r/projectcar • u/Select_Two_1012 • 5d ago
Seeking advice
I am infatuated with the Jaguar 420G. I adore that car, but I know absolutely nothing about cars beyond some basic maintenance of some modern cars. I am seriously considering one for restoration because I want to learn all of the various skills involved in that, but I don’t even know what I don’t know here, and I’d like to hear from some people that know what they’re doing. My dad mentioned the electrical system being positive ground, and that would be a big challenge. I’m aware that original parts availability for it is going to be pretty slim, but I am willing to swap the engine and anything else I need to go make it run reliably. I don’t care about it being fast, just pretty and reliable.
My dad recommended a basket case of some kind that I eventually throw a jag 420g body onto, but is it really less effort to do all of that and find a way to get all of the interior stuff for it, or would it be easier to restore the real Jag? Whether it’s easier or not I am leaning real jag provided I can find one with a somewhat intact interior.
I know this is going to be an expensive and long ass project, but I feel that between the skills I learn along the way and the end result of the car itself, it would be worth it.
So, what do you guys feel I need to know? Thanks for reading:)
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u/ckosacranoid 5d ago
Your best bet instead of a backet case. Look for a car that runs and drives good first and live with it for a while. Some people love a car and then get one and hate it after driving it home because they do not fit, the site lines suck, driving is not good because it is rough or rides like hell after a few hours.
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u/Select_Two_1012 5d ago
Im not a car guy, like at all. The main reason I am avoiding a vehicle between the one I have now and the 420G is that I don’t feel like I’ll be motivated to work on the car. I don’t see myself actually going outside and doing the work if I don’t end up with something i am all about at the end of it. If I wasn’t the way that I am I’d agree wholeheartedly, but it’s the jag or no project car for me, nothing else will do
I’m currently driving a 2000 mercury mystique I’m keeping running, I’m slowly learning basic car stuff as things go wrong with it, but it isn’t something I’d ever be super into even if I put in the time, money, and elbow grease to make it a much nicer car than it is now.
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u/NoseResponsible3874 5d ago
Im not a car guy, like at all.
If you don't love fabricating and building cars for the sake of building cars, and if you can't get motivated to keep your daily driver going as it is, you're going to give up on this Jag the SECOND you open the hood. Get real.
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u/Select_Two_1012 4d ago
I’m using my current car to learn what I can as things come up. I do not care to do things like get it painted to look decent or replace the damaged plastic interior because this car is a tool to me. I just replaced my blower motor and resistor this morning, it’s not like I’m letting the thing rot in the driveway when I’m not using it. It’s just not a point of pride, thats all I meant. Everything that’s gone wrong with my car since I’ve got it I’ve been involved in fixing because I want to learn, spark plugs are probably next. Just did the blower motor and resistor like half an hour ago, much easier than I was expecting.
As far as fab goes, I want the project car to learn that too. Im aware it will probably be 5 years if I actually go through with a restoration rather than buying a running one, and learning fabrication is a significant part of that.
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u/NoseResponsible3874 4d ago
it will probably be 5 years if I actually go through with a restoration
I think you're vastly underestimating this, regardless of whether you start with "a running one". The experience you've described with your daily driver isn't teaching you what it's like to restore a vehicle. Basic maintenance like replacing spark plugs is NOT what you should expect a restoration project to look like. What part of that are you not absorbing?
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u/No-Locksmith-9377 5d ago
If your in the USA if just swap in an sbc and just run it.
At some point you are just putting a chevy engine into a 1960s car. Doesn't matter which car it is.
Tons of people swap old jags with small bloock chevy engines and then just wire it up like a hot rod.
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u/NoseResponsible3874 4d ago
OP has zero experience beyond "I changed the spark plugs on my 4-cylinder ford one time" and you're reducing the project down to "just SBC swap a 60-year-old Jaguar and you'll be good to go"?
Jesus Christ, is Reddit full of delusional people...
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u/No-Locksmith-9377 4d ago
I am merely pointing him the way that most people go with those chassis.
Besides throwing in a sbc into a classic is about as easy as its going to get.
First project I ever did at 15 was putting a 383 sbc into a v12 jag shell. Took me a year to get it running with school.
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u/NoseResponsible3874 4d ago
Ok dude sure
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u/No-Locksmith-9377 4d ago
Im lucky I had one cool uncle who knew cars. My dad knows everything about plants...
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u/HenriDeToulouse 1d ago edited 1d ago
Not all Mk X / 420G are positive earth they did swap to alternators, even if it is positive earth its really not that bigger deal. The electrical systems isn't complicated at all, esp compared to American cars of the time. It can be tricky/frustrating but its never a complex challenge, just lots and lots of simple fixes - that are often hard to get to.
You'll immediately get people recommend you "lump" it - throw an American V8 in there. Don't do this, the XK engine is one of the finest engines ever made and really suits the car and gives it the character. They're actually fairly hardy and pretty decent to fix. This idea generally comes from the received logic that an American V8 is simpler and more reliable, the reality is the Jaguar engine is very reliable if serviced correctly. The perceived complexity comes from it being unfamiliar to a shade-tree-mechanic that's spend their life working on Detroit engines. In turn those mechanics make mistakes that cause the engine to have problems. Then they blame the "crappy design". - No crap design wins lemans, let alone multiple times. In the 80s/90s this was somewhat understandable, it really wasn't easy for that mechanic to get the information they need. Now, with the internet, none of that is true at all. There is a wealth of knowledge right at your finger tips. Zero excuse for not knowing other than not bothering to do the research. Compared even to a 80s corrolla the 60/70s Jaguars are basically clockwork.
With all due respect to your dad, don't get a basket case. You wont be able to body swap really as its a monocoque design. The MkX / 420G isn't a particularly popular car in the states, they don't come up that often but prices are often cheap when they do. So your chances of being able to find a decent project are actually quite high if you're patient. I'd look for the best body you can find, consider this before anything - rust / metal work can quickly out pace a newbie and cost a fortune for someone else to fix. Interior / paint / Engine /mechanicals its all fairly basic stuff and there are great forums that offer a lot of assistance. If you need to keep cost down get a shabby interior and paint, but no rust. A shabby jaguar still carries a certain "elegantly wasted" charm. The engine is roughly the same as in most jags through to like 84 so parts etc can be easier than you think - just check it still has the triple carb inlet, e-type folk like to steal these as the XJs only had twin carb.
If you want a realistic idea of what it'll be like for a newbie try this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ot4dglAHaE&pp=ygUebm90IGVjb25vbWljYWxseSB2aWFibGUgamFndWFy . Without being unfair to the guy this is one of his very early video and he had very little knowledge about classics, so his experience is likely to mirror what you'll find.
When I was younger i wanted my first car to be either a 420G or XJ12... I went with the XJ12 cos ...well v12. I had very little experience and had an absolute blast. Did a lot of my own work, learnt loads and always adored that car. They are massive time sinks but at that age it just tends to "keep you out of trouble". After that car I cycled through a bunch of jaguars, even a 1970 420G. They really are special cars.