I suggest asking the shop that has the car what is involved in grinding the crank and replacing the mains and rod bearings and oil pump. The rest seems in good shape, this may even cost less than a used engine. If you do this, you know that state of the engine better than a used one and you know it has a new bottom end. Even if the cost was the same, I would prefer the rebuild. The only trick is whether the graded bearings are even available.

 

Yeah, I'm verrry old school; depending on what I expected out of the car, JTIS has a procedure for in-car replacement of the con rod bearings. Too bad you don't have the luxury of time to try a bearing replacement. I would plastigauge a new bearing and see how the clearance is. If it's close, then new pump, new bearings, thick oil, and let 'er rip. Did that for many a car back in the day...........of course, if you want to do things the right way.......

 

I have decided to go for complete engine replacement in my Jag. Initial purchase of engine with 88K miles has been made. The total price includes 12mos/12k mile warranty, on engine, and labor if it has to be removed and replaced during that time. Removal, and install will take place in the coming weeks. I hope to have the Jag back in time for Christmas. I'm excited and hopeful that the car will run even better after its heart transplant. Wish me luck!

P.S. Is anyone interested in the leftover block? I'd like to recoup some of the cost by selling the leftover parts that I may have.

 

Update:
The engine-ectomy is complete, and the engine is out. After further inspection, the shop recommended that the spider cooling hose in the firewall be replaced, along with some other cooling hose components, most of the, thermostat housing upgrade to the aluminum one, and the rear engine dampener had stress cracks. I approved all upgrades and parts, so the engine will now go back in. I was first worried when I received a message from them, as every time the car is in the shop, it is always something (I was expecting something worse), but I can definitely understand the importance of these upgrades and install. The shop will not be charging any extra labor since engine is already out of the car, and is charging for cost of parts only. I thought this was a very fair offer. Now I can be assured that no coolant will leak and just about all engine related parts are replaced.

 

Purrrrrrr…..
Got the Jag back yesterday afternoon, purrs like a kitten, can barely hear it run at idle, no warning lights, no oil pressure issues.
New (used-low mile) engine installed, all new seals from front to back of engine, all new timing components, new motor mounts, most new cooling hoses, upgraded t-stat housing, synthetic oil, coolant flush. I have never heard this car this quiet and this smooth. Thank you very much to V-12 Motorsports, I am riding in style again! Should be sitting pretty for at least the next 12 mos since the work (parts and labor) is warranteed.
It has been a long road, but I am finally getting to enjoy the car again, after all my struggles, it was worth it. I look forward to more carefree driving past its 160,000 mile mark.
Thanks to everyone for their help, assistance, support, and encouragement during this difficult time!

 

Congratulations...glad you're back on the road. The car looks great.

What did you do with the old engine?


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Yes, love it. I had the car painted a few months before the engine troubles, so I haven't been able to drive it much with the new red color. I am now getting to make up for lost time.
The salvage yard wanted the old engine w/heads back or would have charged a core of $500, so I let them have it back. Maybe it will be brought back to life in the future.

 

Good news MR CJ, and the red is looking good too.

Any plans for the amber lenses?

 

Yes, the amber turn signal lenses were plugged into the existing plug-in connector behind the fenders. They work as turn signals now with no modification, truly plug-n-play!

 

And the engine problems are back....
Just last week, I was driving my Jaguar to work and the "Low Oil Pressure" indication on the center cluster and oil pressure needle dropped to the red. This was only about 350 miles since my engine swap. After experiencing similar issues that resulted in me having a whole new engine installed, I thought it would be good for awhile. The engine that I had installed was complete, with 88K miles, was installed with all new seals, and timing components, pretty much everything is from the replacement engine and my former engine was provided as a core. But now the oil pressure problems have returned. I checked oil and it is right within range. It was filled with Mobil 1 Synthetic.

Fortunately, the engine and all labor costs are under warranty, so I immediately had it brought to the shop that did the engine swap and that's where it is being checked out. I sure hope they can fix it, thank goodness it was still within warranty. I will keep you posted.

 

Are you still using the original oil pressure switch / sensor (attaches near the oil filter), or was it changed or upgraded during the swap?



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Same symptoms on mine. New oil pressure switch for under $20 with shipping and problem solved. Took about 20 minutes to install start to finish.

Hang in there, it might be simple.

 

During the engine swap a brand new Jaguar oil pressure sensor was installed.
So, it sounds like it could be something else. I dropped the car off on Jan. 21st, and haven't heard back the diagnosis yet. I just put a call into the shop today and am hoping to hear something soon. The warranty covers the engine and any labor, so I hope they actually find something, fix it, and then I can drive the car again.

 

I wonder if there may be some sort of problem with the oil pressure harness or circuitry within the ECM. It just seems really strange that two engines would give you the exact same sort of trouble, in the same time period.

Please keep us updated...we're curious! Good luck, too.



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It certainly does seem an extraordinary coincidence.
Thank goodness you went for the guarantee route - if you'd DIY'd it the failure would be even less amusing.

 

This code P1396 came up when I tested my XK8. No noise at all, but it drives terribly.

Any advice would be greatly apprciated.

 

Jon,
P1396 is a VVT error.
Have a look at all the posts on this code
eg https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-1396-a-26334/
and if that doesn't answer the problem please post a new thread.

 

The shop replaced the oil pressure sensor with another new one. Dropped the oil pan. cleaned out some plastic bits from the replacement engine's old tensioners (note that the replacement engine was fitted with all new timing parts and seals), cleaned out the oil pickup screen, oil pump, changed oil again, with Mobil One Full Synthetic. Got car NC inspected (was due Feb 2013), put some miles on it, but the oil pressure loss still remains....The shop is continuing their diagnosis. The car has had no more than 250 miles on it since the swap with the 88k miles engine replacement. Apparently the oil pressure is reading correctly (LOW) from the source, with a manual oil pressure gauge, so this should rule out any type of ECM malfunction, on top of the fact that there are no stored codes using Jaguar dealer type equipment. More to come, but for now, I will just have to wait....Thank goodness for the full warranty on parts and labor. Maybe I will end up needing another new engine....I hope they get to the bottom of this soon, I miss driving my Jaguar. I have been at my new job for 6 months, and only have gotten to drive it to work about 10 times... :-(

 

Yes, very glad it worked out that the car is in the hands of a Jaguar specialist. I hope they can get the car running better soon, I miss driving the Jag.

 

Sorry for your troubles, CJ. Hang in there, it will be sorted soon and you'll be back on the road. Definitely keep us updated...



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