I have a 2001 XK8 with 100000 miles. The secondary timing chain broke and valves hit the piston. I found a 2003 XJ8 motor to replace mine. Bought a 2003 motor thinking the chain problem would not be an issue.
This is where I need some advice. Is it better to pull the old engine and transmission together or can I just pull the motor? Should I pull the transmission and do the A drum replacement and valve body fix as long as I have the motor out? The transmission worked OK before the engine
problem. I prefer not getting into the transmission as long as it worked OK, but also do not want to pull the transmission a month from now to fix it.
What has to be done to the valve body and who can do that for me.
Thanks for your help.

 

I can only offer you opinions.

If it were mine, I would pull the transmission along with the engine and do the valve body/A drum preventive maintenance since that has been the economic demise of so many cars. Most driving these cars have, at least, visions of driving them for a long time.

How many miles on the XJ engine?

Someone else will have to chime in with reworked valve body links.

 

+1 on test point's comments. If you already have the engine out with ready access to the transmission, it would be foolish not to get it in top shape as well.

Not an expert, so better check with the forum gurus on whether or not the '03 XJ has the plastic tensioners. If I remember correctly, they were changed to metal in late 2002 on the XK8/R models. Your '03 engine is a 4.0L (yes?) so better make sure. However since the engine is out, easy to check and replace if necessary.

Good luck!

 

The motor is a 2003 XJ8 4.0 motor with 66000 miles. I chose this engine thinking all the tensioner problems were taken care of by 2003. Is that correct?

 

The change began with engine# 010813xxxx. That is the only way to be sure without removing a cover.

 

The 2003 XJ8 will have the silent primary chains and the metal body tensioners as well as the newer style oil pump (as long as it is the original engine from the factory!!!).

bob gauff

 

any warning indicators before it let loose (noises etc.) ?

 

NO!

The early first generation tensioners were reported to rattle before failure but most of them have been replaced if only with the second generation that added a spring assist to the plastic body. The sum total of the assist was to eliminate the rattle. The plastic tensioner and the plastic shoe both continued to fail.