I had a blown head gasket so I decided to replace both head gaskets and replace all the tensioners and related components while I was in the process. I may even upgrade to the twin screw supercharger while in the process.

Question 1) I was thinking I should line the crank up to TDC (or wherever the crankshaft positioning pin JD216 positions it) before removing the camshafts, and somehow marking the cams and their position before removing them (in relation to the crankshaft position with the JD216 in). But, then I read a post by Sean B concerning camshaft timing here: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...rebuild-55618/ Now I am wondering whether I should just pull it all apart (the cams etc...) and just follow the timing procedure after the fact (when I am putting it all back together). Does anyone have an opinion on which way I should go?

Question 2) Where can I get all the special tools (JD 216, JD 216, JD 217, JD 218) and at a reasonable price? $45 for a small plug seems a bit steep to me.

Question 3) Does anyone have drawings or dimensions of these tools that they would be willing to share? I was thinking I could just mill them, or manufacture them myself;

Question 4) I was thinking I might as well rebuild the heads while I have them off. Are there any particularly good resources discussing that topic available that someone could point me to?

Thank you in advance for any assistance.

 

Definitely use the timing tools, pistons are about half way up and in theory you can not cause damage
I did drawings of all the tools and someone put dimensions to them (sorry I forgot who), shoul be in the FAQ section as a PDF

As a side note use 4.2 gaskets, much better

 

I can't seem to find any post concerning special tools or drawings of the tools in the XK8/XKR FAQ area, could it be somewhere else? I've done keyword searches as well and can't find it. HELP??

Also, I intend on using the special tools when I go to put the engine back together, but my question is "do I need to worry about crank position, or marking cams, before I tear the engine down, or can I just rely on the procedure (the cam timing procedure I posted the reference to) at the time of reassembly?

Again, thanks.

 

You are going to have the front of the engine off with the heads. Consider doing the primary tensions and guides at the same time. At that point I would strongly recommend that you follow the complete alignment with proper tools in hand. Note that there is some confusion in the alignment of the chains on the crankshaft sprockets. That is specifically discussed in one or more of the FAQ posts.

I know that there dimensions posted somewhere, I have seen them, but they may not be on this forum.

 

Absolutely, I have all the new parts for all the tensioners etc... In already bought a head gasket set, but for the 4.0 L engine. When looking at the 4.2 L head gasket online it refers to the Cometic gasket, is that the one everyone is suggesting? If not, can anyone point me to an example of the correct one?

My initial question is still pending, is it okay for me to pull it all apart without aligning the crank into a specific position FIRST, or will it matter (I am leaning toward it doesn't matter at this point).

 

With the correct tools in hand the engine will go back as the factory intended. For you own sanity and comfort feel free to mark where they were. Where they were may not necessarily be where they should be.

There is nothing wrong with the FelPro Lincoln gasket set except that they figured out that they were selling more to Jaguar owners than Lincoln owners and raised the price.

 

Oops . . .

You have a '99 supercharged. . . which has the AJ26 engine. Forget all references to Lincoln and 4.2 and buy a Jaguar set of gaskets for about twice the price.

Adding your vehicle info in your signature makes life a lot easier.

 

bluexk8ragtop's thread has a lot of information you will find useful. He bought his car and found it in pieces. A long read but very informative.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...project-77642/

 

I thought the "garage" feature did that. I added them to my signature. I am actually working on the 2000 XKR. So, does that change your answer regarding the head gasket?

With regard to the tool dimensions, I found a post you made (test point) that had a link to a post on Jag-Lovers which included a image with dimensions for the cam holder tool and the chain tensioner. https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...lacment-66531/ I assume those are the dimensions everyone is referring to as its the only one I can find.

 

You could contact NBCat and see if his offer still stands.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/g...20/#post471930

 

Use 4.2 gaskets for the heads only.... What I do is buy the headset for the 4.0 and then the 4.2 head gaskets separate and sell the 4.0 head gaskets on eBay.

I have done quite a few 4.0 heads but as of yet never hand to do a 4.2

You can pull the engine part in any position just put it back together with the correct tools and everything will align as it needs to be

 

Sorry for all the confusion, your initial post indicated that you had a '99 and then later a supercharged.

'99 R was a 'AJ 26 engine, '00 a 'AJ 27.

AJ27 can use the Lincoln gasket set.

This is not rocket surgery. Once you get all the correct parts it is just an engine.

 

I think you mentioned that the difference is the 4.2L gasket is a steel shim gasket in another thread. Do you use the same torque values for the head bolts? Or do you use the 4.2L torque values ... presuming that they are different.

 

The torque values are actually the same with the tty bolts.

Make sure you use the MLS type (Multi-layer steel, i.e. from cometic or the oem jaguar 4.2), and not the old thicker 4.0 composite ones. The later 4.0 engines (iirc from 2001 or so) already have the MLS type. These MLS ones are a little thinner and will increase the compression, but only slightly.

 

Does anybody bother with retorquing? The bolts seem to be inaccessible without cam removal which is a real pain.

 

No need to, they are not torqued as such but work on angles, first torq to 35 then 90 degrees then another 90 degrees in a particular order

 

They don't benefit from a maintenance type retorque then?

I don't mean 24 hours later, but annually or so. It was a must on the Toyota 7M-GTE if it was run hard.

 

Nope once done it is done and like has been mentioned the head bolts sit under the cams which would require there removal...... A lot of hassle

 

+1, considering the extreme pressure above stock I have, can vouch for it.