I have watched your first 2 videos on this project now and I can relate to your rationale for embarking on it and I admire you for taking it on. As you know I have my XKR, and the fact that it is an automatic does take away some of the engagement (no pun intended) that you get from driving a manual box. You never feel as totally on top of what the car is doing with an auto, which leads to a different style of driving, and a different experience. My other "fun" car is a '94 Fiat Panda and that has a notoriously imprecise gear change but is still a hoot to drive, using the throttle to help steer etc. Totally different but completely engaging. I hope you get all the support from the community (and at home!) that you need to see this through. This is what TH-cam is fantastic for. Good luck Damian. We are rooting for you!
Andrew, Thank you for your support, it is much appreciated. When I first bought my XK8 the biggest complaints I had where that it was so quite and the lack of manual option. I agree it's not an engaging drive with the auto and very difficult to find any limits. Understand your 'fun car' point. I occasionally drive my son's Mini One Diesel and that's a lot more involving. Balancing the gears and the turbo kicking in is great fun. Can't do anything like that with the ZF 5PH24. We will see if the manual conversion helps with this. Thanks again, regards Damian
Just back from holiday. I haven't watched this yet but I will do asap. This is a great thing to do Damian. Brace I am sure, but well worth it for all sorts of reasons. I am in!
Andrew, hope you find the video of interest. Its a bit of a challenge and got quite a few problems to solve. Thanks for words the encouragement, regards Damian
That's a big job you've taken on, Damian. I'm watching with interest as I've got to drop the gearbox on our 4.2 XK as I have a slow coolant leak and the bellhousing is filling up with coolant. I can't find a single video on removing the gearbox on an X150 so the X100 videos, of which there are a couple on the web, are the closest I'm going to get. I have the workshop manual, of course, so I should be OK. I also appear to be the first person on the internet to ever have a flex plate which swishes around in pink water ...... but at least it's not going to rust. ☹ Richard
Richard, that’s a a very unusual problem. I know there are coolant/heater hoses above the gearbox but would have thought the gearbox was sealed from the top. Please let us know what the cause was, when you eventually fix it. Yes, the conversion is a big job but should keep me busy for a while, thanks Damian.
@@ODRModurol I think that it most be one of the core plugs which are inside the bellhousing. Why it's failed after 70k miles, I've no idea, but maybe when I see it the reason will be obvious.
Man sweet deal ill be doing this asap still looking for a jaguar to buy .but as far as aftermarket ECU being 4k nope i use a microsquitrt in my supra and on can use android tablet as a dash or tuner but we save the labtop for that but the better unit is megasquirt dir auto tune is were to get them and a few other places made in the USA and very good support no hidden bs
@overbuiltautomotive1299, lots of solutions to the ECU issue but again its all time and effort to interrogate and translate the can bus signals. PVC and JS have done all that work, seems sensible to utlilise that Jaguar knowledge and know how, regards Damian
Andy, Quite right, not commercially viable but car modification and restoration rarely is. For me it’s more about following a dream, making something that’s mine and doing something thats challenging. That said I am mindful of the costs and take some comfort that the car and its component still retain their value. That’s the logic and my wife is aware and understands what I am doing, I think🤞. Thanks for the comment, regards Damian
How exciting! Even the bossy blackbirds seem keen with the idea 🤣. Good luck to you Damian. Keep us posted.
@ljones396, the blackbirds where very noisy, I think next doors cat was close by. Thank you for the encouragement, regards Damian
I have watched your first 2 videos on this project now and I can relate to your rationale for embarking on it and I admire you for taking it on.
As you know I have my XKR, and the fact that it is an automatic does take away some of the engagement (no pun intended) that you get from driving a manual box. You never feel as totally on top of what the car is doing with an auto, which leads to a different style of driving, and a different experience. My other "fun" car is a '94 Fiat Panda and that has a notoriously imprecise gear change but is still a hoot to drive, using the throttle to help steer etc. Totally different but completely engaging.
I hope you get all the support from the community (and at home!) that you need to see this through. This is what TH-cam is fantastic for. Good luck Damian. We are rooting for you!
Andrew, Thank you for your support, it is much appreciated. When I first bought my XK8 the biggest complaints I had where that it was so quite and the lack of manual option. I agree it's not an engaging drive with the auto and very difficult to find any limits. Understand your 'fun car' point. I occasionally drive my son's Mini One Diesel and that's a lot more involving. Balancing the gears and the turbo kicking in is great fun. Can't do anything like that with the ZF 5PH24. We will see if the manual conversion helps with this. Thanks again, regards Damian
Just back from holiday. I haven't watched this yet but I will do asap. This is a great thing to do Damian. Brace I am sure, but well worth it for all sorts of reasons.
I am in!
Andrew, hope you find the video of interest. Its a bit of a challenge and got quite a few problems to solve. Thanks for words the encouragement, regards Damian
Cant wait to see this!! Ive been following you for years! Thanks for all your help!!
Carol, you are welcome. I cannot wait to see the result either, although might take a while, regards Damian
That's a big job you've taken on, Damian.
I'm watching with interest as I've got to drop the gearbox on our 4.2 XK as I have a slow coolant leak and the bellhousing is filling up with coolant. I can't find a single video on removing the gearbox on an X150 so the X100 videos, of which there are a couple on the web, are the closest I'm going to get. I have the workshop manual, of course, so I should be OK.
I also appear to be the first person on the internet to ever have a flex plate which swishes around in pink water ...... but at least it's not going to rust. ☹
Richard
Richard, that’s a a very unusual problem. I know there are coolant/heater hoses above the gearbox but would have thought the gearbox was sealed from the top. Please let us know what the cause was, when you eventually fix it. Yes, the conversion is a big job but should keep me busy for a while, thanks Damian.
@@ODRModurol I think that it most be one of the core plugs which are inside the bellhousing. Why it's failed after 70k miles, I've no idea, but maybe when I see it the reason will be obvious.
@richardsutton01, please let us know what the cause is when you find out. Good luck with the repairs, regards Damian
@richardsutton01, will be interested to find out what is causing it. Good luck with the repairs, regards Damian
Oh man ....what a great project...wow. I will pursue it. This is much difficult task. I admire your courage. Good luck and have fun.👍🇬🇧 🏴👍🥃
Udo, Thank you very much for your support, much appreciated, regards Damian
Can't wait until a x150 kit releases
Rick, I think ‘Swallows Jaguar’ have already developed one. I would recommend contacting them, regards Damian.
staging.swallows-jag.co.uk
Man sweet deal ill be doing this asap still looking for a jaguar to buy .but as far as aftermarket ECU being 4k nope i use a microsquitrt in my supra and on can use android tablet as a dash or tuner but we save the labtop for that but the better unit is megasquirt dir auto tune is were to get them and a few other places made in the USA and very good support no hidden bs
@overbuiltautomotive1299, lots of solutions to the ECU issue but again its all time and effort to interrogate and translate the can bus signals. PVC and JS have done all that work, seems sensible to utlilise that Jaguar knowledge and know how, regards Damian
Cor! Best of luck!
Nick, thanks, much appreciated, regards Damian
Rather you than me Damian!
Gerard, it’s a bit of a puzzle, regards Damian
Mrs. That’s lot of money when compared to the value of the car.
Blimy. For the total cost you could buy another car!! XKR MX5
Andy, Quite right, not commercially viable but car modification and restoration rarely is. For me it’s more about following a dream, making something that’s mine and doing something thats challenging. That said I am mindful of the costs and take some comfort that the car and its component still retain their value. That’s the logic and my wife is aware and understands what I am doing, I think🤞. Thanks for the comment, regards Damian
Andy, yes you can buy another car for the costs involved. But you can’t buy an manual XK8, regards Damian
@@ODRModurol I guess an xk8 manual could be fun to drive.
Andy, it’s going to be a big problem if it isn’t. Egg on face and all that, regards Damian