you guys are right ill just replace the tower. cant beat this price 1998 jaguar XJL V8 non supercharged thermostat tower on the way. But ill have to wait until it gets here to post more pictures. Heres the link I used. This the weblink to Welch's AJ82217KIT:
Welsh Enterprises - New Jaguar Parts, Used Jaguar Parts and Accessories - XK120 - XK140 - XK150 - E-Type - MK - XJ6 - XJ8 - XJ - XK8 - XK - XJS - S-Type - X-Type - XF

 

Good choice to replace the tower with the metal one.

Be sure to also add the correct coolant to top up the system when you finish with the tower replacement. There are also postings on this forum for the correct procedure to add coolant and then bleed the system.

 

You can also use a 8mm flexhead ratcheting "spanner" wrench in place of the crows foot wrench. Speeds up the process.

 

You are correct; the problem is getting the ratcheting part over the head of the bolt.

I tried everything I could think of short of purchasing the special 'tool' for this particular adventure and found the crow-foot to be the least expensive method...

 

Keep in mind that when using a box end wrench is that when the bolt is extracted you are unable to remove the wrench. An open end wrench is the way to go! The onlt other way is to remove the intake manifold.

 

This is what I used on my 00 S Type 4.0 with success.



Once the bolt is loosened on that one back bolt - I used my fingers and same with install. (As I couldn't get a hold of the crows foot wrench. But again, the ratcheting action makes things go faster...

I had no issue getting the ratcheting part on any of the bolts.

 

I am glad that worked well for you. It did not work for me on the engines I worked on as I have the same tool.

What tool is used, either crow-foot or ratcheting box spanner, there is very little room between the bolt heads and inlet manifold. The engineer who designed that part should be made to work on it...

 

Did not work for me!

 

Agreed 100% - getting those bolts off and on were a real PITA!

 

should there be oil in my air filter box? there is an airline that looks like a T and mounts to both sides of the engine, and the middle part connects to my air filter line. seems to be letting some oil in there. Also does anybody have a picture of the infamous elbow under the intake manifold? I sprayed my visible lines with water and the rpms didn't jump. I am still having minor rpm bumps when I try to get on the highway.

 

also, I found that my 1998 jaguar XJ8 was diagnosed a bad thermostat tower, and bad valve cover gaskets! MERRY CHRISTMAS. If you have a links on where to order one or how to videos please share. Thanks again!

 

Richard here is a link to a DIY with pics from Gus for the infamous elbow under the intake:


Thank you Gus.
JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource




So we don't confuse the 3.0 and your 4.0 V8 and get the mods involved if you can start inquiring about your XJ8 in the appropriate section, I think it would be better.


Thanks and Merry Christmas