Viewing: Forged pistons for 2002 Jaguar S Type R 4,2 V8 s/c

**zcuvalo** · 25-04-2009, 07:49 PM

Hi,
My name is Zvonimir, I live in Zagreb, Croatia. My drive is 2002 Jaguar S Type R, 4,2 L V8 with s/c. Every since I bought this car I had nothing but troubles and problems. Literally, I had to repair or change almost every vital part of the car except for the gearbox (ZF). First I have believed it is due to car quality but later I have learned its due to Jaguar service in Zagreb - low or better to say no quality at all. Avoid by all means. My first engine exploded at some 92.000 km, then I bought a new (new) one. That one lasted up until 10 days ago - with some 75.000 km. It would take me more then 10 pages to describe all the faults and misdoing they did on my car. Instead, I have finally found a good mechanic and things are as follows:
- water and oil have entered one cylinder and piston is gone, the rest is ok - it seems so for the time being.
- one catalytic converter is (or was) covered with oil and water smoke - I still have to ensure it is not damaged.
- engine is out of the car and I am looking for forged lightweight piston kit for my engine. I have send many e-mails but so far no luck. If anybody reading this has any experience or advice on this - please help.
- Two years ago I did some tuning on the car - done by tuning company Arden from Krefeld in Germany - and I can say - Its a money well spent. All they did was additional ECU unit, Ardens developed Billstein suspension set, Ardens sport exhaust and front splitter with rear apron as well. The car is excellent for driving now - except I do need to repair my engine (again).

**MasterAuron** · 25-04-2009, 08:18 PM

Tried Wossner, JE, Accralite, Wiseco? Give them a ring. Many companies often don't list items on their websites but do actually stock them.

**zcuvalo** · 26-04-2009, 10:29 AM

Thank you MasterAuron. Some of them I have contacted via e-mail but some new names are in your post. I shall do that on Monday. Once again, thanks.

**charger69** · 26-04-2009, 10:51 AM

man you seem you have kinda serious troubles with the jaguar. if it continues, try changing the car.

***waynne*** · 27-04-2009, 02:56 PM

Does it get pretty heavy use? (Welcome to TorqueCars as well, good to have you along.)

**zcuvalo** · 27-04-2009, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charger69

man you seem you have kinda serious troubles with the jaguar. if it continues, try changing the car.

My main problem is official Jaguar service in Zagreb - they charge a lot and provide in return nothing. I took my car in Germany, Munich a year ago in Auto Koenig and everything was fine untill cooling system pipe started to leak. Official Jaguar service did not have the replacement so they have fitted small PLASTIC pipe untill the OE part is available. Do I have to mention that this plastic piece got melted in 10 minutes!! When they first fitted new engine to my car along with new s/c engine was always bit warmer then it should have been. Then they have changed 5 times the thermo switch, and after I went really angry with them and took the chief mechanic for a quick drive (250 kmh on highway) he has agreed with me it is something else - it was at the end of a day a water pump that was causing the problem all the time. This problem that I have today is acctually only a logical end of misdoing they did there. Finally I have found a good and reliable mechanic I can work with. NOw I am trying to use the moment and do some additional tuning on the engine. All I need for the moment is forged piston kit, lightweight, aluminum or titanium...

**zcuvalo** · 27-04-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynne

Does it get pretty heavy use? (Welcome to TorqueCars as well, good to have you along.)

Thank you for fine words... Yes, it is sometimes, but when everything is fine, the car is just pleasure to drive...

**Sid447** · 28-04-2009, 09:49 AM

I believe,

Arias, JE, Diamond, Mahle and maybe Cosworth might do forged pistons for the AJV8 series engines.

http://www.racinggreencars.com/moder...J-V8Engine.pdf

http://www.racinggreencars.com/modern.asp

***Prince*** · 28-04-2009, 11:12 AM

Welcome to the forum mate... Hopefully everything should work out for you. It's difficult to find a decent mechanic sometimes.

**zcuvalo** · 28-04-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid447

I believe,

Arias, JE, Diamond, Mahle and maybe Cosworth might do forged pistons for the AJV8 series engines.

http://www.racinggreencars.com/moder...J-V8Engine.pdf

http://www.racinggreencars.com/modern.asp

Thank you for your post. I have I believe contacted all or the above mentioned companies via e-mail and I am still waiting for reply. This morning I have received a reply from Racing greens cars that they do not have forged light weight piston kit and that they do not know if anybody is producing those for Jaguar. I shall check the Diamond - them I did not contacted so far - perhaps they shall have pistons. Mahle have replied few days ago stating that they dont have them on the stock, but if I send them engine details (serial number, VIN and code numbers on the OE pistons) they shall check if they have a solution for me. Thank you for the articles, I have read them with interest, they did help me and I shall forward them to my mechanic.

**zcuvalo** · 28-04-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince

Welcome to the forum mate... Hopefully everything should work out for you. It's difficult to find a decent mechanic sometimes.

I do agree with you. It took me 6 years to find one near me. The closest best solution so far for me was Munich, Germany - Auto Koenig. This new mechanic in Zagreb used to work for Jaguar then he has opened garage of his own - so far I am satisfied. Jaguar is rather new car on Croatian market, and there are only few who are reliable (two that I know of) in Zagreb.

**charger69** · 28-04-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcuvalo

My main problem is official Jaguar service in Zagreb - they charge a lot and provide in return nothing. I took my car in Germany, Munich a year ago in Auto Koenig and everything was fine untill cooling system pipe started to leak. Official Jaguar service did not have the replacement so they have fitted small PLASTIC pipe untill the OE part is available. Do I have to mention that this plastic piece got melted in 10 minutes!! When they first fitted new engine to my car along with new s/c engine was always bit warmer then it should have been. Then they have changed 5 times the thermo switch, and after I went really angry with them and took the chief mechanic for a quick drive (250 kmh on highway) he has agreed with me it is something else - it was at the end of a day a water pump that was causing the problem all the time. This problem that I have today is acctually only a logical end of misdoing they did there. Finally I have found a good and reliable mechanic I can work with. NOw I am trying to use the moment and do some additional tuning on the engine. All I need for the moment is forged piston kit, lightweight, aluminum or titanium...

those are the main problems we have here in our region, bad mechanics. hopefully you do have some knowledge and check your car before taking it from their garage. do you have that often problems with your car?

**MasterAuron** · 28-04-2009, 05:42 PM

You can have some custom-made. But it's up to your wallet.

Or use forged pistons from another car. But it's up to you to do the research.

**pgarner** · 28-04-2009, 06:29 PM

long shot, maybe really long. wonder if Ford make some ?

**zcuvalo** · 28-04-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charger69

those are the main problems we have here in our region, bad mechanics. hopefully you do have some knowledge and check your car before taking it from their garage. do you have that often problems with your car?

I am sorry to hear that you also have the same or similar problems. As for the car - I had so many problems with it that it is impossible to cover them all - first I believed its the low quality, but it is not. The service is my main problem. Trouble is, if I fix it somewhere else I loose warranty, but now it is gone and I have spend last two years finding good one. I think I did. I do hope so. As for the car, there are only few thing in it that I did not replace or repair - depending on failure.
In brief:
- 2 engines fatal failures,
- one gearbox failure - electronic was replaced,
- air conditioner was repaired for about 10 times, only recently it is operating ok,
- plastic pieces in end out of the car were failing more then 20 times, finally I glue them myself to stay in place - those I could,
- when I took the car over as I paid for it - the very second day I have learned that phone was not working, out of 10, only one speaker was playing music, air con. was not cooling or heating, whipers failed to activate on the rain, and so on...
- as the new engine was fitted to the car it was overheating repeatedly, they were replacing thermo switch for about 5 times and only after about 3 months they have found it was water pump failure, by that time the engine was damaged, and few days ago has failed by leting the water in cylinder cousing the damage,
And so on, and so on,, But if you look at it it is the service, official service misdoing to be blaimed for all of that, but one can not prove that - one should be very educated in technical details for to prove it. I have informed Jaguar about it, but nothing has changed. Thats life...

**zcuvalo** · 28-04-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterAuron

You can have some custom-made. But it's up to your wallet.

Or use forged pistons from another car. But it's up to you to do the research.

Well I have that idea as well on my mind, but trouble is to have it done by reliable person or company. Idea with piston is, since I did some tuning on my car in the past, I am thinking of using this situation and improve the engine a bit. It is about forged, light weight optimized aluminum or titanium pistons and piston rings I am looking for. I can order regular piston kit with out a problem, but I would like to do some more, with note, the car is for everyday driving, not for racing. If you have the idea of somebody who is good and reliable, and can produce them help me establish a contact with him and perhaps that may be a solution for me..

**zcuvalo** · 28-04-2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgarner

long shot, maybe really long. wonder if Ford make some ?

Problem is Ford shall reply and forward me to the Jaguar, and they shall offer regular piston kit. I think that this current engine is Cosworth engine (or I am wrong) Jaguar both in 60ies and race with it for some time in Le Mans and F1. This is a civil version of that engine, that have been improved through time. I did contacted via e-mail Cosworth company and I am still waiting for them to reply. Most of the answer I am receiving today is - I am sorry we do not have them on stock - try somewhere else. It is a wonder that nobody so far has piston kit for Jaguar - light weight, hammered (is it a good term?) optimized, aluminum or titanium, that is for tuning purposes, not for repairing purposes. I do believe that with lighter pistons the engin will rev faster!

**pgarner** · 29-04-2009, 10:19 AM

no what i was on about was you may find that the piston and rod may be the same part as a ford item, if so them you could have a look for then under ford engines. ie the focus ST may use the same parts as the jag. but this is purly hypothetical
if so you could look for forged parts for the ST.

**MasterAuron** · 29-04-2009, 04:37 PM

And I'm talking about looking at other car manufacturers all together.

**zcuvalo** · 29-04-2009, 09:09 PM

Bad news. One cylinder got schratched and according to my mechanic it has to be bored on 1st stage. Problem is i am not sure it can be done here - perhaps but then I need piston kit custom made. Tomorrow I shall see my mechanic for more detailed info.

**MasterAuron** · 30-04-2009, 06:34 PM

1st stage? Re-bore anyway if you're rebuilding the block imo. Machine shops over here charge pennies for it. Shouldn't be that hard to find a place over there surely?

**zcuvalo** · 04-05-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterAuron

1st stage? Re-bore anyway if you're rebuilding the block imo. Machine shops over here charge pennies for it. Shouldn't be that hard to find a place over there surely?

I have asked around, and according to my mechanic there is only one place recommended, parallel to that I am trying to find a solution for forged pistons to fit the new dimensions.. I am still waiting for reply from Mahle and some others. Pitty that most of the contacts that I have established do not have pistons for Jaguar at all. In the meantime I have contacted Arden from Germany - they have on web some sort of solution - it is the cost that leads the decision. What they have is increased engine capacity to 4.5 L with light pistons, rods and crankshafts, along with other improvement - but the price is to be sent to me...

**zcuvalo** · 19-05-2009, 05:38 PM

Well I give up. I just bought new rebuild engine. What I have learned is that pistons are Mahle OE, but you can order them only through Jaguar, and Jaguar takes abbout the century to reach decision and offer them for sale. I tried Jaguar service here in Zagreb, Jaguar tech. department in England but no answer in two weeks whatsoever. As if they were not interested in selling the parts or engine to me...

**Sid447** · 19-05-2009, 07:07 PM

Try a search............

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...Search&aq=f&oq=

**zcuvalo** · 20-05-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid447

Try a search............

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...Search&aq=f&oq=

Hi Sid447,

Thank you for your post. I have contacted Mahle about a month ago - I gave them all the details they have asked for - and then silence. No answer whatsoever...