Just put a deposit on a 2000 4.0 S-Type. It had a coolant leak into two cylinders the shop is a friends and he pulled the heads. But he wants to slap it back together when the correct head gaskets come. I think at 130,000 mi rings are due. Not him. I can talk him into tensioners but not a chain.

Opinions plz. TIA.

 

Not that my opinion means anything - it's just a feeling: rings: no, Chain: Yes.
But since you probably know the answer to a question, which I have, let me ask you before I have to do long research to find that answer:
Swapping head gasket on the S-Type: Is that possible without removing the engine? (And IF the engine, needs to be removed, does it come out from the top or from underneath?)
(I know the answer for X-Type: Yes, engine needs to come out... - from underneath...)

 

Thx for your reply. I also read, chain yes, but digging deeper it seems the earliest, ver 1&2, plastic tensioners are the real culprit.

My mech is doing the 2000. 4.0 S head gaskets from the top. Somewhere I have a pic .. if needed.
EDIT; Engine not removed.

 

I left a deposit once on a car I really liked. The seller got VERY upset and told me to clean it up.

All seriousness aside, is there any kind of guarantee for the work performed at your friend's shop? If so, you've pretty much got to go by his recommendations. If you tell him to do something else and then there's a problem, that's going to be on you.

Definitely get the timing chain tensioners replaced. On the early model V8s, the plastic tensioners were a known problem.

 

There isn't too many things that can cause water in the cylinders. Gasket failure, casting crack in the head, casting crack in the block. What was the cause of the failure? Rings? If you know the history of the car and if there is oil blowing out the pipes, Yes. If not, tensioners and chains, but mostly tensioners at that mileage. This engine doesn't have an EGR valve. It has a 3/32 hole on the passenger side that has to be cleaned out every 10K miles. If it is plugged up, oil will blow back through the rings and suck back through the the throttle body. Not good. I hope the mechanic KNOWS how to time this engine. No timing marks on this one. The heads must be checked for a crack and you should install the full stainless head gaskets if you can get them. To get to the timing chains you have to remove a lot of stuff. Good luck.

 

QUOTE=kr98664;281212]
Definitely get the timing chain tensioners replaced. On the early model V8s, the plastic tensioners were a known problem.[/QUOTE]

I've run across things on a few motorcycles... The replacements were metal, and a bit noisy. How/where do I identify the new good ones?. Thx!

 

AJ28 with updated primary and secondary timing chains, and secondary timing chain tensioner.

 

TECHS have now said, chain optional/no. I agree.
RINGS, I find, on med-higher milage performance cars, lose their top-end (higher speed) compression, and it is exactly where this car can excel. I'd hate to lose those last 20 mph !!!