Picked up a 05 vanden plas with the 4.2 v8 this summer. In the fall the motor started knocking and am looking at possibly having to replace the engine. Does any one have experience with this? The Jaguar service manual says it comes right out the top. Can't seem to find much information on this since it doesn't seem to be a common occurrence, having to replace the whole engine. Car has about 123k miles on it.
Thanks in advance.

 

Any lights or codes, to determine what the problem might be, before replacing the motor?

 

No codes. Just the knocking engine and the heavy amount of bearing glitter in the oil filter.

 

Maybe unlikely, but you might be fortunate enough to get away with a new set of bearings, if the rods and journals aren't destroyed yet. Won't know until dropping the oil pan and having a look, and I don't even know if you can do that with the engine in the car, but even so, It's possible you don't actually need an engine. Depends on what bearing material got into other areas like cam journals and main bearings.

However, if bearing damage is bad enough that you have rod knocking... yeah, that's bad.

 

Yeah, all of that is why I'm trying to get information about removal and installation of the engine.

 

I bought a car (very cheaply) with a con rod having exited the block and left sitting on top of the front subframe.
My specialist lifted the body on a four post
lift and dropped the whole lot downwards complete with subframe. The tricky bit is the 4 bolts that go into captive nuts. In rusty countries like the uk They need heating with induction coils first and penetrating oil. New bolts are made if unobtainium but apparently S type ones do the job. I found my front subframe was rusty so that needed replacement and whilst you are in there you might as well check the brake lines, radiator etc and so forth.
BUT a swap out with a good second hand engine is definitely the way forward, always ultimately cheaper and probably better than trying a rebuild you can also take the best alternator etc of the two and have a stash of spare coil packs and sensors

 

Heretic time. Put a Lexus 4.3 engine and trans in there. (2001-2006, do not confuse with the later 4.6 engine, this engine can be a disaster )
The 4.3, quad cam is a brilliant trouble free,light, alloy superb power, reasonable priced parts- if ever needed.
I shoehorned one into a 928, went better than it ever did when it was Porsche powered.
If my 3l jag engine dies, the cat will be getting Lexus power.

 

Luckily cause your engine is a naturally aspirated they are very cheap from a junkyard you can pick up an AJ-v8 4.2 for around $500 if you are mechanically inclined and have done engine jobs before it should be no problem.

just remember it’s not gonna be just a $500 engine job there is gonna be a ton of things that you’d have too replace once you start tearing it apart and putting it back together. Like motor mounts gaskets and seals the list goes on with that kind of mileage I am sure there is other stuff wrong with the car other then the engine as well this can easily run into $8k-$10k after everything is said and done