I bought a cheap endoscope on Amazon, just playing around with it I was able to snap a picture of the engine number on the left side right behind the engine mount. Assuming I'm reading this right, Craigslist Cat has an engine made December 8th, 2000 at 3:09pm.

Anything else to decipher here that's worthwhile?

2001 Jaguar XK8

 

does it go without saying that you HAD to use an endoscope, because the engine number is not visible otherwise ? ? ? I'm asking because I'd like to read mine, but haven't had to time to explore.

Z

 

Well to be honest with you, as much as I've been underneath one of these, I've never bothered to attempt to find the engine number. I'll be tearing down the engine to replace the tensioners, water pump, thermostat housing, cross over pipe, and cooling hoses so I figured it would be fun to inspect some areas with an endoscope during the process. When it came in, the first thing I tried it on was my engine number.

Next time I have it on the lift, I'll check to see if you can see it underneath the vehicle.

 

Tonight I was able to pull the 2001 Silverstone out of the garage and check the engine #.

Interestingly enough, it's engine number was not on the left side rib, but rather next to the thermostat housing. Somewhere between July 15th of 2000 and December 8th of 2000, Jaguar switched to scribing the engine serial number on the left side rib. I have no clue if this correlates with supercharged or NA.

 

The four codes between the pairs of asterisks:

*A AAAA* = Crankshaft Main Journal Diameter
Read the grade letters from LEFT to RIGHT = FRONT to REAR of engine.

*AAAA* = Crankshaft (Big End Bearing) Crankpin Diameter
Grade A = 56,000 to 55,994 mm (Bearing Shell Colour Code - Blue)
Grade B = 55,994 to 55,988 mm (Bearing Shell Colour Code - Green)
Grade C = 55,988 to 55,982 mm (Bearing Shell Colour Code - Yellow)

*11111111* - Cylinder Bore and Piston
The cylinder bore grades read from LEFT to RIGHT as follows:
Bank 2 - Cylinder 1, Bank 2 - Cylinder 2, Bank 2 - Cylinder 3, Bank 2 - Cylinder 4, Bank 1 - Cylinder 4,Bank 1 - Cylinder 3, Bank 1 - Cylinder 2, Bank 1 - Cylinder 1.
Grade 1 Bore = 85,990 to 86,000 mm.
Grade 2 Bore = 86,000 to 86,010 mm.
Grade 3 Bore = 86,010 to 86,020 mm.

*ABCDE* = Crankshaft Main Bearing Bore in Cylinder Block
Read the grade letters from LEFT to RIGHT = FRONT to REAR of engine. Used for the correct selection of coloured bearing shells.

Graham