Doesn't matter what they look like, with heads off, remove the valves, clean them, lap them, new seals. They're all in the gasket set for you, use 'em.

 

As I said in post #11.

 

Tip, when a bolt or nut is being recalcitrant only use a six point socket, these have more contact area.

 

I didn't think that the Jaguar XJ8s would ever lose a head gasket. After all, they're not Fords.

 

Got the left head off this morning, no visible sign of gasket failure... Does this mean the heads are warped? The back cylinder valves are really carbed up. A little worried right now.

 

What were your original symptoms that caused you to think you had a blown head gasket?

From your pics it is difficult to say whether coolant was making its way across the metal surfaces or or not.

 

The reason the 1/2" socket didn't fit properly is because it is s 13mm bolt. I use a 13mm impact socket but I had to use the grinder to take some material off the side of the socket because of the tight clearance.

 

Original symptoms were the upper hose would blow off the radiator. I got a block tester from NAPA and it confirmed there was combustion gases in the coolant

 

Did you do a compression test before breaking it down? It will tell you what cylinder or cylinders to look for the problem.

 

You will need to have the heads inspected for cracking and the block heads faces for warping.

 

That's what a good mechanic would have done.

 

I have done this job on an 80s XJ6 and the problem there was separating the head from the block.

This looks really interesting - hope it all gets sorted out.

 

There's one other thing that you should be aware of. Now that you will have two of the heads off with the valves ground as well, that engine may begin to use oil afterwards (due to the compression now approaching the original specs).

So, at this point, you may want to consider overhauling/rebuilding the entire engine.

A case in point was when my father took both heads off a 1965 Pontiac Catalina back in the mid 1970s, and ground the valves. Afterwards, that 383 engine sure had plenty of newly restore pep, but it didn't take too long at all before the engine began to use oil. In fact, even before my father re-installed the heads, he told me that the engine will begin to use oil in the future.

 

Confucious reigns....................

How can having the heads off and lapping in the valves cause an engine to use more oil?

 

Worn rings in combination with the compression now approaching the original specs. It has to be so since I previously mentioned what occurred afterwards with the 1965 Pontiac Catalina.

 

1/2 inch was the best fit, i started out with 13mm

 

I’m in the process of replacing bent inlet valves on a 3.4 ‘S’ while the head is off I have been soaking the pistons with WD40 and ATF.
At first the fluids would disappear quite quickly, indicating the rings were a bit sticky. Now the fluid still disappears but it takes a lot longer.

 

I just had to re-read this post.
There is no mention of worn rings or excessive oil consumption anywhere.
So no reason to suspect that having the heads off and lapping in the valves would create such a situation.
I'm sure the OP would have mentioned it was blowing blue smoke or using loads of oil, but seeing as they haven't.......................

 

With a better seal on valves, you will be able to create more compression as well as more vacuum. That said, any wear on the rings, widens their gap, increasing the potential for blow by. There by creating the potential for oil to enter the combustion chamber, increasing, or creating your oil consumption, as well as smoke from your exhaust, if enough is burned. My opinion, yours may be different

 

Just got back from the machine shop, with good and bad news. The good, heads are straight, valves are good. The bad, the valve buckets that sit on the valve stems needed to be kept in order, they weren't.