Ok, I've seen a bajillion worthwhile & informative post about the timing chain tensioners, and the need to be replaced before they cause problems. I also believe, I have read where they (Jaguar) fixed this issue. If so, does anyone know when. I have a newer engine, built May of 2003 according to numbers on the block, in my 99 xj8. Do the plastic tensioner problems apply to my engine or not? I don't really want to pull the covers to have a look if I don't need to. Thanks in advance for opening up and reading another tensioner posting.
Ralph

 

So, is it an AJ26 or 27 engine? I am not sure anyone can tell you for sure, but factory engines built that date should have upgraded tensioners. But current model engines built that date would not work in your car. So i would suggest having a look. A look is pretty easy- less than an hour.

 

The conversion date to the metal tensioners was August '01 so your engine would certainly have them.

 

test point-
Are you suggesting the AJ27 engine was in his car, or that AJ26 replacement engines had upgraded tensioners?

 

He mentioned that his engine serial number put the manufacture date as May, '03 which would make it an AJ33, 4.2L. That would certainly have the metal tensioners . . . unless the original AJ27 heads were reused in the engine swap. Swapping out of the original engine group is difficult but not impossible.

Avos posted this some time ago and it addresses using only the 4.2 short block in the conversion. So I guess that puts the best response back to 'gotta look'. https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...uick+reference

edit
Oops! This is the XJ8/R forum. Didn't the XJ's keep the AJ27 through the '03 MY and move to the 4.2L in '04? If so, it would appear that he has an AJ27 after swapping out the original AJ27 from '99.

 

Gentlemen, Thanks for the response. What I gathered is my engine is an AJ27, as it should be, with updated tensioners based on build date of 2003. This engine currently has about 95k on it, so I'll eventually have a look to confirm, while replacing valve cover gaskets to correct minor leaks.
Again thanks! You Guys are great!
Ralph