Anyone familiar with what a new AJ16 head looks like?
 

Hello all,

I recently bought a new, complete AJ16 cylinder head complete with the coveted cam cover. This was sold by a dealer clearing out old inventory and came to me in a jaguar box/crate. I was told that the head should be ready to drop in-no machining needed. Thankfully I have no need to instal it now, but upon closer inspection of the head there are a couple of things about it that don't seem "right":

First,this is a pic of the head :

Attachment 162087


This is my first concern. Right on the inner front part I see three grooves that seem a but out of place:

Attachment 162088

Are those supposed to be there?

And second, I have two "bubbles" on the very outer right had corner of the head:

Attachment 162089

Attachment 162090

Are these a problem?

Anyone with knowledge on what one these heads should look like please let me know.


Thanks

Mmmmm.

Those 3 blobs appear to be a casting muckup. IF, the actual face is not damaged I would not worry about that bit too much.

The 'blisters" look more like "bruises" to me from being dropped on that corner, but the snaps are not that clear to be real sure. Again, not really an issue in my opinion. That could be "redressed" with a file, very carefully, and the camcover seal would still be OK to do what it does.

Thanks Grant. I agree that the "bubbles" on the corner are probably from a fall. I guess that could be filed down and not affect the seal, but those grooves do concern me more.

They almost look like grooves cut by a stretched tining chain, but they look to be 90 degrees off...?

Marks like these are fairly common in Alfa four cylinder heads where the timing chains are allowed to run sloppy.

Thanks Grant, Roger. Here are a couple of better pics if that helps.....

Attachment 162079

Attachment 162080

Attachment 162081


I can always have the head machined, but I don't think that would do anything for the grooves on the front.

So you guys think it's fine like that?

As long as it's not raised I don't think it's a problem.
You'ld have to machine a lot of metal off to get rid of them.

Those front "grooves" have NOTHING to do with the integrity of the head gasket surface. I would fit it in a snap, so send it down under if you really dont want it.

As Norri said, a HEAP of metal will need to come off to get rid of them, and then I reckon the pistons and valves will certainly be doing obscene things to each other.

I still maintain my opinion on the camcover seal area mishap, and again a simple swig of some inner lube for YOU, and a few careful strokes of a file will have that looking like new.

I wouldn't let those grooves bother me either, I'd use the head without cutting it.

I have personally seen another brank new head with the same feature on the inside edge of the chain case. I don't know how it happened but it is definitely nothing to worry about.

Thanks all for the replies and taking a look at the pictures. It seems the consensus here is; a)ignore the grooves these are fine/normal, b)file down the "blobs" on the corner , and c) don't machine the head.

I would hate to instal a brand new Jaguar head only to find that it's leaking 3 months or three years after its been done, that's why I asked the question.

And if I could ask another question:

Are there any seals I should replace before installing the head? Like I said it comes with the cam cover and the gasket, and I know that there is a plate on the front and maybe one in the back of the head. Should I just leave the original gaskets there or replace them?

Thanks again

MAAAAAAATE.

I go by the following.

DO IT ONCE, DO IT PROPERLY, DONT GO BACK IN THERE AGAIN.

Of course "stuff happens" and a revisit is required, but DO NOT reuse any old gaskets/seals/washers/whatever. They are CHEAP, and the labour/language, not to mention the interruption to drinking time, is just plain dumb.

There are opinions out and about about the head bolts, TO replace, DO NOT replace.

I am very OLD school, among other things, and ANY bolt that is "torque to yield", as these are, should NEVER be reused.

Torgue to yield is when a bolt is tightened to a ft/pounds spec, then 90deg, +, 90deg, or similar.

Grant thanks for your reply. I agree that all the bolts and gaskets outside of the head will be new. What I meant is, what do I do about the gaskets the head came with:

Attachment 161918

The cam cover gasket?

Attachment 161919
The gasket behind this Plate?

Like I said the head is "new old stock" inventory, so the gaskets, obviously, are also new. .......do you think I need to replace those?

Thanks again!!

BUGGA.

Misread that, sorry for that error.

NO, the gaskets/seals that have not seen engine temperatures/oils/coolants/etc are just fine.

I would simply wipe the face of that head with a solvent to clean that preservative off, and when installed a good squirt of engine oil on the camshafts/chains/etc prior to fitting the cover and hitting the starter.

Thanks Grant and everyone for your replies, it helps an awful lot. So all I will be looking for is for some guides, chains, gasket sets, bolts, maybe the harmonic balancer and renew the oil seals on the back

Is it still there?
 

The cam cover is it still there? I need it