Depending on your plans for the car you could see having it all torn apart as an opportunity for porting, polishing, pulleys and all manner of power adding upgrades.

Glass half full and all that.

 

If you get zero compression on any cylinder, that would indicate bent valves. HOWEVER- I have purchased two XJ's and they both had a broken timing chain from bad tensioners.

Neither had bent valves. So there is hope. (and I GUARANTEE you the owners tried turning them over before I bought them.)

 

The cams are on the heads. Remove the heads before you do the chain tensioners. Good luck.

 

Ok, I am stuck. It's probably easy, but I cannot get the harmonic balancer off. I have a puller, 24 mm nut removal was easy. But the looking at the pulley, there are two of them, and I don't know if I have to remove the front pulley or if it's one pulley. The wholes in it are not threaded, so I am guessing the one comes off and under it is where the puller plugs into. ,anyone?

 

Ok, had a little problem with the harmonic balancer, but back on track.

He chain on the right side of the motor kinda flaps around. You can tell the guides are toast. This is also the side of the engine I suspect problems. So...domI replace all do the guides? The chain?

 

Can you post closeup pictures of the upper (secondary) and lower (primary) temsioners? All I can see from the photo so far is that you have the old plastic style secondary tensioners.

 

The chain is so loose, there is a gap between the guide rail and chain. This is the right side, where I suspect damage to the head.

 

It's the old style, right side, nothing looks bad.

 

Left side looks fine.

 

 

Are these any better? Hard to take them in that space.

 

You should check static timing at this point. I believe the procedure would be in JTIS, and to do properly would involve the crankshaft locking tool underneath the car, and the cam hold down tools on top. If everything lines up, then it would be safe to do a compression test. If that passes, install new guides and tensioners, follow Gus' instructions for a cyl wash start-up and cross your fingers!

 

I am at fork in the road. My timeframe for this project has suddenly changed. The guides on the right side of the engine are shot. But I need to know how much damage has occurred to the engine. Can I do a leak down test without tackling the guides right now? Due to job, getting relocated. Car will not be moved by company unless running. So I have about 40'days to get my arms wrapped around this. Want to know if I can get this done in time or if I have it done, know how much to plan on paying out.

 

Just turn the crank to the point that all valves are up and do the leak down test. That will tell the tale.