Hi all, thanks for your answers in advance!

1998 AJ26 XJR dropped valve seat passe4nger side- I have AJ27 heads laying around do we:

1. Only replace passenger head with AJ27 head, or swap both sides?
2. should I keep the AJ27 camshafts with the AJ27 heads, OR do I use the AJ27 cams and swap the reluctor/gears?

THANKS!

Dave

 

If you swap camshafts, I suppose you should set (or at least check) the valve lash. If you are not doing a head rebuild, i would go for changing the reluctor cam.

 

How do you remove the reluctor?

 

And thanks for the quick reply!

 

Ok- here is what I have gathered:
1. cams from both heads have the same part number...so they must be the same size.
2. can use the AJ26 cams on the AJ27 heads since they are same part number
3. I was overthinking the process
4. Will use AJ27 heads with AJ26 cams and all should be right with the world.

 

I can confirm the cams are the same, at least for an SC model- I swapped mine to a new head. But you are checking / setting up the valve lash, right? I am pretty sure the reluctors are just press fit, so a LITTLE heat and pulling would do it.

 

If I were you, I'd pull the reluctor off the AJ26 cam and install it on the AJ27 cam. Keep the AJ27 cams with their head and you MIGHT not have to adjust the valves. Adjusting valves is a time consuming PITA!!

 

Ok- valve lash would be an issue- I am going to move the reluctor- has anyone done this before?

 

I watched someone do it once. You must install the cam in a bench vise. This was a few years back but, I think he used a pipe wrench to twist it off and used a large brass hammer to install it. I'd highly recommend taking pictures of both reluctor positions prior to taking either of them off. Reason being is that if it's not clocked just right that it'll throw a CEL on. Then you'd have to reclock it while the cam is installed. Not fun. Take your time doing it because it's still easier than adjusting valves. Believe me!!

 

Hey all-

Just wanted to follow up on this. Used two AJ27 heads, the drivers side cam from the AJ26 (same part# as the AJ27 cam) and checked valve clearances- all to spec. Buttoned up today and although there was QUITE A BIT of noise for a little while, it smoothed out and is running quiet and like a champ.