Jaguar Rear End

[gfigms]

I found a XJ rear end which is 61+ inches wide. I need to keep it at 55 inches (XKE) width. If I get the XJ rear end, how much trouble is it to narrow the rear end to 55 inches? ... or should I hold out until I can find an XKE rear end?

 

[Hot Rod Todd]

I found a XJ rear end which is 61+ inches wide. I need to keep it at 55 inches (XKE) width. If I get the XJ rear end, how much trouble is it to narrow the rear end to 55 inches? ... or should I hold out until I can find an XKE rear end?

I paid $800 for a whole xj6 (about the going price really) and then got my xj6 rear narrowed for another $500 down here. I would think that finding an xke rear would be much harder and more expensive than getting an xj6 one narrowed.

 

[Lee_in_KC]

It's actually not that difficult to narrow a Jag. Jerry "Ma_n_Pa T" (profile here) narrowed his a while back and wrote about it on one of the T forums. Also, a guy did a nice write-up on narrowing a Jag for a Mustang. Just about any drive-line shop (i.e. Inland Truck Parts, Denny's Driveshaft, etc.) could do it as well, but they might be a little spendy. There also after-market shorter parts out there (i.e. Heidt's, CWI) but they are definitely spendy.

 

[Keeper]

or just use the XJ one and have a higher offset of the rims.

This is the XJ with 16x10 5 inch of backspacing

 

[Ma_n_Pa T]

It's actually not that difficult to narrow a Jag. Jerry "Ma_n_Pa T" (profile here) narrowed his a while back and wrote about it on one of the T forums. Also, a guy did a nice write-up on narrowing a Jag for a Mustang. Just about any drive-line shop (i.e. Inland Truck Parts, Denny's Driveshaft, etc.) could do it as well, but they might be a little spendy. There also after-market shorter parts out there (i.e. Heidt's, CWI) but they are definitely spendy.

I Lee, we ended up going with a 9" rearend on the new build, still have the jag but it will find its home in a differet project.

Jerry

 

[Gerry]

I have narrowed a few. Most important thing is the drive shafts. They really need to be turned up so one half is a good push fit in to the other. Also it needs to be welded around the shaft and at the end. Really need to do a drawing for you.
If you want more details let me know. Oh, one we did the drive shafts ended up 8'' long.... still worked though

Gerry

 

[Ted Brown]

or just use the XJ one and have a higher offset of the rims.

This is the XJ with 16x10 5 inch of backspacing
I also like this idea, the bigger the wheels are 16" and up, the deeper you can go...

 

[stretch]

I got my jag out of a sedan and made the small difference up with offset on my 15" wide rear wheels. Worked great, and didn't cost me a dime!

Frank