I've got a 2000 XJR with both heads in need of a rebuild. Machine shop quoted me $1900 to rebuild them. Ouch! I'm wondering if finding used or remanufactured heads might be the cheaper option.
What other motors shared the heads with the XJRs? Did the non supercharged motors use the same cylinder head? Will any XJ8 or XJR from '99-'03 have the same head? What about other Jag models that used the 4.0 V8, x-types and s-types? What about the Lincoln LS or any other car that shared this motor?

 

I may be wrong on this but I think the XJ8 and XJR heads are essentially the same.
Also the Lincoln.
The X-type never used V8's and the S-type will be the same as the X308.

 

The SC heads do not have VVT.

 

I'm not sure if the Lincoln LS heads are the same. The Lincoln head gasket will not work on the Jaguar heads. The port opening on the Lincoln gaskets are smaller than the Jaguar. I haven't see a Lincoln head to compare but if you find one I would take a head and or a headgasket to compare before buying. They may look the same generally but could have differences that might make them useless.

 

You will need to PLUG the VVT oil passages if you get a AJ27 head from a Normally Aspirated engine.

Here is the TSB we got about this.

Cylinder heads are supplied by Jaguar Parts as a common part for all three versions of the V8
engine: 3.2 Liter (non-NAS), 4.0 Liter normally aspirated and 4.0 Liter supercharged.
The oil supply gallery for the Variable Valve Timing (VVT) unit that is present on all these
cylinder heads is plugged which makes the cylinder head non-VVT specification as used on
supercharged engines.

The RIGHT head from AJ26 engines will NOT have a VVT sensor hole!!!!
Use AJ27 heads to be safe.

bob