Allan:
The reason the chain tensioners are different and have the "tensioning" side slipper on the opposite side is that you tension the slack side of the chain. That is important to understand if you are NOT doing the "zip tie" method, since you need to set the sprocket positions after assuring the chain slack has all moved to the slack side.

 

Ahhhh, I see, thank you, so obvious now you pointed it out...feel silly now! LOL Allan I will be doing the zip tie method.

 

Which car? The XJ8 or R?

And I should ask where to find the number on the engine?

 

Although I referred to your post with your xjr, you can give both of course

 

Thanks for all your help guys, I changed mine yesterday, all good.

thanks, Allan

 

@Waterdragon,
Its common knowledge that you have to look at the engine serial to know if you have the later good tensioners or not, so am surprised you say it should be via the VIN number, so you have been misinformed there.

After this time I'll take it you can't find the engine serials, which is a shame as it would be good info just to verify, so if you can still look them up that would be great.

 

Hi,

Sorry for the delay, I have been super busy on more productive issues, and my "working on the car time" has been entirely spent getting my new 2000 XJR ready to go back together as soon as all my sent out for porting parts return.

Yes it should be the engine serial #, which is the number I gave the mechanic and the dealer way back when, they also used the VIN for some reason to verify it was "my" car before giving out any information at the dealer.

This was last January so I had forgotten where the engine vin was. So where is the engine vin on the XJR and XJ8?


My verification method however was overriding proof since I pulled valve covers and then removed the orange plastic cracked tensioners and upgraded them to aluminum. This is why I say the dealer or random indy mechanics cannot be trusted on this issue. One must pull a valve cover and have a direct look.

 

Please excuse my ignorance, but just where on the engine is illustration 'A'. My 98 should have a number as defined by illustration 'A' but there is nothing there. I suspect the engine may have been changed out...

 

The A spot is for engines from 2001, so if you think you have an engine from 98, you need to check the B spot, and that one is sometimes hard to find, especially for supercharged cars iirc.

 

I did check the B spot and there is nothing there...no maching or rmarking of any kind.

I was actually wondering where the A spot is on the engine so I can look there as well. I'm thinking the A spot is under the exhaust manifold on the left side but not truely certain...

Thanks,