There are to types od gaskets how can I tell which gasket that I need based on the engine? Vin? Engine number? thanks fort the help

 

When you take off the valve cover you'll see the type you need. I bought a upper gasket kit and it came with 2 types of seals for the valve cover. I just matched it to what came out.

 

A 1998 probably has the AJ26 engine.

 

don't count on the kit containing both styles of seals unless clearly stated

 

This might be true... I bought a complete upper gasket and seal kit which came with both styles.

 

I had that same concern - which set to buy? I finally bit the bullet and got the one for the Lincoln LS and it fit fine. I also had the luxury of having another car to drive just in case I got it apart and found out it was the wrong set.

 

I just recently replaced the gaskets on my '01. I bought the Lincoln LS kit at Advanced Auto parts (~$45 after discount) and fits perfectly. BUT this kit is known to only fit AJ27 engines! So beware - it will not fit the AJ26 engines it so appears. Best way to identify a AJ26 to AJ27 engine - I am told - is the position of whatever the true name of that valve timing sensor/solenoid is - the AJ26 is positioned on the front end side of the cover, but it's on the front end top of the cover for the AJ27.


For what this info is worth...


Cheers

 

The original AJ26 cam covers will need the orange and grey gasket seals (one side orange and the other grey) and the spark plug rings will be 4 sets of 2 (2 rings tethered with a piece between them).

The AJ27 will have 8 separate rings for the spark plug seals and black gaskets.

The (14) fastener rubber isolators are the same for both.

bob gauff

 

So how can I tell which engine I have? I want to pre buy the gaskets before I take it to the shop.

 

Take a look at this -- https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-photos-88433/

It might help you decide what engine you have by looking at it.

Here's a suggestion -- you could buy both and bring them to the shop and then return the set that isn't used. Just make sure your mechanic only opens the set that he needs since some gasket sets are marked on the box "not returnable if opened!" Or, if you can't return the unused set, someone here would probably want it.