Rebuilding the LS 3.9L V8 - parts are scarce!

Gearheadloco

Gearheadloco

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Hi everyone,

I'm rebuilding the engine in this 2001 Lincoln LS V8 with the Jaguar AJ8-derived AJ30 engine. I bought the car for a whopping $300 on eBay in Anaheim, CA, because the car is in such condition inside and out and with just 90K miles. I had hoped the noise was the famous timing chain tensioner problem, but no luck the problem was in the bottom end.

When it's done I'm going to surprise my college-age son with this as a birthday present!

This one looks to have been run very low on oil - two connecting rod bearings on the rearward two cylinders overheated (and turned carbon black) then spun and destroyed the original crankshaft. I've found a used crankshaft, used pistons and all of the new gaskets, piston rings, alternator, starter, etc... all of that is available either for the 2000-2002 LS, the 2002 Ford Thunderbird and some parts for the Jaguar S-type's 4.0L engine.

BUT I CAN'T for the life of me find connecting rod and crankshaft main bearings for this engine. Has anyone on the forum found a source? DNJ in Chatsworth CA, just up the road from me claims they have a main bearing kit MB4162 and connecting rod bearings RB4162 for this engine but when I called they shipped the last set of each in 2014 and haven't made any since. Clevite, Sealed Power, EngineTech... even Ford - no luck. Of course I can buy a long block for $5K or buy a used engine, but I'd rather rebuild the one I have which is in pretty good shape.

I've read speculation that the Jaguar AJ8 4.0L main and rod bearings might work, but other sources on the intertubes say that the lower end of these two engines are substantially different. My machinist buddy has honed the block (it's in great shape) but I guess I'm stuck trying to re-use used bearings (ugh) unless someone knows a source?

Thanks!
Phil in San Diego, CA



IMG_20170715_224811.jpg
IMG_20170715_224651.jpg
 
The front bumper doesn't have Chrome on it.
FordEtis home page Also go to this website and enter your VIN # and it will tell you let me know what you find out you should have a sport suspension
 
Hey thanks for the link, AmsterDutch!

Do I have the sports suspension? Once I got the car up in the air and could get underneath it I was really impressed with the engineering and workmanship in this car. Both front and rear suspensions are impressive for a 16 year-old car! Yes the plastic cooling system parts are a little weird, but engineers are always looking to save weight so I guess I understand.

Here's what FordEtis had to say about my car:

VIN: 1LNHM87A41Y601298
Primary Features
Build Date: 20.07.2000
Vehicle Line: Lincoln LS
Body Style: 4 Door Saloon
Version: High Version
Engine: 3.9L Dohc EFI NA V8 Gas*HP
Transmission: 5 Spd Auto Trans NAAO 5R55N
Drive: LHD RWD
Axle Ratio: 3.31
Emission: California Emission Requirements
Air Conditioning: Automatic Air Conditioning
Paint: Ebony (Solid C/C)
  • Midnight Black Interior
  • Grain
  • Sport
  • Wixom Plant Build
  • With Cold Weather Group # 1
  • With Memory Pack
  • With Smart Sense Pack
  • Front Floor Carpet Mats
  • Rear Floor Carpet Mats
  • With Dipping Rear View Mirror
  • 4 Door Saloon
  • With Electric Slide Sunroof
  • With Front Licence Plate Bracket
  • With Mini Aluminium Spare Wheel
  • 7.5 X 17" 5 Spoke Chrome Alum Wheel
  • P235/50VR17 A/S BSW Tyre
  • 3.31
  • 3.9L Dohc EFI NA V8 Gas*HP
  • Traction Control With IVD
  • Leather Steering Wheel
  • With Message Centre
  • With CDX6 Radio And 6 Disc Changer
  • With NAAO Radio Frequency
  • With Deluxe Premium Sound System
  • Ebony (Solid C/C)
  • 5 Spd Auto Trans NAAO 5R55N
  • Lincoln LS
  • High Version
 
Yup it's a sport and a damn nice one I live in the Rust Belt be lucky you don't have liquid rust poured on your roads out there..looking forward to seeing your progress...have fun!
 
Why not just buy a good, low milage used motor. Fix the short comings for the year you have. Then install it. You may have as much money in parts as the car is worth. If you are set on rebuilding it, and i understand that. There is a thread here of someone rebuild the v6. Maybe he can help you in your parts search. He is on the last page of what have you done to your ls today.
 
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It's amazing we have the exact same car except I put a Base Sadan bumper on mine because the original bumper that was on like yours had a broken out fog light and was cracked all the way down the bottom the first thing I saw in your pic was the sport bumper that I miss so much also the bumper I put in is a 2000 which is another thing you should know all 2000, 2001, 2002 are compatible with each other for the most part these years are called Gen I and 2003-2006 are called
Gen II if you keep reading on this forum there is a world of knowledge both Rigs and Joe know there stuff
 
Your best bet is working with a Jag specialist in the UK. Also check out the 'Land Speed LS' thread in the high performance section. Cammerfe did quite a bit of work on his engine.
Jag does their bearings differently than US engines. Clearances are set by using single over/under size shells, so measuring and installing is a bit more complicated than a run of the mill V8.
I haven't gone down this path myself (yet) but have been watching folks that have tried.
 
AmsterDutch said:
... which is another thing you should know all 2000, 2001, 2002 are compatible with each other for the most part ...
Click to expand...

One of the exceptions to this is the lower end of the V8 engines. There were some changes to the timing gears and oil pump.
 
When last I looked, each half bearing shell was $6. They now seem to be readily available on the internet but the price is more like $10. As I remember, I dealt with an operation in Kalamazoo, MI, but that was several years ago and I'm, at the moment house/dog sitting so don't have my written references available. The outfit was very knowledgeable and helpful. Good luck!

KS (Cammerfe)
 
Our cars were built in the Wixom plant up in Michigan it no it no longer exists I think it was a complete Demo
 
AmsterDutch said:
... world of knowledge both Rigs and Joe know there stuff
Click to expand...

Ah pardon me,
Joegr = Genius

I'm just the Village idiot compared to his knowledge ... no match!


Sport,
17" wheels, 30mm sway bar OD, "special suspension" aka Sport shocks no longer available, no chrome on either bumper covers, no top half plastic wood grain steering wheel, all leather including shifter knob.

While you're in there, upgrade the plastic secondary tentioners to the metal JAG version, primary lower guides like to break also, inspect chains. All new OEM DG529'S coils and NGK Iridium plugs correctly gapped.

Gut the exhaust CAT back, replace resonators with a single in the tunnel Magnaflow true X design 2-into-2 mid muffler. SS 2.5" piping out the back w/ pair of shinny tips to compliment the look.

Plastic cooling system, rebuild it now, including degas bottle. 1st GEN all aluminum direct fit JAG t-stat housing available. Cheaper n better. Use OEM stat in that. Different pressure.
 
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RigsLS said:
Ah pardon me,
...
Sport,
...no top half plastic wood grain steering wheel, ...
Click to expand...

You do know that Sport and Premium are not mutually exclusive? You can have both. You can have a Sport with wood steering wheel.
 
Listed as a Premium not Sport but yes same thing. Ugly though.

Should have just called it "Executive" w/ Chrome wheels.
 
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RigsLS said:
Listed as a Premium not Sport but yes same thing. Ugly though.
Click to expand...

Nope, would be listed a premium sport. Four flavors: Base, Premium, Sport, and Premium Sport. It's not ugly in my opinion, but the wood section does get really hot out in the sun.
 
Any plastic lookalike wood in any auto is FUGLY ... one of life's little finer things I can do without.
 
It's real ugly, is what it is.

Can't stand it.
 
gambling209 said:
Why not just buy a good, low milage used motor. Fix the short comings for the year you have. Then install it. You may have as much money in parts as the car is worth. If you are set on rebuilding it, and i understand that. There is a thread here of someone rebuild the v6. Maybe he can help you in your parts search. He is on the last page of what have you done to your ls today.
Click to expand...

He might be referring to me. I've just begun rebuilding my hard driven V6 with 200K on the clock. Took the crank in to be polished and machinist said it looked too worn. Then he said this morning that he measured it and thinks it's going to work. So if it does I'll push forward. If it doesn't I have a backup plan - a donor car.
Anyway dont know if this will help but so far I've gotten everything I need from rockauto - pistons, rings, main and rod bearings, gaskets, seals, cylinder head bolts for the engine. I also got a clutch kit cause mine's a 5 Speed manual. Clutch + pressure plate + slave cylinder cost only $3.00 more than 6 pistons.
 
Thanks everyone,

What a great forum, I really appreciate everyone's input. The more I work on this car the more I like it. I can see why you guys take such pride in your LS.

My machinist buddy is friends with a Jaguar mechanic here in town and he was getting some of the same intel you guys have shared - the idea of using Jaguar rod and crank bearing halves sized and purchased individually. Hey I'm OK with $200 or so for new Jaguar bearings if it means a happy bottom end. The auto dismantler that I purchased a used crankshaft and connecting rods from is also including as many used rod and crank bearings as he has so I may have two usable options.

I will take a bunch of pictures and post to the group as I put it back together. You guys are going to love the 1950's Lincoln/Mercury light green engine block paint that I'm going to use.

Phil
San Diego
 
With all due respect, it's all aluminium---why paint it at all?

And to the guy above re-doing the '6', it's a US-sourced engine and all the engine parts are available through regular parts channels in this country. Not so the V8. The US factory parts chain only sells a short-block assembly for the V8, with not only a set of bearings, but a crank and block---all as a unit.

KS
 
cammerfe said:
With all due respect, it's all aluminium---why paint it at all?

And to the guy above re-doing the '6', it's a US-sourced engine and all the engine parts are available through regular parts channels in this country. Not so the V8. The US factory parts chain only sells a short-block assembly for the V8, with not only a set of bearings, but a crank and block---all as a unit.
V6
KS
Click to expand...
I'm the guy doin the V6 and yeah so far so good on parts. Though rockauto pulled the lower radiator hose from my cart cause it's rare - for the sport engine with oil cooler - and went out of stock after I put it in the cart!?. I did find it on ebay though. Also got my crankshaft back and all polished yesterday. Machinist said it looked bad to his eye but measured out good. Said it looked like it had spun a bearing?
 
Ok so you are going that far, you should really also replace the whole timing chains to the 2002 version. I did it on my 2001 that had 99k on it, and it was the SECOND SET THAT HAD BEEN DONE!

Bad design prior to May of 2001 build - which I see by the pics it is. What you will need to do is get all new sprockets, the full chain set from cristopher's and then you might as well since you have the engine out, get the 2002 bottom oil pan set up and then put in the 2002 oil pump which has the nozzles.

Now as it goes, I have the pump and pick up new in box if you want them. I was hoping I could swap that out when my mechanic did mine (2002 system now sans new pump), but when it was apart we found out the bottom pans had to be changed too.

The reason the you think the oil issue exists might very well be the original design oil system sucked and thus the in line change in 2001. I missed it by 2 months, mine was built in march 2001.
 
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