So I just completed my head gasket job after several months now. And I think I broke it . Currently starts hard but stalls out and dies and sounds horrible. Is this engine salvable or did I just ruin my otherwise pristine XJ6? I'm afraid, I might've bent a valve? Maybe I'm just out of time? I'm thinking about finding a replacement engine but not sure I am ready to tackle a job like that after botching this one. Here is a video link of what the car sounds like.


Also where does this vacuum hose connect too?

 

I don't think you broke it Permanently. How did you set the cams? And did you recheck your plug wires for correct order? (That's a bad one for me)

 

I set the cams using the Jaguar cam timing tool. I also lined up the little Caret on the crank and made sure number 1 cylinder piston was at the top using a screwdriver. After that I put the distributor on lining the rotor up to the “notch” that correlates with cylinder one. The wires were left alone (in the position before I took the head off) but I recheckd and the wires starting at one go clockwise In the firing order that is stickered on the fender 1,5, etc and then plugged into the spark plugs 1,2,3,4,5,6. One being closest to the radiator and 6 being closest to the windshield.

when the engine spins (not starting) it sounds normal but once it starts, it sounds like I. The video. I do have that vacuum line disconnected that’s pictures above (can’t remember where it goes) and also I don’t have my EGR fully installed yet. But I don’t think those lead to the issues I’m having?

 

ok, So you've set the cams as well as possible, and assuming you have the correct rotation on the plug wires, your next problem is to either plug or properly connect the vacuum lines. these motors really don't like vacuum leaks. You can access the vacuum diagrams via the stickies at the top of the xj40 section. Don't give up. its worth it, and its not a complex problem.

 

Can someone be kind enough to take a picture of there engine bay detailing the vacuum hoses on the blue connector near the windshield, What I have pictured, I can't remember how those hoses go back together. I wasn't able to locate the vacuum diagrams in the stickies

 

In your pic, (looking at my 94) the hose coming toward the camera goes to the egr valve. The hose coming off to the back goes to a tee and then directly to a port on the intake directly below the vac valve. The other hose from that tee goes through the firewall under the wiper motor- I think it works the heater controls