Help with XJR 8 4 litre Head Gasket

Help with XJR 8 4 litre Head Gasket

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Ash M400

Original Poster:

3,836 posts

242 months

Thursday 26th April 2007
quotequote all
My mates Jag, XJR 8 4 litre supercharged head gasket has gone.

Apparently this requires a special tool to fix it.

Anyone out there can advise on a company in the Leeds area that can do the job?

Appleyards is a no go as they can't afford it.

And yes, they should not have it if they can't afford it, hindsight eh?

Thanks in advance.

P700DEE

1,114 posts

231 months

Thursday 26th April 2007
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JEC offer a tool hire for members. THe lowest cost would be join them, borrow tool and fix yourself ?

carsie

925 posts

205 months

Thursday 26th April 2007
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Sorry to hear your news. I had a head gasket blow recently XJ8 4.0ltr, my local garage did the job I wouldn't say I was enamoured about them doing it especially as I saw the condition of the workshop but credit where's its due the car's back and its perfect.

As far as I am aware there are no specialist tools, naturally have both heads done at the same time; I know the engineering shop where my heads went and thats what gave me the confidence because then its just a straightforward strip rebuild of components.

I guess the real issue is what caused the failure, age? thermostat? a common problem or a porous inlet manifold?

Total cost £1100 inc vat @ £40 hr labour inc parts

Ash M400

Original Poster:

3,836 posts

242 months

Thursday 26th April 2007
quotequote all
carsie said:

Sorry to hear your news. I had a head gasket blow recently XJ8 4.0ltr, my local garage did the job I wouldn't say I was enamoured about them doing it especially as I saw the condition of the workshop but credit where's its due the car's back and its perfect.

As far as I am aware there are no specialist tools, naturally have both heads done at the same time; I know the engineering shop where my heads went and thats what gave me the confidence because then its just a straightforward strip rebuild of components.

I guess the real issue is what caused the failure, age? thermostat? a common problem or a porous inlet manifold?

Total cost £1100 inc vat @ £40 hr labour inc parts


I think the problem is the supercharger, no one wants to touch it.

Thanks for your reply, could you let me have details of the garage and I can approach them on their behalf.

carsie

925 posts

205 months

Monday 30th April 2007
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Sorry for the delay in responding was with the PH's at the Mosler factory!

Re. The head problem; I really don't see that theres anything particularly to be afraid of here frankly i'd rather change Jag heads than say a K series. The Supercharger again should present no problems, its only a pressuriser sitting onto of standard heads albeit with different valve sizes (??)

Look for a good IMT (Indpendent Motor trader) I suggest using a Unipart Service Centre, ask who the machine shop will be that the're using (remember if its a head gasket then its worthwhile truing the head with a slight skim and if you're doing that then the valves needs to come out and whilst you're about it......you get the drift! Thats where the cost lies , it's as much in the preventative and precautionary as the actual job itself. It's just not worth the labour hours to strip a top end only to have it back in the workshop a few days later.

Conclusion- flex your credit card, you need £1200, find a quality IMT, pay circa £40hr and check out who the machine shop is. Drop me an e-mail and I'll happily chat to you.