bajacalal said:
Hello Steve,
I think the Renault diesel engine is the same used in other Renault cars and vans. I think it is in what is called the Douvrin engine family.
Look here for a list of vehicles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douvrin_engine#2.1_Diesel
Maybe parts for one of the more common Renault vehicles would be easier to find in France.
It is, sort of.
The block, head and internal parts are the same, but a lot of the ancillaries were modified for the XJ installation. Starter motors, in particular, are rather difficult to obtain.
Other parts, if unique to the diesel or 2.5 carb engine are also difficult to find in Europe, for example, I've had a fuel tank on order for over two months now, it's finally arrived at the shop, but I haven't got my hands on it yet.
The XJ was sold in France from the first year of production, but there is little to no support for vehicles built before 1993, when the XJ was commercialised throughout Europe.
Most parts have to come from the US.
If you need engine internals, I can probably help, as Renault Espaces, Traffics, 21s and 25s are fairly common in breakers yards, but for other parts, you're probably better off sourcing them in the US, particularly given the current exchange rates.
I'm now trying to get my XJ on the road ASAP, as I totalled my Renault 5 (LeCar) yesterday morning:
Double rollover, followed by standing on it's nose and falling over onto it's roof... at 30MPH.
Black ice is nasty stuff, but the person who cut a foot-deep trench at a right angle to the road is the real culprit. Dropped a front wheel into that and it flipped the vehicle. Hence the rollover with little damage to the lower bodywork. Car is still drivable, but it's finished.
So project XJ has gained a new priority... and the first modification on the list is now a rollcage.
I was lucky to survive the crash, never mind walk away with only a few scratches.