Just to edit this item, on the 4.2, as I re-read the tech manual, it looks like the camshaft assemblies must be removed to access the head bolts. This is a meaningful additional disassembly that is less often seen on many engines. Also, valve clearances must be adjusted. So, instead of 10-12 head bolts being removed to remove the head, there's a lot more to be done. Again, not magic, just a lot more work.

 

eh, not really. Removing the camshafts is a trivial job. Unless you find that the valvetrain is noisy or there is some other reason why you think valve clearances are out of spec, you don't have to redo the valve clearance unless you have some valve work done. Is it a decent idea to check it...sure, but most people don't.

 

Quad, so you'd see an incremental additional .5-1.0 hours in both directions to the job of replacing the head gasket?

 

Roughly 30 min to pull and 30 to install, assuming working in a brisk but methodical way, torquing everything, etc. Its not a huge issue. The valve clearance job is a way bigger pain.

 

Quad, is the valve adjustment a job for an experienced shadetree mechanic with the manual, or is fiddly "gotta give it the right touch to work correctly" kind of job? Thanks.

 

Afternoon all

Problem now sorted and I have the car back. Firstly Xalty was bang on, dropped a valve seat in number 8 and marked the head but the piston and bore was fine.

The less said about the original supplying 'specialist' garage the better (they will NEVER see the car again while I own it) but a very well known and very highly regarded Jaguar E Type and Classic XK specialist (Winspeed) recommended the guy who looks after his modern XKs and so the car went to Barny Jones Ltd in Crondall/Farnham - they have been absolutely excellent they really have. Proper diagnosis, great comms and a thorough chat before repair and very reasonable costs. I had a new rad and hoses put on and changed the water pump while they had the car in. As for the head I had a new cylinder head put on plus a full oil change. They could find no evidence of warpage or overheating damage (I mentioned pulling the second head) and absolutely no evidence of cross contamination and are very confident the car will be fine.

I wish I'd found these guys earlier, excellent reviews on them and they know the XK inside out (and other Jags). I would recommend them to anyone in the UK who needs engine work on a Jag.