Hi all, I just got my first Jaguar and am starting off with a motor replacement (threw a rod). It's a 2012 supercharged 5.0. Can I simply buy a naturally aspirated 5.0 and put my supercharger on it? Were the internals different? Were the rings gapped differently from factory or anything like that? Thanks!

 

Following.

I'll never do it, but there's a lot to learn as this post evolves.

 

Rings gapped differently? No, way too high compression ratio. Are you sure you should be doing this?

 

This question has been asked many times before and the answer remains "no".
Well not at least without spending gazillions, way more than the car is worth.
I have never read or heard of anyone doing this successfully.
Different pistons with a lower compression ratio but mainly very different ECU programming and probably many modules and most of the wiring harness would need to be changed.
Your best and possibly only solution is to hunt down a reconditioned/rebuilt SC engine.

 

yes if you know what you’re doing

 

Generally, anyone asking does not have the knowledge required and should avoid trying to do it.

 

So ECU and wiring harnesses would not be any different if he used the heads off supercharged engine. He would need the heads because the camshaft mechanism is different on the normally aspirated. But anyway without changing the pistons it's not going to work.