In an earlier post I described symptoms of a blown head gasket on my 2000 XJR with 91k miles. After much research, I decided to not tear into the engine and replace head gaskets, etc. Rather, I decided to find a newer, lower mileage engine to replace mine with.

I eventually tracked down an engine with 33k miles from a 2002 XKR (miles were verified via Carfax). I had a mechanic friend who operates out of his garage perform the work. He disconnected and removed my old engine. With the engine out he replaced: engine mounts, intercooler pump with a higher flow rate Bosch unit, and octopus heater hose. I sent my radiator to a radiator shop to be rodded out. My mechanic pulled my old supercharger with the 3# upper pulley. When the donor engine arrived it still had its supercharger with it (it wasn't supposed to... I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth, know what I mean?). He pulled the donor supercharger, and I sent the 2 of them off to a machine shop to have the 3# pulley removed from the old, have the snout of the new SC ground down, and have the 3# pulley pressed onto the donor SC (it took a week, but the easiest $125 I ever spent). With the SC off the donor engine, he replaced the coolant hoses that run under the SC and the knock sensors. He then installed the "new" engine in my car. While I was at it, I scored Waterdragon's huge 3.6" MAF, oil breather catch can, air intake divider, and 4' into 3.5" intake. After all was said and done I had spent: $2200 for the engine, $800 for labor, and about $1300 for parts/machine shop/radiator shop work.

The car is running beautifully. I ran it very gently the first week, but have been settling back into a more normal driving pattern. I have to say that with the 3# upper pulley and the huge intake the car is very responsive almost immediately, which is different than the stock car. The SC whine is very audible as well. I should also add that I had previously purchased and installed Waterdragon's nameless 200 cell cats, which I am sure aid in the respiratory fitness of the car, and sound "healthy" to boot! I am currently seeing 15 psi on the boost gauge, and expect maybe 1 psi more when I get the water/methanol installed.

So, it was a disappointment about the headgasket, but the car is running great, I love driving it, and it still represents a heck of a performance bargain!

Oh, I almost forgot: I still have my old engine, supercharger and all, to pull parts from when I need them (just not the headgaskets ). Also, because of my new intake I have my old 3.5" intake for sale to anyone that may be interested. PM me if you are!

 

That is awesome!!

Love to see you take it to the strip and see how she performs!

Chris

 

I need an AJ27 throttle body... and could be keen on your old intake as well.
If you're keen to sell, please PM me, thanks

 

Chris -

Seeing how she would do at the 1/4 mile strip would be fun. Low 13's, maybe? One of these days...

Grandell -

I saw your post about needing a TB. I gave it some thought last night about selling you my old one, but I just can't. It's one of those "nice to have" spares. I'm sorry

 

The plan would have been to run yours while my old one gets sent off to be rebuilt. Then I'd have two, so could easily swap it back in the future if you ever needed it.

The more I think about it though, the more I realise I should just take mine off the road for 3-4 weeks and get it rebuilt by ASI. The sooner I do it, the sooner I'll be running again, rather than sitting around with a broken car...

Either way, if you change your mind, you know where to find me
Thanks

 

I'd bet dollars to pesos it breaks into the 12.9xs @ 16 psi on a good track/day with water injection before the blower and after he gets his TB maxbored .

 

I hear ya, WD!