So it seems after everything my rich running problems are back.
it seems i can only ever get bandaid temporary solutions.

also noticed yesterday when i took the oil cap off some white smoke coming from there.

i am thinking at this point valve stem seals are done for,
among probably multiple other things.

going to take my spark plugs out on the weekend and expect to see them fouled up even tho i replaced them only 2 months back.

this car is really doing my head in lately.
lucky i love it.

rebuild seems like a potential headache sourcing parts.
and an engine swap for a turbo barra (aussie ford 4.0L I6) or an LS would be awesome but not affordable for some time.
was hoping i did not have to deal with this for a few years yet but it might be a problem sooner than i can afford since i have had to make the car my daily for the last year.

 

Install used engine. Plenty of good ones out there, no doubt.

Cheers
DD

 

Availability is not as much over here as one might think.
admittedly i have not looked around for an engine, but knowing the amount of these on the road here they are not exactly a common vehicle.
i have a spare car but its engine is blowing a bunch of white smoke.

replacing a 30yo engine with another 30yo engine is not exactly a long term solution IMO more of a larger bandaid.
atleast a rebuild you know where you are at.

 

You could rebuild the engine from the car you don't drive and then swap them. I did this with an XJ6 SII many years ago.

Cheers,
Jeff.

 

have thought of that as an option most definitely.
need to gauge how much is involved in doing the rebuild and what parts may or may not be available.
when i spoke to Dr Jag about 2 years ago he informed me a full rebuild was not really easily possible due to part availability.
he rebuilt his xjr6 a few years back but unfortunately is now retired.

 

May be worth contacting Tom Lenthall for parts details as he managed to get parts for a rebuild of an xjr6. Will not be cheap!
https://fb.watch/x8ydTkmSRD/

 

yeah i recently saw the rebuild they did.
there was atleast some custom parts used in that rebuild
god damn that motor was gone when they started.
going to be a monster once fully done.

question is.
is a rebuild cheaper/better than a LS swap option.
just feeling that there may be not terribly much good time left if not sorted soon.

 

I love my XJ, but it’s probably cheaper/more fun to LS swap…………….

 

Def more fun
In the states i am sure it is cheaper.
here the cost of motors has gone right up.
supply and demand issues.
worth investigating costs tho

 

Might be worth a compression test including leak-down, so that if there is any loss you'll know if it's head or block. It's likely it's the cylinder head. You could get one shipped from the UK. Cheaper than a whole motor.

Or buy a cheap shitbox with decent aircon while you fix the x300

I'm preparing to put a chev stroker into an xjr6. I think few if any transplants into x300s have been done but they should be much easier than x308s. But what i am saying is that you'll be flying blind, and you'll also need a gearbox and diff if you're going to substantially increase the torque. It'll be expensive, and a proper project..

 

As someone who went down the rebuild road recently (please see my thread for resources), you can rebuild the top but the lower will be rather painful given the absolute lack of parts

You can rebuild the head (all you need is the stem seals). You can install new piston rings. MAYBE even the big end bearings. But the crankshaft bearings are simply not available. I managed to find most of them but not all of them. Gaskets are getting harder to source too but they are still there

I think you will be alright after doing the head and the piston rings (if you need those...I would do a compression and a leak down test to see which is required)

 

I have the option of buying a used x300 engine and transmission, 80k miles or so, for $250 USD. I have no use for it at present. My question is how would I prep it to stay tucked into a corner of my garage for a decade or so and not have it rust in the wrong areas?

 

Well my go to for this has been good ole MMMO. Magic Marvel Mystery oil. Squirt it in the cylinders then roll the engine over a few times.

There are products made for this called Fogging Oils. Search on that to see what brands are out there.
Here is just one of many.
Engine Fogging Oil Spray
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.
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