My XJ8 has 165,000 kilometres on it. It is desperate need of chains,tensioners etc. I would do the water pump and idler pulley etc while there.

WARNING: Australian price content below. Look away if faint hearted.

I have the opportunity to buy a complete engine with 135,000 kilometres and the tensioners have been done. Am told the engine runs perfectly. The price is $1600.00 AUD plus labour. (not sure how long an engine swap takes @ $80 per hour)

Or do the "dog that I know" for a cost of approx $2000.00 +

So swap engines would cost around $2 to 2 1/2 thousand and I would still have the original engine that must be worth something (here anyway)

Both cars,mine and the donor are the same year and both 3.2 litre.

be interested in any input...thanks.

 

It looks like a wash to me. What other problems do you know about in the current engine? There is always a risk when you do a swap... Unknown problems, damage something during the work, lack of true history of engine.

If ther eis any chance of doing the tensioners yourself, it is one of the easier "major surgeries".

 

Early AJ26 I would do more than just the tensioners. Other engine has known history,it's not like my car is a collectors item so authenticity doesn't really worry me.

But you're right Ross always expect some unknowns.