Looks like that's it for the F-Type, and as suspected we never did find out what the problem was with the original engine or the cause of the problem(s).
So JR has left a few people thinking that the AJ126 and by inference the AJ133 are unreliable engines that commonly blow head gaskets.

 

To end this thread, he's sold his shop and casually mentioned that several cars are being sold, including the F-Type. So yeah, it seems to be "just business", and all about YT views.

 

Maybe he will try lawnmowers next......

 

So he is retiring? Must be a lucrative venture??

 

He's moving to a new building.

 

Joined the forum just so I could respond to the haters... first this thread is wild and the assumptions are hilarious.

1. I do not get service manuals for part swaps like this... all cars are the same and easy, just dive in.
2. Nuts and bolts are bagged and labeled as it's fast and simple.
3. I eventually google the torque specs when it's going back together and properly set the few things that are critical.
4. I swapped the old superchager back onto the new engine (as we all found out the car had a tune and pulley) it was the easiest way to keep the pulley with the new coupler.
5. I have no help... I do all of this myself and eventually you just get tired (and lonely). Who wants to spend all their time in 20,000 sqft of building working on a car by themselves?
6. This car ran perfectly, I put a ton of miles on it and I freaking loved it... I'd buy another F-Type any day of the week. Fast, smooth, amazing top, the right sounds. The dealership that bought it from me sold it for $38k like 3 days after they got it from me.
7. The engine for the F-Type is on a pallet in storage. It only needs head gaskets so I don't want to trash it, but I might tear it down for you guys. If I tear it down it goes straight into the metal recycling and I hate to do that.

Incredibly Stupid Comments:
How would I not know the spoiler is power? I run it up and down the very first video.
My R8 ran perfectly, I took a huge loss because I live in KS and no one will buy anything or spend any money here. It was listed for 3 months, a dealer in Seattle made me a cash offer and I took it. He sold it the next day for $10k more to another guy that sold it a month later for $10k more, not one owner has complained (even the current one who reached out) and the dealer drove it from KS to Seattle, then Cali.

Anyway, some of you provided great insights in the comments and helped a ton, and you all watched so thank you for that. Forums are still invaluable so I'm happy to see this one's alive.

 

I absolutely did, the label under the hood clearly calls for R-134a, a quick check of this forum also shows that they're all R-134a until like 2020. I've never seen a car that actually used 1234yf other than a hybrid, it's outrageously rare.

 

Thanks for responding JR.
One comment regards your point # 7, quote:
"7. The engine for the F-Type is on a pallet in storage. It only needs head gaskets so I don't want to trash it, but I might tear it down for you guys. If I tear it down it goes straight into the metal recycling and I hate to do that."
How do you know it only needs head gaskets when it hasn't been torn down yet?
And yes I for one would really like to see you tear it down as it is the same engine as in my car I would like to see and learn more about it.

 

When I say only headgaskets of course I mean the parts plus the heads and block surfaced, which is the reason I don't fix engines. Most machine shops around here would take 6 months to turn that job around and I try not to keep any car longer than a month.
If I remember right the original tech that diag'd the car for the customer who dumped it saw the video, emailed me, and said it was a headgasket. They quoted the repair and the customer said no.

I'll tear it down for you as soon as I can. Engine swapping the Escalade this week, buying another Jag, and finishing the McLaren. Have to get the engine moved over to my house.

 

Thanks for that JR.
The main reason I and others here would like to see a tear down is to confirm (or not!) that the problem was a blown head gasket, and if it was WHY did it blow?
Did the engine overheat due to sudden loss of coolant, or maybe some other reason, seeing as the engine coolant pipes on older F-Types are prone to crack/split/leak.
Or was it caused by seized rod bearings due to low oil?
Or something else?
I understand that while you can maybe figure out what went wrong you may not be able to determine why.

 

Good responses. Thx for taking time to clarify.

 

Thanks for chiming in JR! I love your channel and the way you just jump in to literally any project and figure it out along the way. Your dad rocks too, btw.

 

He's the real genius... I can call him when I'm stuck on anything (he's never even heard of whatever I'm working on) and say "here's what's happening, what am I doing wrong?" He's like "you're thinking about it wrong", or "I would build it like this, so they probably did the same"

 

@WatchJRGo Out of curiosity, have you ever logged the cars you've worked on through the VinWIKI app? Curious to know if the new owner who purchased the F-Type might post up in their experience and longevity of this build you did. It might be an educational way to track past and future car builds and see what they are up to or where they wind up in the future. I had a 2006 911 Carrera S and through the app learned that the person who purchased it from me, only added 2500 miles in 10 years of ownership and it basically sits in a collection of other Porsche's. It looks just like the day I sold it. Anyway, just curious nevertheless...

 

I do use VINWiki but never posted my F-Type on there. Pretty much all my older cars are on there and some have been followed up on. These are all cars I owned.

 

@WatchJRGo Any chance to list the VIN here so we can add it or track it? If not, no biggie. Considering I watched the build through your YouTube channel, thought it might be interesting to continue to follow if the new owner new about VinWIKI and would provide updates. At any rate, good job on the F-Type build, hopefully it brought in good clicks and new subscribers for the channel.

 

@WatchJRGo If I am not mistaken, isn't this the one you rebuilt? 2014 Jaguar F-Type S Convertible 2D | eBay

 

You are not mistaken, same car for sure.
Many giveaways - after-market wheels, exhaust, square S badge on the rear for starters.

 

Sure is, they sold it right after they bought it from me. I saw the RP guys at Barrett-Jackson last week and they said it’s back in on consignment.