It's difficult to be precise because I haven't changed the belt on a 4.2 X100.

On the 4.0 X100 there is loads of room at the front of the engine between the fan cowling and the top hose and it's obvious that nothing needs to be removed. The intake pipework runs around the back of the engine towards the bulkhead / firewall so is well out of the way.

The 4.2 X150 is much harder because of the intake pipework running across the top of the belt and there being less clearance between the coolant and secondary air injection hosing and the fan shroud. On the 4.2 X150 you have to remove the intake pipework and I also removed the oil filter to get more clearance from below. However, I did not need to remove any coolant hoses.

Richard

 

Here in what it looks like on both sides with small gap in middle. very hard to get to tensioner.

 

I removed the radiator fan assembly. That gave me enough working room to change the belt, and I have monster-sized hands....

 

on the 2005 xk8 you need to remove radiator hoses to remove the fans.

Jack

 

You've obviously got to remove the engine cover on all versions of these cars. Can you take another photo with the cover removed?

Richard

 

Yes, I will try to do that tomorrow

Jack

 

that’s what I did too. And that does require some maneuvering also to get it out, and those top bolts can be a bear to get to stay in place.

Cussing does seem to help a lot when working on these cars.

Z

 

It can make you exercise your alternate vocabulary.

 

Here is a photo taken last week, cover off and fans removed. I've already gone the route taking fan out with hoses on. almost impossible to do with breaking neck out of radiator. So hoses still have to go.

 

There's obviously plenty of room to remove the belt in the new photo but I appreciate that the fans have also been removed. Access is clearly a lot better than the X150, although that is one of the worst I've ever done.

Is the tensioner in your version of the 4.2 fitted in reverse so that the belt has to be slipped on from behind? The 4.0 is straightforward in that the belt just slips onto the tensioner from the front. The 4.2 in the X150 is much harder as the access is worse, the secondary air injection pipes are in the way and the tensioner is reversed.

Richard

 

Here is a photo on tensioner pulley. Not a problem to get belt on it.

 

Yep, that is a reversed tensioner, the same as on the 4.2 X150. It's easier without the secondary air pipes across the front but not as easy as the forward facing tensioner on the 4.0.

Richard

 

It seems that it was the Gates belt. The only difference in it and old belt was the new belt was about .015 wider and the grooves were very shallow in the new belt.

old belt on left new on right.
The parts places had other belts that fit but with shallow grooves. I did find one that looked like old one pictured here.

This worked perfect so far.
Time to eat a little Crow. I actually did put the belt on just removing the engine cover. It was a very tight squeeze.


All but impossible. would have been easier with another person to hold belt in place.

Jack