I noticed on closer examination that the front of my engine is dirty with oil or some other fluid. It does not leak today, but I'd like to clean it up and examine things. Maybe cam cover gaskets leaked in the past?
I plan to remove the hood (make access easier), front bumper valence and cooling fans module. To do so I'll need to drain the cooling system and remove the radiator hoses (probably a good thing to check on anyway). I'd rather not remove the radiator because I don't want to disturb the transmission cooler lines. I'll be removing the coolant expansion tank and examining the hoses in back of the engine and under the intake manifold as well.
If I remove the throttle body and intake manifold, are those gaskets generally reusable? Or, do Lincoln LS gaskets fit?
Any trick to refilling and bleeding the cooling system upon reassembly?

 

The TB gasket is supposed to be single use, I have mine off at the moment for access to the heater pump. I don't think they are too expensive to replace.

 

Almost all of the gaskets are intended to be single use but often can be reused if they come off cleanly. There is a tendency with age for them to stick to one surface or the other and be damaged while taking things apart, so close inspection is important.

As Race said, most gaskets are not too expensive, even from Jaguar, but I don't believe that many (possibly none) of the Lincoln gaskets will work for your 4.2L. The Lincoln engine is derived from the earlier 4.0L.

 

I would spring for all new gaskets. If I go to the time and effort to effect repairs, I don't want a second-use gasket to be the cause of me having to go back in there and do it all over again....

That philosophy applies to all of our vehicles, not just the XK8....

 

Good point Charlie .... even Jaguar changed the intake manifold gasket three times. Making a shopping list for gaskets and seals now.
Another question ... the shop manual shows five clamp types, but doesn't describe the proper method for removal. The spring clamp is obvious, and I have special pliers for those. But how does the cobra clamp work? And do the others have a sliding sleeve or do you squeeze something?

 

There is a special tool for the cobra style although it can be done with pliers. Essentially there is a small hook stamped into the metal and you squeeze the outside two ridges until it unlatches.

#2 you know.

The others are variations on the o-ring seal types. Push to connect, squeeze the sides to release and pull apart similar to the electrical connectors.