Jag and Beemer V8

engmpoll · Post by **engmpoll** » Tue May 08, 2007 2:16 pm

I have been keeping an eye on a few v8's on ebay recently, and was wondering if anyone had any experience of the beemer or jag v8, i'm looking at the 4L size engines. I've decided to discard getting a rover v8 because after reading on this forum theres a limit to the power you can reach before having to spend stupid money on them. Has anyone any ideas then on the sort of abuse either a jag or beemer lump will take?

thanks in advance guys.

Lewis · Post by **Lewis** » Tue May 08, 2007 2:41 pm

I'd have to say I'd personally err away from the Jag V8 - In my opinion it's a poor engine, as is the rest of the powertrain. It is well known for having a short life, being expensive to maintain and FAR too big for it's output, it'd be a real trick to fit it as well. They also suffer from defective nikasil liners...and those slushboxes seem to go tits up every other week.

You're pretty limited to box options as well with a Jaguar engine, there's not much that's common and tuning them is quite limited.

BMW V8s on the other hand (which also occasionally suffer with nikasil liner issues) seem to have some supply of tuning options - I've seen a few twin turbo and supercharged installs, running quite heady amounts of nitrous and so on. Mostly custom and home-brewed, though...

My knowledge of them ends there, however

Hope that's of a bit of use!

Have you considered a Lexus V8 (1UZFE)? These are much cheaper, all alloy, 260BHP out of the box and have a phenominal tuning scene, especailly in Australia- 1000BHP on the standard bottom end is not uncommon and people are hurling 2500BHP out of them now with big turbos. Lots of companies supply off the shelf cams, pistons, etc for them too. With a few PSI of boost but an otherwise totally standard engine, they'll make 600BHP all day long up to 6500RPM.

6 bolt mains, factory forged crank with radiused journals as standard, hyperuetic pistons.....Yum!

Very wide engine though, which can be an issue.

Few places sell bellhousings to suit Supra gearboxes for them as well

You can even buy off the shelf 'retro' looking blower installs

Only cost about 250-500 from a breaker as well, sometimes including box (good strong autobox as standard).

ihatesissycars · Post by **ihatesissycars** » Tue May 08, 2007 3:10 pm

Seconded.

Alley Kat · Post by **Alley Kat** » Tue May 08, 2007 3:48 pm

Lexus bhp depends on model but most make less than that, rwhp is quite a bit less than 200. Often quoted as 175 even 150bhp. Responds well to boost though by all accounts. V.few tuning parts though it seems so boost is the way forward.

PS 4.3 makes 260-290 depending what you read but skinny rods+pistons make it unsuitable for much boost so you need 4.0 parts anyway

PPS Lewis if you've info on tuning parts couldja post it up, early days for me research wise but so far I did think tuning parts were relatively scarce.

ihatesissycars · Post by **ihatesissycars** » Tue May 08, 2007 4:01 pm

Don't forget the new generation yank motors, 4.6 ford, ls1 etc.

Lewis · Post by **Lewis** » Tue May 08, 2007 4:12 pm

Okies

Selection of parts, including forged rods and pistons:

http://www.lextreme.com/allgo.html

http://www.bulletcars.com/performance_p ... .php?id=80

Supercharger kits:

http://www.bulletcars.com/products-serv ... ystem.html

http://www.rushimports.com.au/

http://www.forcedairtech.com.au/lexkit.htm

Cams:

http://www.camshaftshop.com/camshafts/v ... -camshaft/

http://www.kelford.co.nz/

http://www.crowcams.com.au/index.shtml

http://www.tighecams.com.au/

Stud kits:

http://www.lextreme.com/arp.htm

Throttle bodies:

http://www.1uzquadcam.co.nz/

Headers:

http://www.ektuning.com/index.html

High flow fuel rails

http://wolfkatz.com/

Bellhousings and adaptors:

http://www.rodshop.com.au/

http://www.1uzquadcam.co.nz/

There's a few more, I'll see if I can pull them out of my favorites later. Getting a copy of Street Machine from Oz would probably spring a few more suppliers out the bushes as well...

Here's a mag article I have stored on tuning them as well:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m199 ... t_UK/1.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m199 ... t_UK/2.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m199 ... t_UK/3.jpg

Alley Kat · Post by **Alley Kat** » Tue May 08, 2007 5:19 pm

Pocket rocket · Post by **Pocket rocket** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:23 pm

You want to get onto the Cobra Club site and speak to Tony D - he and his mate have already built a cobra with a V8 BMW engine and have now sold that to build two more with Lexus V8 engines - they have sorted out all the electronics etc themselves so they should know how to install them

Alley Kat · Post by **Alley Kat** » Tue May 08, 2007 10:24 pm

Thanks PR that could be interesting.

engmpoll · Post by **engmpoll** » Wed May 09, 2007 10:30 am

so i turn my back for a few hours and wham, info overload, thanks guys for the quick responses. I had kinda rubbished the idea of the jag engine just on the weight side alone, 6 metric ton or something stupid!!

The lexus engine, is this the one to be found lurking under the bonnet of a ls400 or soarer? I must admit 600 bhp on standard engine is pretty impressive, is the drive train good for that to or not?

HairbearTE · Post by **HairbearTE** » Wed May 09, 2007 6:31 pm

The Audi V8 is also one to consider if you are looking for something different.

engmpoll · Post by **engmpoll** » Wed May 09, 2007 8:08 pm

thanks for the audi pointer, a quick scan on ebay and autotrader tells me however the lexus is going to be the cheapest way of picking up a decent motor. I couldn't make my mind up what car to get to throw in the lump, but having seen the LS400 it seems as good as any other car to blast around in. could be the quickest executive saloon in town!! I'm going to check a few cars out at the weekend and go from there, it would be my second car so theres no need to rush on it. And thanks Lewis for all the links on parts.

Lewis · Post by **Lewis** » Wed May 09, 2007 9:04 pm

A pleasure! If I see anything UK based as well I'll stick it up, or anything else interesting.

We've got an LS400 in the family which I've driven a few times, it really does fly when you put the pedal down - comes alive over 3000RPM and just PULLS. Great motor. Always freaks me out though because in the LS you genuinely can't tell if it's started up from inside, only the dash gauges moving give it away.

If you find one that's got suspension problems, or the gauge cluster is non-functional (i.e. dim or dark) - walk away. These problems both cost a fortune to fix (especially the gauge cluster - each needle has a small CCFL tube which illuminates them and they wear, the boards pack up, etc etc).

They sound very rorty with the right exhausts as well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tZnAeGBwj8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7CVDvJ-Vyw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLu-_UwGWRc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsRQRrMnbjU

Check this out as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba8sT2BQ4uc

The devil's engine

Alley Kat · Post by **Alley Kat** » Wed May 09, 2007 10:09 pm

Thanks a million.... much appreciated mate.
I'm after a donor car to take the motor & electrics out of. Figured it'd be better that way, to be sure to get everything sound/not chopped up etc

cheers
Bill

engmpoll · Post by **engmpoll** » Sat May 12, 2007 7:02 pm

Just an update, went to look at a LS400 today, 17 years old but was immaculate and everything worked, and most importantly the engine was sweet as a nut. The only downside is the way the car looks, I'm way to young for a car like that so I think i'm just gonna look for an engine and box and then throw it in something else, now this is where my problem starts!! choosing a car to use which looks cool and hasn't been done to death, any ideas or suggestions anyone??