It's been 6 weeks since I blew the engine in my 1997 XK8 and I finally got the Jag back today with the new engine installed. The old engine had a broken wrist pin. She runs great now and all I can say is that I sure missed driving it and she'll be ready to go in the spring. The bill worked out to $750.- to tear down the old engine and tell me why it was shot, $2500.- for the engine, and $5483.- for the engine install and getting it ready for winter, oil change, rad flush, new antifreeze etc. The engine install cost a little more than the $4000.- estimate but I had them replace all the gaskets, seals and hoses while they had the engine out. They also replaced the water pump, thermostat, brake pads and the air conditioner compressor, refrigerant and oil and did a few other minor things. The mechanic looked at the suspension parts, brake rotors etc and said everything else looks fairly good. This left me with a grand total of $8733.-, about 2/3 of the price that I paid for the car but I'm really happy. I got my ride back.

 

Any idea, how does a steel wrist pin fail ? A most unusual failure.


glad to hear you’re back in action.


Z

 

Thanks. It's just too nice a car to scrap. To be honest I haven't got a clue what happened to it but that's what the mechanic told me.

 

Glad you are satisfied with the results. I would not have been able to justify the repair cost. Happy motoring....

 

To be honest the cost of the repair wasn't a consideration. Finding another one up here would have been next to impossible and importing one from the States would have cost way more by the time you calculate import duties, the exchange rate on the dollar, fights and hotels, time lost from work etc. Besides what would I have been able to buy for $9 grand to replace it? I see maybe 40 - 50 Corvettes, Mustangs, BMWs, a couple dozen Porsches every summer but there's only a half dozen Jags in town and only 1 XK8 and she garners a lot of attention. Previous vehicles that I've had I've driven till they dropped and a blown motor would have meant a one way trip to the wreckers. This one I'm planning to drive until I drop. Besides what would the wrecker give me for a 25 year old car with a blown engine. Not much.

 

ozbot...

It really doesn't matter how much it cost....does it? You got your XK back! That's all that matters...isn't it? I'm Happy for you! The Big Plus is that it's a Coupe...............

Billy Clyde @ Cinco Ranch

 

Now you have another decade of enjoying your jag. Money well spent. Congrats.