I decided to fit the aluminium thermostat tower to my 97 X100 but I'm having a few problems!
First, the rear screws that hold the tower to the engine are, to say the least, difficult to get any spanner on and after some gazing at my PC for a while (mostly on here) it looks like either the inlet manifold would need to be lifted or I just smash the plastic tower to bits and refit the new one using shorter screws with allen heads.
Got over the first bit by destroying the old plastic tower and I have the allen screws. I haven't lifted the inlet manifold. I had to dremel the headoff one of the scews to finally release the bottom of the old tower.
I've now got another problem where upon offering the new tower to the engine, the screw holes on the engine don't line up with the flange of the tower by about 4mm. The tower is contacting the front of the inlet manifold.
My question is, if I undo the inlet manifold, will it move back enough to enable me to get the screws into where they need to be?

 

It could be something to do with the shape of the manifold so lifting it might solve it. Can you piece together the plastic manifold and compare the spacing or measure the spacing directly?

Richard

 

Thanks for the swift reply Richard. The old plastic manifold has been completely trashed I'm afraid in the atempt to get at the rear screws. I was able to undo them while the plastic tower was in one bit but the screws were too long to get out. They actually toutched the underside of the inlet manifold before they could be completely unscrewed.
I was hoping not to undo the inlet manifold but it looks like I may have to. The new tower has locating pegs so I can't get any movement with that. I'm just hoping that the inlet manifold doesn't have locating dowels.

 

There is no latitude in the manifold location, I'm afraid:- there are 8 bolts on each side clamping it to the cylinder heads. I don't recall any locating pegs/dowels on the aluminium tower I fitted, although I see some of the later designs do have.

It seems odd that it won't fit in place of the original, since it should have the same dimensions. I've just checked mine -there isn't much clearance between the back of the tower and the front of the intake, but enough, clearly.

I fitted shorter bolts at the rear on reassembly.

 

This one is so close I don't think the capwould clear the fuel crossover pipe which is about 16mm thick. I think I may just buy a dufferent kit from someone else. I've had this one laying about for a couple of years now. Its never been used so its still looking like new.

 

FWIW, this is mine. About 1/4" gap:

 

I've a feeling I may have one for a 4.2 and I have read that the 4L one won't fit the 4.2.
Personally, I've never seen under the hood of a 4.2 so in my mind I can't compare the two. There has to be a simple reason why this won't fit, after all, there are a lot of 4ltr XKs out there using these housings.

 

I think that the 4.2 tower is a completely different design to the 4.0 tower so the two cannot be mixed up.

Richard

 

Oh I see. Then this tower Ihave is just a poor design. When the next one is delivered I'll have a go at fitting it and let you know how I get on. Many thanks for all your help on this. Its been a learning curve!

 

The new tower arrived today and it was fitted with no problem. I did change the two rear screws with allen screws but really, its still a pain trying to do them up as there's very little room, but all done now.