I had a brief discussion with my engine builder Chad Bolles and he planted an idea in my head that has become tough to exorcise. He said if he had this car he would put a Lamborghini V12 in there. Seems over the top at first thought but then the idea starts to creep in to my brain causing all kinds of havoc.
The 2 valve Lambo V12 had the intakes between the cams just like the original XJ12. I have seen a number of people talk about building a twin cam Jaguar V12 using Jaguar AJ6 heads. It is a quite engineering feet but some have actually done it successfully and I have even see photos of XJ13 repilcas with this set up. The problem is that although in theory one is trying to replicate the orignal cars DOHC set up it looks nothing like the original because of the intakes are not between the cams. I would even argue that although this is an amazing setup it looks a little clumsy and much to modern for an XJ13 replica. Even to the point that the SOHC Jag V12 looks more period correct. Another big issue with building one of those monsters is that it would add significant weight to an already very heavy engine with all the additional weight on top dramatically raising the center of gravity. Jaguar actually tried this for racing in the 80's and abandoned it due to the center of gravity issue.
Ah now the Lambo motor could be made to look correct. Tha valve covers could be remachined to look like the Jag type. The lambo motor is substantially ligher. The largest 2 valve Lambo V12 was 4 liters and about 400 HP which would suit the now 2200lb car nicely, however, it can be stretched to 5 liters and 500 HP which was the goal for the original XJ13. It does not have the large central dizzy in the valley but I think could live without that.
Now I only have one minor issue and that is to pick up one of these motors. There must be tons of them just laying aroung and cheap too:thumbsup:
I think I will continue my build as planned but I expect to be haunted by the Lamborghini V12. I will also probably be lurking in all the usual places looking for that bargain Lambo motor for quite some time for a future installment.