5 speed in my 83 XJS coupe. I am dropping the supsension right now to complete a rebuild on all of the dead rubber down there. It is nice to know that you don't necessarily have to spend a mint to do a manual conversion. I am really enjoying your videos as it expands what is possible for me. I own two XJS's and have been in rebuild mode for a while. I got my 89 convert mostly done, all the stuff you talked about on your 90 convert videos, plus a whole lot more (I have stories... don't we all). I am now back on the 83 and am learning a lot from your videos. Ultimately I would love to build a track car. Thanks.
You can use parts off scrap 3.6 manuals. Pedals etc are available. If you want you can ise the Getrag 5 speed as well but there are newer and tpuGher transmissions
Hi Bob - a video on street car manual transmission conversion would be great. If you could make it agnostic to XJS / XJ, it would be better still. I believe the XJ can accept the XJS manual pedal box, and the Getrag 5 speed gearbox, as per ‘Harry’s Garage’ XJ-C. A Tremec manual transmission would be the very best option for a conversion, since they are available new and are superbly well made (a favourite option of Jay Leno’s)
The video series will be more about looking around the neighborhood, seeing what's available within a half hour drive, and convert your car to a manual transmission using principles that will work wherever you are with whatever you have. There will be a target cost for the whole thing that will be ridiculously low, like the "$100 V-12 Overhaul Challenge" project. And it will be done without altering the car in any way so that it can be returned to it's original state if need be. You heard it here first.
@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 Would you like me to ask the members of my XJ owners' FB group (approx 2100 members), what approach they would be most interested in?
@@cosgraham534 The only way I can afford to do the series along with everything else I have going on around here is on a shoestring level budget. Everything will have to be sourced/fabricated locally.The principles can be used on any car the owner might have, not just Jaguars.
@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 Fair enough Bob. I'm sure I'll enjoy watching the results - it just may not be an approach that owners want to replicate on their own treasured classics. We will no doubt learn a lot from what you present us with. Out of interest, what area of aviation did you teach?
@@cosgraham534 I can guarantee it will ABSOLUTELY NOT be an approach that owners of actual top quality cars will want to do. :-D But it will be indistinguishable from the purpose built conversions in appearance and function. Something that people with more time than money might consider doing. I had an Aviation Ground School magnet program in the local school district.
F that golf thing! A guy the other day saw my 95% restored XJS. The 1st sentence that came out of his mouth was: you gotta sell that thing. WTF. I don’t go to his house and tell him to get rid of his wife. WTF
I know what you're sayin'. I've had my 3.6 manual for 20 years now and needless to say, it's still something of a work in progress. If I had a $ for every time someone suggested to me that I sell it and move on, I'd be knee deep in the stuff.
Thanks Don. I've enjoyed your posts regarding the wonderful knives you make. I'd like to drop by sometime in the not too distant future and see your shop set-up. Where are you located?
Very enlightenment and the video is high quality video. I have become a Jag lover. And currently own 2x308 and one x350. They have had a couple others. I'm looking to buy a Super V8 and with love to manual swap it. I found your channel while doing research.
You indicated that you were planning to do a series on the street/road car M/T conversion, but I don’t see that yet. I’m gathering parts, but the long pole in the tent (at this point) is the bell housing. Any chance we’ll get to see your fabrication process for that?? Thanks!!
I have a number of video clips on the Champ Car manual conversion that I intend to use this summer. Everything applies to any manual conversion you wish to do on any car. It is my hope to do it this summer work permitting.
You are the second person I’ve heard of using that transmission, why did you choose that transmission over other options? Does it bolt straight up to the block with no adapter plate? Thanks!
I bought that exact transmission for an Impala SS I used to own. I never converted it because I really wanted to use a kit that was nla by the time I was ready. I've kicked around the idea of putting it in the XJS, but the double overdrive requires an extreme change in the final drive ratio to be usable.
@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 That's what I had figured for the Impala. Is that even possible in the Jag? I know you're supposed to be able to modify off the shelf gears to fit, but how big of a ring gear can you get in that carrier?
I'm imagining that your setup is quite light. Bradley Smith put an Alu flywheel on his twin supercharged XJS, and noted that it was difficult to get the hang of driving it without stalling it due to the lower mass. Any similar difficulty here? (although we're comparing street to race applications).
It was pretty touchy when the 2.88 final drive ratio was still back there. When I switched to 4.10 it's a simple dump it and go, even at idle. That's the only way it could work on the street, but set-ups like this really are for off road use only.
hello good sir bob. =dok= here wondering if we could compare notes on camshaft profiles and combustion chamber shapes. would love to do a comparative analysis. i have ,so far, been treating my 6litre like an older kz 1000 engine as they have many similarities in their top end construction. what has worked on the kawasaki so far have had good results on nigel (94 6l xjs fixed head-the test mule, as it were). there is also a 1986 5.3 (omex710 controlled) that my friend mark has (wonderful restorative restomod) that will undergo a stick conversion to rid himself of the th400 he's presently saddled with so these vids will come in handy for both of us to gather information on. thanks for your time and the friendly channel rabbit hole i have found myself in at the moment. :-). enjoy the day!
That was before the videos started bringing in more business. The Champ Car XJ40 will get the manual trans treatment before the end of the year and I'll be posting a video about that project which will be much the same process.
Let me tell you, I WISH my conversion cost only $7,000. I installed a Getrag 265 that was originally from a Jaguar XJ40 that I bought second hand for $750. (Total cost was >$8000.) It turns out that gearbox’s casing was cracked and patched with J-Weld, which was not discovered until after a couple years when the gearbox started leaking profusely. That cost around $1500 to remove and have welded. Then the clutch I had originally installed failed and I had another custom clutch built and installed for around $1200 last year. Then there was a rattle or knocking around the trans mount area. Proposed solution was to “cut out a small section of the floorboard” to prevent contact with the trans mount. Cost = $425. THAT fix ended up causing a short in my wiring harness that just cost me $1200 to fix. Still not sure the rattle is fixed. Total PITA with LOTS of down time since. Initial install took 16 months because of sourcing and labor issues.
So the conversion itself wasn t that expensive, the problems you got were? Also a lot of people seems to use that getrag , how easy was the conversion? How was the car with the stock xjs diff? Gears too long? Where did you get that other diff from? Is it a locking diff or nah?
@@albapor1 gearing with 2.88 rear end was too tall. It’s the same differential with new Dana 44 gearing. As far as the conversion goes, it still wasn’t simple. Lots of problems getting a compatible pressure plate to work. I consider the clutch a problem from the start because the original jerryrigged clutch never really worked out, and it took a long time (although not that many miles) to realize that. Took 16 months for my mechanic to deliver it with the first clutch.
Hi there, I watched this video and have been eagerly awaiting a video update. I have a 75 XJ12C that i'd love convert with a 5 speed (maybe T5). Do you think that you're close to an update?
AN update regarding the track car? if so, the videos have brought in enough work where I've had to back burner getting the car on track this year. I'm making a big push to get the work done and so I can get it set up for early spring.
You mentioned that the trans was 5-6 overdrive. Was this before or after the rebuild? Also, in stock format were you using tall stock rear end gears (2.9?) or a short set like the Pre-HE cars used?
That's the way the T-56 is. I almost never use 6th. Originally I used the stock 2.88 final drive but that was hopeless. With 4.10s acceleration is much better and 5th is useable and 6th is possible but oil and coolant temps plummet. For street use, 4.10s would be perfect.
@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 Ok, so that is a T56. I know them in Tremec speak, but can't always translate them from their BW roots. I got to drive an '09 GT500 with that for a few months and loved that transmission.
Very nice Bob, looking forward to the manual conversion vids later in the year. I hope you are beginning to see your channel grow, you put a lot of effort into it and deserve the rewards.
Thanks for your kind words. Subscribers are up and so are views on a net basis. I'm hopeful.
I had a Tremec 6-speed put into my '92 XJS-V12 by Keisler Engineering in Tennessee. Made a new car of it!
Absolutely. I intend to fabricate a conversion for one of my street cars in the near future.
Do you have a link to Keisler Engineering in Tennessee? A quick Google search turned up nothing. Thanks.
This is my dream car in manual and thank you that you have made it possible. Unfourtunatly they are expencive where i live.
Another great video. It's only a matter of time before you gain traction and your view count goes up.
good job on the clutch pedal!!
Great video! I love making my own things also to find a cheaper solution to a problem I want to fix.
I hope to manual swap an XJS some day when I have finished a few of my other projects
It's my hope to begin a series this winter on fabricating a manual trans conversion for an
xjs using a tremec T-5. "The $1000 XJS Manual Transmission Conversion". Sounds crazy but it IS Camp Chaos.
Bob, well done. Humor, innovative solutions, great subjects… and even some points of wisdom for free.
In this video you totally de-mystified the manual transmission adaptor problem.
Actually, for the '93, '94 MY, Jaguar offered the 4.0L XJS with a manual 5-speed Gertrag. I think about 100 were imported to the USA. I have one, and I see them for sale on rare occasions.
Not sure if you've already shown it but a good video would be how to drop a stock trans crossmember (big dangerous springs and all) without killing yourself. Love your videos BTW, almost no one makes instructionals on the Jag v12s.
Thanks for the comment. That would be a good topic. I'll do one the next time I take one out.
I plan on putting a 5 speed in my 83 XJS coupe. I am dropping the supsension right now to complete a rebuild on all of the dead rubber down there. It is nice to know that you don't necessarily have to spend a mint to do a manual conversion. I am really enjoying your videos as it expands what is possible for me. I own two XJS's and have been in rebuild mode for a while. I got my 89 convert mostly done, all the stuff you talked about on your 90 convert videos, plus a whole lot more (I have stories... don't we all). I am now back on the 83 and am learning a lot from your videos. Ultimately I would love to build a track car. Thanks.
I'm so glad you have found these video helpful. Good luck with your projects.
Legend
You can use parts off scrap 3.6 manuals. Pedals etc are available. If you want you can ise the Getrag 5 speed as well but there are newer and tpuGher transmissions
Hi Bob - a video on street car manual transmission conversion would be great. If you could make it agnostic to XJS / XJ, it would be better still. I believe the XJ can accept the XJS manual pedal box, and the Getrag 5 speed gearbox, as per ‘Harry’s Garage’ XJ-C. A Tremec manual transmission would be the very best option for a conversion, since they are available new and are superbly well made (a favourite option of Jay Leno’s)
The video series will be more about looking around the neighborhood, seeing what's available within a half hour drive, and convert your car to a manual transmission using principles that will work wherever you are with whatever you have. There will be a target cost for the whole thing that will be ridiculously low, like the "$100 V-12 Overhaul Challenge" project. And it will be done without altering the car in any way so that it can be returned to it's original state if need be. You heard it here first.
@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 Would you like me to ask the members of my XJ owners' FB group (approx 2100 members), what approach they would be most interested in?
@@cosgraham534 The only way I can afford to do the series along with everything else I have going on around here is on a shoestring level budget. Everything will have to be sourced/fabricated locally.The principles can be used on any car the owner might have, not just Jaguars.
@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 Fair enough Bob. I'm sure I'll enjoy watching the results - it just may not be an approach that owners want to replicate on their own treasured classics. We will no doubt learn a lot from what you present us with. Out of interest, what area of aviation did you teach?
@@cosgraham534 I can guarantee it will ABSOLUTELY NOT be an approach that owners of actual top quality cars will want to do. :-D But it will be indistinguishable from the purpose built conversions in appearance and function. Something that people with more time than money might consider doing. I had an Aviation Ground School magnet program in the local school district.
Looking forward to the streetable manual conversion series!
I bought a close ratio 5speed to put in my 1992 convertible...
Great videos. Thanks for the clear explanations and in depth detail. I would say your fabrication skill is above average. Lol.
Thank you sir.
Lots of great info. Fix the audio issues and the video is perfect. Definitely saving this for the future. Thank you.
Thank you and thanks for the comment.
F that golf thing! A guy the other day saw my 95% restored XJS. The 1st sentence that came out of his mouth was: you gotta sell that thing. WTF. I don’t go to his house and tell him to get rid of his wife. WTF
:-D
I know what you're sayin'. I've had my 3.6 manual for 20 years now and needless to say, it's still something of a work in progress. If I had a $ for every time someone suggested to me that I sell it and move on, I'd be knee deep in the stuff.
Amazing Robert, thanks so much for sharing such an in-depth look at your car. I've been following it for years on FB.
Thanks Don. I've enjoyed your posts regarding the wonderful knives you make. I'd like to drop by sometime in the not too distant future and see your shop set-up. Where are you located?
@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 That would be cool! I'm down in Tucson AZ
@@just_don_things Ol' Tex and I went through that area last Christmas on the way out to LA to spend some time with family. Next year maybe.
@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 That would be cool. By then I might have my XJS driving too
Very enlightenment and the video is high quality video. I have become a Jag lover. And currently own 2x308 and one x350. They have had a couple others. I'm looking to buy a Super V8 and with love to manual swap it. I found your channel while doing research.
Thank you for your kind words.
Some early V12 had 4 speed manuals. After that all V12 had autos.
You indicated that you were planning to do a series on the street/road car M/T conversion, but I don’t see that yet. I’m gathering parts, but the long pole in the tent (at this point) is the bell housing. Any chance we’ll get to see your fabrication process for that?? Thanks!!
I have a number of video clips on the Champ Car manual conversion that I intend to use this summer. Everything applies to any manual conversion you wish to do on any car. It is my hope to do it this summer work permitting.
Bob, I have been told: You can’t do that! What they really mean is, they can’t do it. 1000’s of projects later. Lmao.
People love for you to stay in the box with them.
I’m using a BMW 530diesel manual gearbox to do my conversion.
You are the second person I’ve heard of using that transmission, why did you choose that transmission over other options? Does it bolt straight up to the block with no adapter plate? Thanks!
It's what was available that I could afford at the time. In retrospect, I seldom use 6th and would have liked a TKO better.
I bought that exact transmission for an Impala SS I used to own. I never converted it because I really wanted to use a kit that was nla by the time I was ready. I've kicked around the idea of putting it in the XJS, but the double overdrive requires an extreme change in the final drive ratio to be usable.
4.10 would be perfect for the street.
@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 That's what I had figured for the Impala. Is that even possible in the Jag? I know you're supposed to be able to modify off the shelf gears to fit, but how big of a ring gear can you get in that carrier?
@@bringbacknames I've never had to modify anything except to buy an Eaton LSD to be able to use the thicker ring gear. More content for another video.
@@bringbacknames I changed out my rear end to 3.54 with no problem, but I used a Getrag 265 gearbox, not a T-56.
I'm imagining that your setup is quite light. Bradley Smith put an Alu flywheel on his twin supercharged XJS, and noted that it was difficult to get the hang of driving it without stalling it due to the lower mass. Any similar difficulty here? (although we're comparing street to race applications).
It was pretty touchy when the 2.88 final drive ratio was still back there. When I switched to 4.10 it's a simple dump it and go, even at idle. That's the only way it could work on the street, but set-ups like this really are for off road use only.
hello good sir bob.
=dok= here wondering if we could compare notes on camshaft profiles and combustion chamber shapes. would love to do a comparative analysis. i have ,so far, been treating my 6litre like an older kz 1000 engine as they have many similarities in their top end construction. what has worked on the kawasaki so far have had good results on nigel (94 6l xjs fixed head-the test mule, as it were).
there is also a 1986 5.3 (omex710 controlled) that my friend mark has (wonderful restorative restomod) that will undergo a stick conversion to rid himself of the th400 he's presently saddled with so these vids will come in handy for both of us to gather information on.
thanks for your time and the friendly channel rabbit hole i have found myself in at the moment. :-).
enjoy the day!
Thks for the video where can buy cabs
The carburetors are Weber 40 IDF and are available on ebay along with low cost clones.
Any updates on the street manual transmission video series? I saw a reply below for early spring is that still accurate?
That was before the videos started bringing in more business. The Champ Car XJ40 will get the manual trans treatment before the end of the year and I'll be posting a video about that project which will be much the same process.
Let me tell you, I WISH my conversion cost only $7,000. I installed a Getrag 265 that was originally from a Jaguar XJ40 that I bought second hand for $750. (Total cost was >$8000.) It turns out that gearbox’s casing was cracked and patched with J-Weld, which was not discovered until after a couple years when the gearbox started leaking profusely. That cost around $1500 to remove and have welded. Then the clutch I had originally installed failed and I had another custom clutch built and installed for around $1200 last year. Then there was a rattle or knocking around the trans mount area. Proposed solution was to “cut out a small section of the floorboard” to prevent contact with the trans mount. Cost = $425. THAT fix ended up causing a short in my wiring harness that just cost me $1200 to fix. Still not sure the rattle is fixed. Total PITA with LOTS of down time since. Initial install took 16 months because of sourcing and labor issues.
Also, I switched out my rear end from 2.88 to 3.54. That part of it has worked out well for street application.
Ouch!!!
So the conversion itself wasn t that expensive, the problems you got were? Also a lot of people seems to use that getrag , how easy was the conversion? How was the car with the stock xjs diff? Gears too long? Where did you get that other diff from? Is it a locking diff or nah?
@@albapor1 gearing with 2.88 rear end was too tall. It’s the same differential with new Dana 44 gearing. As far as the conversion goes, it still wasn’t simple. Lots of problems getting a compatible pressure plate to work. I consider the clutch a problem from the start because the original jerryrigged clutch never really worked out, and it took a long time (although not that many miles) to realize that. Took 16 months for my mechanic to deliver it with the first clutch.
I wanto to do this on my jaguar vanden plas 1997
Hi there, I watched this video and have been eagerly awaiting a video update. I have a 75 XJ12C that i'd love convert with a 5 speed (maybe T5). Do you think that you're close to an update?
AN update regarding the track car? if so, the videos have brought in enough work where I've had to back burner getting the car on track this year. I'm making a big push to get the work done and so I can get it set up for early spring.
You mentioned that the trans was 5-6 overdrive. Was this before or after the rebuild? Also, in stock format were you using tall stock rear end gears (2.9?) or a short set like the Pre-HE cars used?
That's the way the T-56 is. I almost never use 6th. Originally I used the stock 2.88 final drive but that was hopeless. With 4.10s acceleration is much better and 5th is useable and 6th is possible but oil and coolant temps plummet. For street use, 4.10s would be perfect.
@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 Ok, so that is a T56. I know them in Tremec speak, but can't always translate them from their BW roots. I got to drive an '09 GT500 with that for a few months and loved that transmission.
@@thecampchaoschronicles9567 Is sourcing rear-end gears difficult?
@@SparkyGage Dana 44 parts. But over 3.92 requires a different carrier.
@@SparkyGage Same trans, different manufacturer.