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I have a question. Sense I'm this far should I pull the heads off and do the head gaskets?
Also thanks for all the help I'm going to call it quits today got the chains off.
There is problem that shows up once in a while with the headgaskets. If you plan on keeping the car it will one less thing to worry about. If you do do them get the gaskets for a 04 xk8 4.2L engine. They will be made of multi layered steel instead of fiber. Don't get the headgaskets for a Lincoln LS they are a little different. You will also need intake manifold seals and the gasket between the exhaust manifold and cats. If you are going that far also change the hoses under the intake manifold.
I personally don't like those guides. They are not the same as the origionals and you have to put them in backwards to make them work. Some members have used them and I don't know of any of them having problems. You can read my thread and see what they look like when you put them on.
Thanks,Bob. I thought they were from later models but didn't know the date they changed. Most kits have these guides the only place I could find the correct kit was SnG Barrett. It is more cost effective to buy a Lincoln LS kit and buy the guides from SnG.
I'm changing my Valve Cover Gaskets, how hard is it to change secondary tensioners when doing this?
An hour per side more if you do the zip method.
Have the torque values available, and be sure you turn the camshaft till there is no pressure from any of the valves on the cam, otherwise you risk breaking the shaft.
Never turn the engine backwards to find that sweet spot.
Last edited by ericjansen; Apr 19, 2017 at 12:23 AM.
Hmm, never had any issues with those guides. Doesn't matter if early or late setup (apart from the differences in chains) the system works well. The spacing of chains etc. to the sprockets and co didn't change.
My kit also included those style of primary blades. I don't get what is meant by putting them in backwards? They looked fine on mine when set up, even though the old broken blades were the older style. No issues in a thousand miles since they were set up.
Where are the tensioner blades in that thread Bob? I read through and couldn't find a picture with them set up.
Here's mine, with new chains, primaries, and all.
Nilanium, I posted about the problems I had with the guides in a different thread, my confusion. I was answering another members thread at the same time I was doing mime.
Technically the guide that doesn't have the tensioner on your setup is upside down. You have the bolt in the slotted hole and it should be at the stud above. Motorcarman responded and I followed his advise. Like I said I haven't heard of anyone having problems, but since I had open I decided to put the correct ones in. If I had it all back together I probably would have left them in. I just give the advice I have learned from my experience and the member can make their own decision. Your and others input gives the members more info so they can make their decision.
