Engine Number

[AlanCoombs]

I've just doubled the size of my Jaguar collection by purchasing a 1998 XK8. And what a superb motor car it is.
The car has covered 58K miles, with two previous owners, the first being a company. The second owner, from whom I purchased the car, wasn't sure if had had the original engine replaced or not.
So I thought I'd check the engine number - simple. After removing the throttle body and associated other bits and pieces to view the area where I'm assured the number should be - at the back of the block, under the throttle body, facing upwards - I couldn't find any number. I was expecting a long number, starting with "CC", but the only discernable mark anywhere along the top of the block was just a "CC", followed by no number. I have a photo of this, but haven't worked out how to attach it to this message!
Looking at the corrosion on the block compared to the gearbox, and the heads of the engine/gearbox bolts, It does look as though the engine has been changed, so I was hoping someody could clear up the mystery of the missing number? Or does anybody know what numbers are likely to be on a replacement engine?
The engine is showing no signs at all of any of the usual problems - so I'm not worried, just a little confused!

Thanks,
Alan

[painter]

Alan,
I am not even sure where the number is, but had the same problem trying to evidence an engine change on my craft. Fortunately for me my local Main Dealer supplied the engine to a previous owner, and retained the P.O. on their computer but not the engine number. It is not common practice for Jag. dealers to change their comp. records to incorporate the new engine number, and almost an 'engine out' job to find the number.
Some of the exchange engines post nikasil offered by Jaguar were new, and some reconditioned by Jag, therefore the number was considered irrelevant and the original info. retained. (I sort of lost interest after a few weeks of trying, but at least confirmed that it had indeed been changed )

[GrandTourer]

I've just doubled the size of my Jaguar collection by purchasing a 1998 XK8. And what a superb motor car it is.
The car has covered 58K miles, with two previous owners, the first being a company. The second owner, from whom I purchased the car, wasn't sure if had had the original engine replaced or not.
So I thought I'd check the engine number - simple. After removing the throttle body and associated other bits and pieces to view the area where I'm assured the number should be - at the back of the block, under the throttle body, facing upwards - I couldn't find any number. I was expecting a long number, starting with "CC", but the only discernable mark anywhere along the top of the block was just a "CC", followed by no number. I have a photo of this, but haven't worked out how to attach it to this message!
Looking at the corrosion on the block compared to the gearbox, and the heads of the engine/gearbox bolts, It does look as though the engine has been changed, so I was hoping someody could clear up the mystery of the missing number? Or does anybody know what numbers are likely to be on a replacement engine?
The engine is showing no signs at all of any of the usual problems - so I'm not worried, just a little confused!

Thanks,
Alan

Hi Alan, welcome to the forum

You were looking in the right place for the original engine no plate - awkward to look down
The original engine number would have been a 12-digit number starting with 2 alpha characters with digits 3 and 4 indicating the year of manufacture, which, if yours is MY98 should be either 97 or 98 and the rest are all numeric digits (I won't explain what the are, but don't matter for this instance).

The engine number should also be correctly recorded on your registration documents.

If this is a Jaguar replacement engine, it is likely to have a grey painted block and the engine plate is mounted in a different place, usually further forward. A typical replacement engine part no could be a number like: NCC 1002 JAE, the plate has a green background and the wording: GENUINE JAGUAR REPLACEMENT PART printed at the top. There is also a exchange serial no, eg: 1AJD 1867.

If you can't locate the plate, it should not be too difficult to trace it back to the beginning, since there where only 2 previous owners.

Good luck in your search.

[AlanCoombs]

Thanks for all the help!
The registration certificate is currently away with the DVLA - so I'll check it when it comes back, although there's no guarantee that it's correct!
There's no sign of any numbers anywhere along the top of the block as you suggest, and no grey paint, so I'm still none the wiser. The first owner of the car ('till 2004) was a company, so I don't think there's much chance of tracing it that way.

Jaguar seem never to have been very hot with engine numbers. Even my other Jaguar (A '65 S-type) had a replacement cylinder head back in the late 60's, so the place where the engine number usually is is completely blank!

Alan

[GrandTourer]

Alan,
what I meant with tracing back, was through the dealer network.
Any modification work done by a main dealer will be recorded on the Jaguar system which should then be accessable by other main dealers.

If you could find out who the supplying dealer was, that would make a very good start. The Company who first bought it would have bought it by a main dealer, who possibly also serviced it.

Your Service book stamps should also tell you a story.
I have never had a problem whith Jaguar dealers when enquiring about specific details.
I may have been lucky, but find a bit of charm and a smile works best