Again, I'm currently doing my first engine rebuild. At this point I feel better taking the block, crankshaft, and camshaft to a machine shop to have it worked on, but I have no experience with that.
What stuff is typically done and what should I ask for?
As far as I can tell there isn't anything abnormally wrong with anything, so what should I do in preparation of taking it all there?
How much of assembly can/will they do, such as pistons, valves, full engine?

 

An XK engine? If so, find a shop with experince in them. some will refuxe to have anytbing to do with them don't ask!!!

A competent shop will do whatever you desire from a complete rebuild to a refresh.

Hone the cylinders for new rings on the existing pistons. Or bore the sleeves and fit new rings and pistons in an oversize.

Hot tank or by other methods, clean all spotless. Paint if asked...

Polish the crank shaft and fit new inserts. Or turn it to an under size and foit new shells.

Deck the block aka skim to assure absolute flat surface.

Head. lap the seats and valves. or grind each. :

Skim the head for flat.

Provide the proper gasket set/

Assemble in anmy part or hand it all back to you for assembly.

Warrant only if they assemble...

Pre confer with the shop and get the scope of work and cost in writing...

Good luck

Carl

 

Ask around to find the best shop for your type of engine.
Discuss your expectations with them.
Let them know your skill level if you are doing the tear down & re-assembly.
Let them advise you what to do.

 

A lot of this should be covered in the WSM or work shop manual. It was typical at the time for shops to rebuild engines now-and-then, not anymore. Now engines are replaced as assemblies from crates assembled in factories with greater quality control. Sitting down with a WSM and reading is a historical almost archaeological process these days that I find interesting. If you do it will become clear what needs to be done. There are also a few books on the subject like Des Hammill Book, "How to tune the Jaugar XK". Books like this offer a comprehensive look in many case and it's easy to get carried away so use them guide, not gospel.

If you take your engine to a re-builder, they may do what ever they have the machines to do not necessarily what needs to be done. It's the old adage, when you only have a hammer everything looks like a nail. I would strongly suggest your go through the motor and measure things. Repair and replace only what is out of spec. For example, get a machinists edge and check the heads for straightness and twist. Same for the block. Evaluate what failed on the engine and only replace what is necessary in a minimalist way. I believe it's possible to over repair an engine. For example the process of removing the head studs from the block may not be necessary and doing so may lead to other problems and create a cascade that can render the block un-useable or go unnoticed until the engine is back in service.

Choose a machinist carefully. It took me a few days of calling around on the phone and talking to people to find they right guy. I'm going through this process with a Porsche 928 engine that will be used for racing and is being modified for a bigger bore and stroke. I'm using the same principals. The block will be bored and the crank stroked but everything else will only be getting checked. For example, if the valves seal, they'll get new guide seals and be left alone. If the heads are straight, they'll get cleaned, polished and reassembled as they were. The Porsche WSM is a joy to read, very detailed and precise, it's hundreds of pages across 8 volumes and the genuine article trades for about $1000 and it's worth it.

Tangental story: A few years back I worked at a BMW dealer, at the time there were so many problems with the new 7 series Valvetronic V8's that BMW had no choice but to do field repairs because the logistics cost of all the crate engines. The cost time and money would have been astronomical. Here's the rub, the field repairs didn't pay well. BMW thought a technician could remove disassemble, repair and reinstall and engine in 25 hours. Impossible. The cars needed to be fixed so the worst guy in the shop would get the job. On one occasion that was a meth addict who had the focus and the 'speed' but set the shop on fire in the process. Crates basil, crates.

 

Contact Coventry West in Georgia as they're XK specialists:

https://www.coventrywest.com/rebuilt-jaguar-engines

 

Maybe line hone the cam and crankshaft bores and fit slightly fatter bushes. If you find a machineshop you like, they'll advise you.

Reassembly can be jolly good fun and rewarding if you have a good space to do it in and aren't rushed.