What all would be needed to make this happen? Any body have a step by step for what I should do??

 

change of car or mega bucks to spend

 

Its a shame, I have been trying to decide what to do with my car. I purchased the car with a bad engine and thought that I could rebuild it, but the engine is trashed so I've been looking at my options

 

What about a installing a 2003 4.0l in it? would everything from the 1998 work on it; electronics, transmission, computer??

 

It is possible, but electronics and transmission are different for the 4.2. A good used 4.0 is going to be the simplest, most economical option. There are lots available.

Also see Jaguar Specialties. There is a kit available for an LS1 conversion.

 

Your '98 model year engine is an AJ26. Jaguar changed to the AJ27 in '99 which had different wiring harness, VVT's, cruise control, cam position sensors, throttle body, ECM, etc., etc., etc. . . . Basically, the short block is interchangeable, the long block with some modifications. To use the complete AJ27 is where all the expense begins. It can certainly be done but best with the doner can sitting next to yours.

 

Here is some extra info:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/g...63/#post177881

But as said I have only done it for SC cars.

 

Like whitexkr said, instead of swapping to the 4.2 why don't you just put an ls1? more power, greater reliability and cheaper parts

 

. . . and probably about the same cost.

 

Guess more the triple...

4.2 engines are relatively cheap to get, and the mods aren't that complicated.

 

I'd go with the LS1 Conversion if it's an older XK. The older engines/transmissions are a bit anemic. If you had a working SC engine, the TS kit would be better for you. At least if you're after the most hp for the $$.

I've been drooling at that conversion since I first read about it. I've decided I'm putting my money into my 05 XKR instead of my 97 XK8 so I'm getting Avos's TS kit. If I had chosen the XK8, it would definitely already have dropped the LS1 into it.

 

My xk8 manufacture date was 08/98. Could it have the the aj27? How could I tell the difference between the aj26 and aj27?

 

Where is the VVT electrical valves? Out the top of the valve cover AJ27, out the front AJ 26.

 

I'm on a budget so the ls1 is not an option. As far as determining whether my car has a AJ26 or an AJ27 could I check for a number on the block? My xk8's engine was dismantled when I purchased the car, I have the engine out of the car so it would be very easy for me to locate a number on the block.

 

Not sure of the number offhand, but if you post a clear snapshot of the valve cover or head we can tell you.

 

Here are pictures of the valve cover top, bottom, front, and back.

 

That is the older AJ26 engine.

 

How many miles on the transmission? The older trannies like to give out somewhere between 75-100k. Some disk holding all the guts inside likes to slip out as well... most tranny shops familiar with it like to weld this up to remove the possibility of this common failure. Just a heads up.

If the engine is toast and you're pushing 100k on the old tranny, an LS1 swap may not be as expensive in the long run, especially if you want performance mods in the future... The 4.0L NA is pretty limited, IMO.

 

Thanks guys, I found the correct replacement engine with 77k miles. Cring! my car has 124,000 miles and I have no idea if the transmission has even been touched. Are the 2000 xk8 transmissions better, and if so will the newer transmission work with a 1998 engine?

 

The later transmission will swap but ZF never improved the weaknesses of the 5hp24 even though they were identified in BMW's for several years before they started showing up in Jaguars. Low mileage would be preferable to later model.