I bought this car 3 or 4 years ago with a engine that was froze. The previous owner started it one morning and it was idling rough. Most of us already know the likely problem. He took to a shop, a general auto repair shop, and they cranked the engine and possibly had it running to diagnose the problem. The engine then froze on them. I played $850 for the car. Car m was in good condition, except worn driver seat a few scratches and a dent in driver door.
Got the car to my shop, I'm in construction, took off the cam cover on the left side and the secondary chain was broke and jammed caused by the failure of the secondary tensioner. A piston had hit the head breaking the valves damaging the piston and rod.
I repair the engine, replaced head, piston, and rod. Spent about $1000 to get it back on the road.
My daughter was driving the car a couple of years ago when it threw the same rod. I thinking the crank may have been damaged by the original impact. This engine is now toast.
I have a spare AJ27 from a 99 XK8 that I bought that was in an accident with front end damage totaling the car. The impact did not reach the engine.
I started this project not too long afterthe engine failed. Took the engine transmission and subframe in one piece from under the car. I have a 2 post lift and I built a table with wheels that keep it together as I lifted the car off the assembly.
I cherry picked the engine off the subframe. I put new bushings and motor mounts on the subframe. While the subframe was off the car I replaced the upper shock mounts and shocks.
That is a far as I got until last weekend. My son came to visit for the holidays from North Carolina. He is a diesel mechanic in Hickory. He offered to help me get it back together and I wasn't about to refuse his help.
Last weekend we replaced valley and octopus hoses and transferred what was needed from the other engine. Got the engine on the subframe attached the transmission and that is as far as we got. I needed a couple of parts that I couldn't get until Monday.
This weekend we got the engine and subframe back in the car. Got everything attached. The only pain was the one line from the AC to the front of the rail at the bottom of the radiator was different from the 2 engines. Took the one off the old engine. It is just a pain to change it with the engine in the car.
Attempted to start the car yesterday. No go. We weren't getting any fuel at the Schrader valve. Pump was working and getting fuel to the line that feeds the rail. We took the fuel rail off the other engine. The one that was on the car was plugged with something and I could see it looking into the feed tube. The car fired up almost immediately. It runs real smooth with good oil pressure. The only issues I have left for today is the power steering pump is leaking badly, the water pump is making a noise, and a wire is broke to the water level sensor to the reservoir. I'm working on those now and should have them done today. Then all I should have is evacuate and recharge the AC and check the fluid level in the transmission.
It was nice working on cars again like we used to before he moved to North Carolina. And by the way we also changed the carrier bearing on the driveline on my F350.

 

Whenever I have a 5HP24 gearbox that is free from the engine I always replace the front drum and 'O'ring seal kit. Just a habit I get into and it really does not take but a few hours extra.

Glad you got the engine running again.

 

Thanks Bob,
This transmission came off an XJ8. I put new A drum and seals in at the time. The transmission that was in this car had shifting issues and at some time will do a complete rebuild. It was quicker for me at the time to do the transmission exchange.

 

Replace power steering pump. While replacing water pump I checked out the old pump and all looked good except for it having a plastic impeller. What I found was a piece of plastic sitting in the block behind the pump. It was swirling around in the area making the noise.
Apparently someone replace the thermostat tower to aluminium by breaking off the old one, some do this because it is hard to access the bolts to remove the tower, and a piece of it fell into the base of the tower.
I bent a cheap wrench at a 90° angle to access the bolts instead of breaking off the tower when I change it.

 

Well done, and happy motoring....

 

Welcome to EAST Coast side of The River. Good to have you over. Great to hear you have saved another one.
Guess I misread, Son came from NC to visit. My Bad.

 

I'm curious about the "A" drum issues you noted in your list of cars. My 2002 XK8 had the transmission "safe mode of death " occur a few times and the researchpointed to the "A" drum. I took it to a local shop and had it rebuilt. How complicated is it to rebuild the A drum?

When it happened, I didn't have a lift, but I do now.

 

Congrats, I spun the #2 bearing in my 2000 at 50k or so miles. Replaced it with a junkyard 2003 i think motor a few years back so your experience rings close to home. If that rack is leaking from the boots it is likely due to oxidation on the rack itself. I took mine apart and sanded/ buffed it out really well and then put new seals in, it's been good for a number of years. autozone of all places sold the seal kit for like $5.

 

BobRoy; Sounds like you enjoyed yourself working with your son. Good for you. I wanted to ask a question. Since the newer motor was a '99. You didn't mention if you replaced the chains and tensioners Did you also do that. I have a '99 XK conv. and changed everything at about 75,000. I also replaced the injectors and a bunch of other stuff. The car runs like a dream. I really like hearing stories about how people bring back these cars. When properly maintained the are great cars.
Thanks
All the best
Mitch

 

Back to finishing the car this morning. I vacuumed the AC last time I worked on it and it wouldn't hold vacuum. Gave it a charge this morning and added UV dye so I could trace the leak. Turned out the leak was in my gauges. I have a secondary set of gauges and charged the system. All looks good with no leaks but will keep an eye on it.
Checked codes.
P0442- small evap leak. Will need to trace it down.
P1230- fuel pump relay. Will change
P1260- theft detected. Maybe I will go to jail for stealing this engine from another car.

 

I still plan to move to NC when I retire. My son and I plan to split the cost of building a new shop. Big enough so he can work on diesel rigs and I can tinker on my vehicles.

 

It's not too complicated if you have general mechanical skills and search the forum for information on the procedure like I did. I would be a total ignoramus without the info and help from members of this forum. ( THANKS GUYS )

 

Yes I did replace the chains and tensioners. It is a lot easier when the engine is out of the car.
I hate to see these cars go to the junk yard. That is why I have so many. I find them with mechanical issues and buy them at a low price. Two of the XK8 I have were in totaled accidents so the car is not repairable but the engines and transmissions were working when they got totaled, the the rest of the car is used for parts. When I need something I usally have the part on one of my donors.

 

BobRoy; I feel like you do. Love the cars and working on them and hate to see them go to the scrap yard. I wish I had the space to store some cars.
All The Best
Mitch