I learned to drive on an xj12 when I was 13. I've always been faithful to Jags and this is my first lemon. My last Jag was an xkr supercharged $50,000 that I had to sell cos I couldn't afford the payment. So the big old xj was awesome.... until a rod broke at 90,000 miles. The first owner was an elderly couple who babied the car. I had it 5 weeks.

The local Jag shops have quoted me $3500 for a used engine install without a tranny. Some have told me that I need a new tranny since the newer engine will overpower the older tranny. ???

Recently a friend suggested I put a 350 small block and tranny into the 2000 xj and change out all the parts such as alternator etc. Although I'm a Jag die hard, its hard when they die! I really don't want to spend $3500 on my car that's not really even worth that much, only to find the next engine die. I'm told that engines between 2000-2003 are terrible and the best option is to install a 350 and have fewer problems with cheaper solutions.

I've got a good mechanic who tells me there are converter kits but there would be a lot of retrofits, still at least the engine will run.

Makes sense, but what do you think out there?

Thanks for your help. What would we do without forums like these? I want the truth so don't worry about saying what you think!

BTW I'm told that even tho Ford took over Jag they used a Porsche engine design. Is that true? I've always bragged about British Engineering, but I suppose the credit goes partially to the Germans then?

 

You are probably looking at 7 to 10 thousand invested before you will ave a sorted out Jaguar with a chevy engine. Do a search with the forums in the 308 section and the zjs section.
Not to mention if you want to get rid of it you probably want find anybody that will give you more than scrap value.

The AJ26 and AJ27 were a special design from the Jaguar Engineers not based on someone else's design. They used the BMW tranny for the normal aspirated and Mercedes tranny for the supercharged engines.

The choice is yours but do some research before you jump into it.
Best of luck no matter what you decide.

 

Contact Andrew at....

Jaguar Specialties

Very helpful person, well regarded; he'll give realistic costs estimates.

Beware of complications regarding California emissions testing. Andrew will explain

Cheers
DD

 

The issues with the V8's are well known (mainly water pumps and timing chain tensioners) but rod failure is not a common thing. By far the cheapest and easiest thing to do is a replacement Jaguar engine. Due to the way the electronics are highly integrated on these later car an engine swap to a 350 is not simple or straightforward.

 

Welcome to the forum Jireh,

I've moved your question from General Tech Help to X308 forum. This is the place to post questions about your Vanden Plas model.

Please follow this link New Member Area - Intro a MUST - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum to the New Member Area - Intro a MUST forum and post some information about yourself and your vehicle for all members to see. In return you'll get a proper welcome and some useful advice about posting to the forum.

Graham

 

Exactly which model do you own? Swapping a good used engine is the cheapest path. Look for a wrecked model like yours that runs good, (still driveable so you can check it out). Buy a complete donor car and then scrap the rest.

 

I don't know who told you that, or where you got that information but it's wrong. 00-03 were the best engines on the X308. They had the steel bore liners, upgraded timing chains and metal guides and tensioners as well as an improved throttle body amongst many other little bits. The pre 2000 engines are AJ26 and post are AJ27.

A competent individual with the right tools, experience and equipment should be able to remove your bad jaguar engine and fit a good jaguar engine inside of 48 hours if they are taking their time.

 

Wow- there's a new one! I hope the person who thought that one up is not the same 'expert' who told you that it would be cheap and simple to put a Chev 350 in your car. Putting aside the cost and complication of doing so, have a chat with your local EPA about making the car street legal.

 

Um, no.

-Mike

 

Dunno, but I have a suspicion that this might be a troll thread...

 

Was the mis-spelling of "Plas" a giveaway?

 

Dunno, just have it in my 'pee'. It seems like a deja vu...

 

Troll? I'm not sure. Many people have a tough time pronouncing Jaguar correctly never mind Vanden Plas or more correctly Van Den Plas. Them are both furrin' names ya know?

This should start a good fight

 

Would normally agree to an extent, but when they claim to be Jag faithful for forever, and experienced since the age of 13, you would expect it. It's like saying I've been in love with and know every detail of every Lambergini. (yes, I spelled it that way for the point)

(kinda like how it kills me that people can't spell Camaro either)

 

Just by saying listig some totally wrong myths etc and spelling Vanden Plas (the correct way of selling it) completely wrong and then wanting to dump a Chevy 350, which isn't even worth the hassle, makes all my alarm bells chime.

Heck, might be wrong... But if it were say an LS7 or even an LS1 it would be more legit.