1989 XJS V12 instrument upgrade ???

Brakebuster · Postby **Brakebuster** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:35 am

i have a 1989 V12, it has the standard ' bar ' instument binnacle,

i have managed to pick up a facelift wood trimmed instrument binnacle with the 4 round dials ,

my question is ,

how easy is it to graft this instument cluster into my Jag ?

i have heard it can be done but cant find info on it,

i have a V12 , i think this unit came from a 4ltr, so what if anything would i need to do to make the speedo work accuratly along with the rev counter

is there any way of ( easily ) telling what engine the new dials were fitted to ?

the one thing i am keen on keeping is the original wiring , this would mean making some kind of link from the old instrument connector to the new one, so the original dials can always be refitted without any hassle

many thanx

Vince

dhdove · Postby **dhdove** » Sat May 06, 2006 5:49 pm

Vince
I asked this question at the last XJS seminar and the resounding reply from Dave Marks was that you can't do it.
To qualify that, of course ANYTHING is possible and I think someone has indeed achieved it but at much expense and heartbreak. The differences between the two set-ups make it impracticable.
The valid point was made that the original instrumentation whilst appearing somewhat unusual and possibly dated is a very practical, intentional and well thought out design.
One glance in the middle of the panel, all lines in the middle of the ribbons all aok. (Apparently the same principle is used in power station control panels). For high speed (ie VERY high speed) cruising, don't look at the panel at all. If no big orange or red warning lights show in the middle at the top ie in your vision whilst watching the road, keep putting your foot down! The later type panel does not have these benefits.
From this point of view it is not an upgrade.
Perhaps you should stick with what you've got in the knowledge that that is why it's engineered that way?

Best Wishes
DH Dove

Brakebuster · Postby **Brakebuster** » Sat May 06, 2006 8:49 pm

DH,
thanx for your post,

my ' upgrade ' would be for purely cosmetic reasons,

i think the dials look better, but they are also surrounded in matching wood of my dash, andd the ' warning/information lights ' have a cover over them so you only see them when illuminated

i just thought it would be quite a good thing to do ,

cheerz

Vince

poprivet · Postby **poprivet** » Sun May 07, 2006 11:45 am

Rob Hill posted wiring diagram of an instrument cluster from a '92 xjs and an '84 xj-s on JL which may or may not help.
http://www.jag-lovers.org/snapsdata/tem ... 3b2705.jpg
http://www.jag-lovers.org/snapsdata/2~1120870845.JPG
I also like the look of the round gauges, but I don't think the conversion would be something I would tackle

Pop

Brakebuster · Postby **Brakebuster** » Sun May 07, 2006 12:54 pm

pop,

thanx for the link, looks usefull,

i have a slight advantage for this project as i'm an electrician

BB

dhdove · Postby **dhdove** » Sun May 07, 2006 6:40 pm

BB
Being a puckah electrician will make the job a lot easier I guess. I wasn't trying to put you off, just letting you know the experiences of those who have gone before.

All the best with your your project if you decide to proceed.

DH Dove

MARKPEARSON · Postby **MARKPEARSON** » Sun May 07, 2006 7:09 pm

This swap must be possable as someone (in the other club mag) is advertising a 1989 5.3 conv with this mod done by jaguar slight drawback is that it cost him £4000

MARKPEARSON · Postby **MARKPEARSON** » Sun May 07, 2006 7:10 pm

This swap must be possable as someone (in the other club mag) is advertising a 1989 5.3 conv with this mod done by jaguar slight drawback is that it cost him £4000

dhdove · Postby **dhdove** » Sun May 07, 2006 7:18 pm

This swap must be possable as someone (in the other club mag) is advertising a 1989 5.3 conv with this mod done by jaguar slight drawback is that it cost him £4000
As I said "much expense and heartbreak"

DH Dove

omar · Postby **omar** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 8:21 pm

so, has anyone done it yet?
come on chaps, don't let me reinvent the wheel that someone else has worked so hard to make.

NeilMFox · Postby **NeilMFox** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:08 pm

The speedo works ok and rev counter if you have the twin coil set up gets its signal on the V12 from one coil the difference is the red mark on the V12 is six and a half and the six is five and a half I think.
I got two plug adapters made up from a friend of Paul Banham 01843 844962.
Problems are the oil p gauge reads low at tick over was told to fit works resistor made no difference at cruise speeds its ok.
Hazard lights indication on the face lift i believe are on the switch as on the pre face lift on the gauge cluster so just fit a repeater.
The rest works well.
Im no electrician and Im sure there are reasons why it it is not a good idea but it works well and looks nice.
PS have fitted manuel gear box 354 diff and AJ6 goodies and rebuilt the suspension but thats another story have also found the engine does not like cheap German petrol put in by mistake hence total rebuild.
Neil.

poprivet · Postby **poprivet** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:33 pm

Hello Neil, welcome to the forum. Some of your other modifications look interesting as well, hopefully you can tell us about them in more detail soon.
Pop

omar · Postby **omar** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 7:39 pm

Neil,
I have not got round to doing the mod yet, but I am pleased that you have managed to do it. Is it possible to share the info with the rest of us? I have the donor car sitting there complete with all wires and connectors ready to give up whatever is needed to do the mod. Both cars are V12s in my case. The good car is an 89 and the donor car is a 93.
thanks
Omar

NeilMFox · Postby **NeilMFox** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:03 am

Neil,
I have not got round to doing the mod yet, but I am pleased that you have managed to do it. Is it possible to share the info with the rest of us? I have the donor car sitting there complete with all wires and connectors ready to give up whatever is needed to do the mod. Both cars are V12s in my case. The good car is an 89 and the donor car is a 93.
thanks
Omar

Omar,
Did this a few years ago now I remember sending the gauge cluster away to the aforementioned phone No where some links were fitted (This guy has a test bed) I got the plugs from two donor cars and he made the cables up fittings the same.
So I suggest you try the no any probs let me know.
My car is a 1990 convertable V12 owned ten years which is used all over Europe and touch wood reasonable reliable but still has a few issues it scrubs front tyres and the only time it goes to our friendly garages is for allighnment tests but sadly no expert has come up with an answer.
I have history of work done and its a pity Jaguar could not have done some of the mods but with a little mechanical now how its good value for money and lets face it what do you replace it with.
Neil

NeilMFox · Postby **NeilMFox** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:15 am

Hello Neil, welcome to the forum. Some of your other modifications look interesting as well, hopefully you can tell us about them in more detail soon.
Pop
Hi Pop, By all means all work done is well documented and dont mind trying to help, Been in the owners club a while but the forum web defeated me for a while, Biggest improvement has to be manuel box and a slight improvement on fuel (No torque converter) but remember this is no rally car.
Neil.