Changed out at 55,000 miles and just in time.

 

I love all the folks on Ebay and Clist trying to sell cars from the early years for more than they are worth when many of them have these parts looking just like these in them.

 

I think anyone here that has a early years XK8 no matter the miles, if you plan on keeping it for several years that ya should do this repair.

 

The lady that traded my Jag in purchased a 2014 XK. She drove the 98 about 3,300 miles a year. One of the reasons I got mine so cheap was this repair had not been done and the dealer knew it. I had done my research on this problem and knew it was one of the first things I had to have done. Even adding in what it cost me to have it done, still think I got a deal having less than $6,000.00 invested in my car (cost of the car plus replacement of all those parts). Being somewhat mechanically challenged, I had the work performed at a local shop that works on mostly high dollar foreign cars. And, I found out an interesting side note: when the "local dealer" is stumped, they bring the car to this place for help...

 

I dunno what you're bragging about Scotts - I've got a set of tensioners just like them! Mine came out at 65k from a 2000 yr XK8. (The trouble is I've also got a yr 2000 4.0L V8 Sovereign which almost certainly has the same problem!)

 

Hi Scott

Thanks for sharing your experience...did you replace the old guides with the same original ones or did your manage to put in the upgraded guides...I got a kit with guides that look quite different, are longer and the holes are turned upside down?

all the best

Frank

 

The kit came with new guides and they fit (and looked) like the originals. Can you post a photo of what you received?

And, copied this from a post from Bob Roy, you might possibly have guides for a newer 4.0.

Quote:
"Well I got my chain guides from three dealer and you guessed it. They are the exact same ones that were in the kit. I told the parts man that it was for a 2000 xk8. But he knew from me being there before that the block is a 03 4.2L. He checked before he ordered that the part and numbers for both were the same. So back to the dealer and I took the old ones so we could match them up.

Told parts man that these guides don't work or I don't know how to put them on. Suggested he find me a mechanic or service manager who can show me how these will fit my engine.

Parts man did some research and found an older part number for 4.0L engine. He tried to find photos of the guides in his database. He couldn't find it so I did a Web search on my phone and found photos of his older part numbers. And they were the ones I need. His database showed these part numbers only till '99. So I ordered them and they will be here on Saturday morning.

Did some more research and found that older guides go to engine build date 8/12/01. But the engine block I'm working on has a build date of 08/23/02. I don't understand it but if you have the shorter guides order ones for a 98 and you should get the right ones.

The correct part numbers:
To engine date 08/12/01
NCA1988AB
NCA2025AB
These are the shorter guides.

After engine date 08/13/01
C2A1456
C2A1497

Did a little more research and I could only find SNG Barratt with a kit with the shorter style guides. Part number TCK8MAJ/1 for about $550. The more cost effective way would be to get a 2000 Lincoln LS 3.9 for around $200, TK4162, and buy the guides from Sng for about $30 ea × 4 = $120.

Hope this helps. I spent a week trying to get the parts figured out. Maybe it will save somebody else a wasted week."
End Quote.


Regards,
Scott

 

Hi Scott, thansk for getting back on this...I got the reinforced BUT longer guide on the left. The original has minor cracks - to be honest, I feel I'm in a catch 22...I can try and fit the new guides upside down and very close to nthe sprocket OR try and get new originals that maybe still has a tendency to crack - not sure if the have been upgraded.

All the best

Frank

 

The Jaguar dealer in Grand Rapids acts like I'm asking them about a car as old as an XK120 when I ask for parts for my XKR and XJR. There is a shop I'd trust to work on the car; Euroautowerks in Rockford. It's primarily VW/Audi/Porsche but the owner is a stand up guy and the one time I heard his shop messed up on a friend's clutch job on his 928, they spent the money for all the parts and labor to fit a new transaxle to make it right.

Other than addressing the A-Drum, T-Stat Housing and Water Pump; all much easier to repair than what you just did; your car is going to be ROCK solid for a long time! Nice buy on the car.

 

 

This is what came out of mine, 2000 XK8 with 102,000 miles at the time of replacement.



And the secondary

 

 

I've heard good things about Euroautowerks. Two other places that might interest you, Prestige on 29th St and Community Automotive on Fulton. Prestige was recommended to me by one of the GR Jag dealer salespeople. He told me that is where they send older and problem children to when their mechanics are stumped.

 

Excellent to know! I do 99% of the stuff, but I don't have WDS and it's nice to have a backup for me, or to refer others to.

Did you happen to buy your car from the Jaguar dealer? I swear I saw a BRG early XK8 Convertible there with your mileage and price within the last two years. I was going to buy it and run the wheels off and if it's as good as it's been to you, I'd wish I had!

 

Yes I did,and it was three years ago. I was in getting my Rover serviced when we saw it out front. Traded my C4 Corvette in on it (the Vette had 170,000 miles on it) and they gave me an excellent trade in price and were quite negotiable on the XK8 as they knew the upgrade had not been done. I miss the Vette as it had a few "modifications" done to it and would eat most C5 Vettes alive. What I don't miss was the ride and noise. Between the modded engine (383 stroker) and the upgraded suspension, the beast rode like an M1A1 Abrams.

We've put almost 20,000 miles on Jag and it has been a joy to drive. For a 20 year old vehicle, it still turns heads.

 

That's what mine looked like at 50K miles also. I changed all the tensioners and guides but left the original timing chains in. With only 50K miles on them and a good service record they were in like new condition.