Good day to all. I blew the engine in my 1998 xj8. I have a line in a 2003 salvage car that has a good engine. Since I can not title the salvage car, I was thinking of putting the 2003 engine in my 1998 car. Will everything match up?

 

NO!!!!!!

Search the forum for this topic. It has been beaten to death.

Many parts to swap.

bob

 

Got it. Thank you so much.

 

Will the tranny from the 98 fit the 03? It's a 99 tranny

 

Yep.

 

Along the same lines, if I may chime in, is it possible to replace am AJ26 3.2l with an AJ26 4.0l NA? Tranny is the same. The wiring on my 3.2l is all prepared for the VVT system (have blanken plugs on the solenoid plugs). I'd assume engine out, engine in and New ECU would be enough!? Exhaust seems to be the same.

I know the diff ratio is different but only by a tiny amount (I think it revs like 200 rpm lower in 5th than the 3.2l so that makes the 3.2l a shorter ratio resulting in a possibly better acceleration).

As there are more 4.0ls out there (here in Germany) than 3.2ls it would maybe make sense - even though I like the simplicity of the 3.2l regarding no VVT and it having a short er stroke... Makes it rather rev'y.

Not that I want to do it straight away but if I got a cheap 4.0l I would consider it...

 

I did that conversion on one of Stu1986 cars. Yes, better performance because of the diff ratio and marked acceleration improvement.

I removed the VVT - and used the flywheel drives from the 3.2 to replace them along with the timing cover - with the AJ26 you'll use the 3.2 cam covers. If you need more info I've got *lots* of pictures. You will need to open up the engine.

Before and after conversion...

 

Hey Sean,

awesome! I'd love to see more of that!

If you mean opening the engine up in the sense of taking the cam covers and chain cover off, no problemo Been there on my 3.2l already.

What did you moderne to get it running right? Will the ECU need tweaking or so? Or is that with the 4.0l ECU? Will it not set a fault code regarding the VVT not working?

Cheers

Damien

 

Daim - I decided to leave the ECU where it was knowing the mapping capabilities would take up the fueling as the engine required via the MAF. So leave your ecu where it is.

The only modification is with the block, I recall there is an oil gallery that pressurizes the VVT unit via a port. This port requires tapping and blocking with a bolt, copper washer and threadloc.
Be warned, aluminium swarf will be produced and I collected it by loading a screwdriver with grease, if you don't there is a danger of oil passage blocking. There is a TSB on this process that I'll post if I can find it!

Also, this mod was on an AJ27 not 26. But I wouldn't think it matters.

 

^ gallery mod pics loaded, now to find the TSB - Have you got an engine for it?

 

No, it was just a brain fart for sometime later on... I'd see if I can get a '26...

 

I uploaded the TSB to the forum and sent it to Gus for his site.

Here it is again!!!!

bob