I have a ‘98 XJ8 VP that has recently decided to give me more engine issues that’s I’m willing to address. I have a friend that has a ‘98 XK8 that was wrecked. The engine has less than 70k so I am asking ....will that engine fit my XJ8? Looks the same, but wanting to know for sure. It also has a very recently rebuilt tranny, so I was thinking of dropping the whole thing into the XJ.
Many thanks in advance for any input!

 

Yep....as long as its a 4.0 N/A... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_AJ-V8_engine

 

AJ26 is AJ26 (normally aspirated) no matter what is was originally fitted to.

 

Thank you Highhorse, you always help me out.

 

Thank you as wel Motorcarman!

 

Every pulley on the front of the XJ8 engine needs to go on that XK8 engine. The reason I say that is because a few years back this one lady came in with an XK8 that was just hanging on. The woman and her mother both had cancer and was from out of town going to a local hospital for chemo treatments. We knew the the lady who owned it well because she traveled back and forth to her moms to care for her. Anyways.... her A/C compressor pulley bearing went out. We had a used compressor from a past junked XJ8. I offered to put it on for free even though it’s a SOB to put on. At the end, one of the ribs from the drive belt severed off on me while test driving. The alignment between XK and XJ engine is offset by one rib. I would also use the brackets from the XJ8 to the XK8. Replace the rear main oil seal and cap seal above it. I don’t know if the flex plate timing is the same between the two AJ26 engines.

 

Thank you for the great advice. are you located in Jacksonville, FL??

 

PM sent

 

Both should fit OK. As another has said AJ26 is AJ26.

The tranny should be the same, but if you are thinking whether to use it or not, I think the key will be to verify the torque converter. While I expect it will match on both, when I rebuilt the tranny on my 98VDP (and replaced my TC as part of the job), I found many torque converter variants listed for the Jag that I never was able to rationalise to models/years - the unit I ordered fit even though it had a different list number, so I assumed that any XJ8 variant was OK. Not sure if the the XK8 used the same TC, but never saw anything that suggested it didn't.

Even though the replacement is low mileage, you should check the tensioners and guides before installing to be sure they were updated if there is no record they were replaced. Easy to do out of the car. Same applies to the water pump.

 

According to the Parts Catalogue, there were only two TC versions for NA:

NTF4415AC for 4.0 XJ8 and NTF4415BC for 3.2 Lit XJ8. The Barratt website does not recognise NTF4415AC but it does recognise NTF4415BC and shows that it was superseded by NNE4415BA.

The info on application of NNE4415BA shows that it is good for Xk8 Coupe/convertible 1997 - 2006 and Xj 1998 - 2003, from 812317 To F59525 (info from https://parts.jaguarlandroverclassic...converter.html). Barratt website also states that this TC applies equally to XJ-s and XK-s.

 

Re the Transmission / TC question. Overkill and I suspect too late for your decision process, but I got thinking about the question and went through my files to refresh my memory. I was working from the ZF service manuals, so focused on their p/n's rather than those used by Jag. I found no ZF differences in any part of the transmission whether XJ8 or XK8.

I pulled this paragraph from the write-up I did for other forum members when I did my transmission rebuild many years ago.

"ZF lists several torque converters used on the Jaguar 5HP-24 transmission variants. The one on my car was stenciled as a "Q32" (ZF p/n 4168 026 381). When looking for a replacement converter using this information, I may as well have been speaking Greek, as no transmission house knew what I was talking about. Most knew less about ZF transmissions than me (scary thought), and those that did know something of them only showed one part for all Jag V8’s, regardless of year. I ended up going on faith with the one shop that seemed to understand my question, at least. The rebuilt unit received had no stenciling to show which variant it is on the housing, but seems to operate just fine, so I’m guessing that perhaps only one TC was used for the Jag 5HP-24 and the different p/n’s and versions I found are based on the year of production, not internal differences and all appear to have identical outside dimensions, spigot diameters or mounting configurations."

** That rebuild was done 13 years ago and the tranny (and rest of car) are still 100%, so the match was clearly OK.

 

Thanks to all for your input! I have not made a decision yet whether to replace to engine with the XK one I found, right now I am waiting for the guy to put my front end back together and see if the replacement VVT o-rings and pipe seals make any difference. If not, and I decide to replace the engine, I will certainly are sure of the upper timing chain guides, rear seal and water pump are upgraded/replaced....along with some newer parts from my existing engine (water pipe, 4 way coolant hose, coil oaks which are new, etc.
Also, I will probably service the tranny that comes with that replacement engine and use it, as it was very recently rebuilt prior to the wreck. That way there is no question as to the TC compatibility. At that point I will have an extra, newly rebuilt tranny of which I may just drop into my 2003 XJ8, as the one in there has over 60k on it.
Thanks again everyone, any other thought or input still very much welcomed!
Scott

 

Thank you to everyone for all of the information and guidance. It appears that I will NOT be needing a “new” engine. I picked the car up today and it is running quite well.
There is still a bit of “wobble” in the bell housing area, but my tranny guy says he will straighten that out.

 

Wobble in the bell housing area?

 

Lol....yeah, that’s probably the wrong way to put it. That’s the terminology my ex mechanic used. There is an ever so slight noise coming from the bell housing area, and I’m taking it to my tranny guy to address it. I don’t think it’s anything, myself, I can’t really tell. I’ll keep you posted.