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Seriously! I'm not made of money by ANY stretch of the imagination. Am I just going jaguar, nutts?
I want (beg) to hear peoples thoughts as to the value of, if it makes sense - or even if - this is an opportunity I should NOT pass up and,,, that i need to just do what I need to do to get these things.
I am looking at a set,,,, left and right cylinder heads off a 1990 a v12 5.3 with the stuff still attached for less than $300... $300 for the the both of them. Is that price LOW? Or is it normal?
Is that unheard of? I really dont know. And,,, how hard, practical, logical etc etc etc is it to have the two heads off the car to rebuild and reset them completely and, for the $300 plus $100 shipping, having two completely (and slowly) rebuilt heads?
What do I need to be thinking about HERE? Because they are aluminum is restoring them impossible. Never done anything like this before.
Please pull no punches. And pls, hurry.
Last edited by JayJagJay; Jun 29, 2018 at 10:04 AM.
Not a bad idea to have some heads laying around. Better have and not need as to not have and need.
You'd be wanting to do all valves and habe the seats ground in, the tappets set up and ready for installation etc.
If you can get them cheap with cam carriers, camshafts, valves, maybe even valve covers, then I wouldn't hesitate. It's not like they are going to go out of date on your shelves...
Maybe you can get lucky like I did. I bought a 90 Coupe for just $700.
It's got lots of rust on the body, but all the mechanicals with only 87K miles on it.
I needed the rear hubs as my convert's are mysteriously cracked.
I even got the car running just to see if the engine was good...it is.
I have already gotten my money's worth, hubs, good replacement injector harness, an over axle pipe and rear silencer,
central locking door solenoid, an interior trim piece, and several little bits, clips, electrical switches etc.
Plus I'll have sooo many spares: Teves ABS, all the ECUs, power window motors, wiper motor, dash binacal, AC evaporator and controls, etc etc etc.
Plus a diff, engine, trans etc. But of course I have the space to store it which may not be practical for some.
You have caught the disease JJJ.
BUY NOTHING except what is needed to get your car right. That will be quite expensive enough.
Afterwards, there will still be loads of cheap bits to drool over!
Ok... Even before people started replying - I went ahead - and below is what I got. For some reason I couldn't help myself (BUG - Greg)...
I quickly looked around for anything I could find in a quick search. Every comparable cost much much more! I see myself taking my time in setting new valves and (I don't know the correct term) compounding valve seats, new valves seals, springs, tappets(?) and then - eventually - setting them in - then what ever else the job takes. I'll learn.... Soon, later, I want to pull the intakes and the cam covers, give everything a good sand blast and powder coat and really spruce up the engine and engine bay... YES, I've caught the bug.
I do want to say I am sorry for writing the post and then going ahead and GETTING before hearing replies. I value everyone's opinion here so much/highly!!!! You all have made ownership of this amazing machine possible. No doubt!
THIS IS THEIR WRITE UP: This listing is for an OEM ALUMINIUM RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD.
CAME FROM EXELENT CA WORKING CAR! 1990 V12 CYL 5.3 L AS PICTURED
Fits: XJS Convertible and coupe 1982-1992 BUT CHECK WITH DEALER FOR FITMENT! AT THIS TIME WE HAVE ALL PARTS FOR THIS ENGINE, CALL ME IF YOU NEED ANY PART
BOXONSHELFZ02 JQ rackR61
We specialize in Jaguar XKS and XK8's coupes and convertibles. Please contact us if you don't see your part listed.
Thanks for looking at our ad. If you need more information or have questions please call or email. 707-494-9999
FIRST DUMB QUESTION...
Why are the bolts extending so far and high over the TOP of the cylinder head (CH) on the valve cover side? Do those bolts extend down and thru the body of the CH into the block? Clearly, I have a lot to learn here.
(edit) - no laughing - I now see that the the cam shaft housing and the cylinder head are two VERY distinct and separate components...
I may be slow on the uptake (at times),,, but slow ain't the worst thing in the worl... Is it? lol
Last edited by JayJagJay; Jun 29, 2018 at 09:00 AM.
JJJ
What you have NOT got here is the casting that goes on top of the head that carries the camshaft. This bit is called the tappet block, and the long studs secure it to the head. I would cancel, or ask for the tappet blocks and cams at the very least. I hope they were dirt cheap, because what you really have here is two castings that will need new valves and springs if you ever think of rebuilding and fitting them. Meanwhile, the heads on your car will be every bit as good as these, or better!
Hey All.... Yeah, the heads are on there way, GiF. I tried to catch the seller after input, realizing the tappet block realities and rethinking - but they were already on the road. Yup, it was a lot of money I dont have right now. Perhaps I could resell, perhaps I could take a breath and see what I have, and eventually be very happy with what I've got. Now,,, I'm on the fence "happy-wise" but with the feeling happiness will come!?
I think down the line as I stash away a few more pennies, slowly gather the bits I need to make for 2 complete heads with tappet blocks, shafts, valves, buckets, shims, half moons and ALL ---- well, all of that might make me a very happy man. And then, down the line, winter maybe, I can take off the old and replace with the new. Not today, but for some reason I can see that being a very gratifying experience.
Problem is --- I accidentally got the heads shipped to my JOB... The guy in the mail room is gunna hate my ***, lol.
Thanks all. I will come back to this and post some better pictures when I have the items in hand.
Yes that is the price, BUT they only have one side, the two sides are not identical. if you do rebuild your motor - which it does not need by the way - you can reuse your tappet blocks no problem. But of course you cannot build up a complete unit beforehand; but you can fit all the valvegear without the tappet blocks, and get the second hand heads al cleaned up and nice. Check then for straightness on BOTH faces, top and bottom, before spending anything on redoing them though.
Greg
It is a real temptation to squirrel away various bits when we find them at what we consider a cheap price. If you have plenty of space available then extra parts or even a parts car might be a good idea. If space (and money) is an issue it's probably best to just buy what is needed when needed. I've got my old XJS tranny taking up space in the garage. I may offer that up on the forum soon. I'm deep into the process of cleaning out my garage and I've got to make a lot of cuts.
i know times have changed , BUT back 2006 i had collected 3 complete Jaguar V12 engines.
2 were fuel injection types, V12
and 1 was was a 4 carb. V12, E type.
well family was moving to Texas, things were happening FAST no time left, so put them in a dump truck ,brought them to a recycle yard.
i got $25. USD, for each one , total $75. dollars, hows that grab ya, some times we forget this stuff is all just scrape junk, we get all giddy about it!
and YES one mans junk is another mans treasure,,LOL. YUP boys and there toys.
About 5 years ago I sold a 1990 V12 with 130k miles on it for like €500. That was the engine without belt driven parts and without the starter. All the other parts were on it though. Darn wished I hadn't sold it all at once. The intakes and water rails would have been handy...
What should i do???
