Jaguar AJ8 3.2 V8 Auto to Manual Conversion

engmpoll · Post by **engmpoll** » Sun Apr 29, 2012 1:42 pm

Hi All,

As the tile says really, does any body know if this conversion can be done? If so what parts in terms of flywheel etc can be sourced from the Jag parts bin?

I've googled it and found some information but the details are limited.

Hoping someone has the knowledge!!??

ian.stewart · Post by **ian.stewart** » Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:52 pm

I am fairly sure the engine is based around the ford Modular engine, so you may find the mustang bits are the bits you need,

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:38 am

Hi
sorry to disagree here but the AJ series engines are a different origin, they stem from the mazda series of 4 and 6 cylinder engines, the duratec/zetec series to be precise. Bit of info here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_AJ-V8_engine
If looking for bits for manual conversions you will need to look at the european inline 4 and V6 fords for bits but check bell housing bolt patterns first.
Some XK8s have been converted to manual using T56 boxes, with a suitable bell housing, but remember this is a manual conversion on a £65k-£85sports car normally done when the car is purchased by specialists. . . which will not be a cheep route, as I say I would look to the ford transit or similar for parts.
One thing you will have to do is get a new ECU, these engines throttles are electronic and are fully intigrated into the transmission to give a linear torque responce to pedel position, change the transmission and you have to sort out a manual throttle, variable valve timing and ignition aswell as the fuel. I think the T56 conversions include a piggy back ECU that sends information back to the main ECU to mimmick the gearbox. . . .
Best regards
Mike

engmpoll · Post by **engmpoll** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:45 pm

Thanks for your input guys. It appears the AJ8 is a more complicated beast than I had hoped for.

The reason for my curiosity is I am looking for a V8 engine for a bike build. I've done a few customs down the line and now fancy a V8 bike as my next project. However I wanted to choose an engine which appeared neatly packaged. All I really needed was the engine, manual flywheel and the bellhousing to hack about to adapt a sequential box onto off of a shaft drive bike.

I would assume due to the AJ8 complexity that it is not possible to run the engine on megasquirt or similar? Can megasquirt operate VVT?

Thanks in advance!!

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:02 pm

Running the engine will be the easy bit. There are plenty of ecu options, and VVT if it has it is a nicety, not an essential item.

Adapting the box will be the hard bit.

engmpoll · Post by **engmpoll** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:27 am

I had a word with Phil @ ExtraEFI. By all accounts there's an off the shelf ECU he can supply to run the fueling and ignition and activate the VVT dependant on how the VVT system gives its signal back.

I assume from your comment though Stevieturbo it would be possible to operate the engine without the VVT, I guess at the expense of some grunt higher up the rev range?

As for the gearbox, your right that is the tough bit, but I think I have a solution depending on if I can get a manual flywheel for the engine. Don't want to go down the route of a custom flywheel due to the expense if one can be sourced from the parts bin.

Cheers.