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If it is a Super V8, it should already be supercharged.
If not, and it has an n/a engine, then my answer is: in principle yes, everything is possible, but I would not do it. It would be easier to find a supercharged engine and install that one.
The changes made to improve the resiliance of the engine for supercharging are quite extensive, and some are internal, so difficult to add to an n/a engine:
different aspiration conducts, including intercollers and the related "plumbing".
The pistons have additional cooling by oil jets to the bottom of the pistons (thiis thealmost impossible part to retrofit,in my opinion)
If I remember correctly, the compression ratio is lower on the supercharged cars than on the n/a ones.
Apart from the engine, there are other upgrades to be made: you need to upgrade the brakes,too, as supercharged cars have bigger brakes than the n/a versions, for example.
These are only some items that come to my mind...
Best regards,
Thomas
Last edited by Thomas-S.; Sep 2, 2025 at 03:23 AM.
Reason: Additions
Hello Tom,
A very sincere Thank You.
You have managed to cover everything about my question, and installing a supercharged engine would certainly sound like the most intelligent option, but maybe not financially. One reason for my question, I really do not know the actual difference between the Super V8 & the Supercharged V8, but the one noticeable item to me, the supercharged is show on the tach, but there really is no notification of the Super V8, and I always thought that was unusual. Any thoughts on the reason for a lack of any kind of notice on the Super V8?
Again, Thanks Tom
Ted K
It sounds like what you have or are looking at is in fact NOT a "Super V8". All Super V8s are supercharged and very few were made. Additionally, to my knowledge, they all say "Supercharged" on the gauge; my 2008 does. If you've seen a for sale listing, it's common for people to use the name wrong and call a different model, e.g. a Vanden Plas, a Super V8.
Also, you said you don't understand the difference between the Super V8 and a supercharged v8. The Super V8 was the top trim level, along with the Daimler Super Eight depending on the market. They were the only long wheelbase models with superchargers, although the Super V8 was also produced in short wheelbase form for select markets[primarily Europe AFAIK]. The only other supercharged trim was the XJR which was a short wheelbase and overall sportier spec, while the Super V8 was a top spec luxury trim.
It sounds like what you have or are looking at is in fact NOT a "Super V8". All Super V8s are supercharged and very few were made. Additionally, to my knowledge, they all say "Supercharged" on the gauge; my 2008 does. If you've seen a for sale listing, it's common for people to use the name wrong and call a different model, e.g. a Vanden Plas, a Super V8.
I concur. All supercharged versions, be it Super V8, XJR, or Daimler Super 8, have the "supercharged" scripts in the instrument cluster, or at least they should have I have not yet seen a supercharged car without them.
My car, a short wheelbase Super V8 built in September 2003, has them.
Technically, all theses three versions were the same except for the suspension, the XJR being the only one having "sport" air struts fitted. The others had the same "comfort" air struts as the lower powered versions.
What other verification of my 2009 VDP being a super v8. other then the supercharged on the tach to identify it. Can the vin be used to verify, factually, that it is a super v8 ?
To know whether the engine is supercharged, look under the bonnet (or have a picture sent to you), a supercharged engine is immediately recognizable...
You could request a Jaguar Heritage Certificate, it would indicate exactly what model it is.
What other verification of my 2009 VDP being a super v8. other then the supercharged on the tach to identify it. Can the vin be used to verify, factually, that it is a super v8 ?
Hi Tanna,
Yes, the VIN can be used to clearly identify the car. VIN decoder
Pete M
Sometimes, the black cover with the "supercharged" scropt will be missing, anf then it will look like this:
There is another version of the intercoolers where they do not bear the script "supercharged", and are ribbed instead. The general layout remains the same.
So You are saying that a Jaguar XJ VDP cannot be Supercharged, Correct ?
I would say that Quattrofrank just confirmed what I said in post #2.
You really have to be careful about how people call the car offered. As you have discovered, many tend to mix up the names, and that can lead to big misunderstandings about the spec. of the car in question.
Correct and a good point, its very easy to mix it up.
I didnt even know about the super v8 when i bought my first x350 4.2
Because they are so rare
I dont know how it is in other countrys but in Norway we have a offical searchable registration page were you punch in license plate number and get all info.
engine power, emissions, vin, rim size, weight etc etc
Using this helps a lot when looking at cars to buy, but even then its easy to miss trim levels etc
The One upside to this story is that I also own a 2019 Jaguar XJ Supercharged, the last of the XJ model (as of today) with the 1 of 300 plate upon the dash. They were all made with a metalllic British racing green, and my interior is the London Tan/Ebony. Purchased in 2023 with 60K miles, has a very cool & exhilarating exhaust, with a super accleration. During the search for the 2019 1/ 300 XJ, I owned a 2018 XJ S/C and had the good fortune to receive a call from my Las Vegas Jag Dealer that was servicing my Jag, with a very fine offer to purchase the Jag, because their inventory was lacking XJ's, so that helped make my 2019 purchase a cash deal.
Once Again, a very Huge Thank You for all the great response, they were & are very informative, and I am positive that information will be very helpful to me going forward.
Ted K from Las Vegas
