XK 4.2 tapetty engine...where to get it adjusted? HP15
Discussion
Hi all.
I am very close to buying a S1 XJ6 (pics etc to follow if it goes through). The car is great except for a few niggley issues including a slight blow between the manifold/front down-pipe and a ticking/tappety engine.
I was wondering if anyone knew of a good specialist in the South Bucks/High Wycombe area who could have a look at it for me? I was hoping they could also tune/balance the carbs and maybe look at a couple of other minor issues. I'm sure the garage I take my other classics too would do a good job but I wondered if there was anyone who really knew these engines.
I was reading how to do the tappets myself (I do them on other cars) but when it said 'remove the camshafts' I stopped. That's not happening and besides I'd really appreciate an expert checking it over.
Thanks in advance for the advice.
I am very close to buying a S1 XJ6 (pics etc to follow if it goes through). The car is great except for a few niggley issues including a slight blow between the manifold/front down-pipe and a ticking/tappety engine.
I was wondering if anyone knew of a good specialist in the South Bucks/High Wycombe area who could have a look at it for me? I was hoping they could also tune/balance the carbs and maybe look at a couple of other minor issues. I'm sure the garage I take my other classics too would do a good job but I wondered if there was anyone who really knew these engines.
I was reading how to do the tappets myself (I do them on other cars) but when it said 'remove the camshafts' I stopped. That's not happening and besides I'd really appreciate an expert checking it over.
Thanks in advance for the advice.
XK engines are dead easy to do. You need the tool for de and re adjusting the top timing chain and the setting tool for the cams. Both very cheap.
I am curious about it being "tappety" as the clearances usually close up in service. I would suspect that the tappet guides are looose. This is cureable - a special kit is available. Does it get louder as the car warms up? You will need to tread carefully on this one!
Is it actually a tapping noise?
PM if you need any help. Been doing these engines off and on for 30+ years!
I am curious about it being "tappety" as the clearances usually close up in service. I would suspect that the tappet guides are looose. This is cureable - a special kit is available. Does it get louder as the car warms up? You will need to tread carefully on this one!
Is it actually a tapping noise?
PM if you need any help. Been doing these engines off and on for 30+ years!
Thanks for the answer.
Well, definitely sounds tappety to me, it's a ticking noise that is more noticeable when the car is off choke (the car has a manual choke conversion) and more noticeable when cold. It's just a bit noisy really, more then I'm used to with these engines. I hope it is just the tappets!
ETA: Sounds like this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQCpsMGjudw
Well, definitely sounds tappety to me, it's a ticking noise that is more noticeable when the car is off choke (the car has a manual choke conversion) and more noticeable when cold. It's just a bit noisy really, more then I'm used to with these engines. I hope it is just the tappets!
ETA: Sounds like this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQCpsMGjudw
Edited by varsas on Monday 6th May 17:26
Ouch, sounds like cam follower guides lifted. The noise could be the camshaft lobes hitting the guides. It's reasonably easily remedied but not for the faint hearted. The one thing you need to be wary of is if it is the guides, is the cause is normally overheating which can cause some serious problems elsewhere.
Thanks.
Any ideas on the cost? Are we talking £200, £2,000? £20,000? Realistic worst case scenario. No signs of overheating, the water temp gauge (when working) was showing below half way.
If it helps, the engine seems to run fine; perhaps not the most powerful I've driven but not bad either, no funny noises when it revs...perhaps a bit rough on idle.
Any ideas on the cost? Are we talking £200, £2,000? £20,000? Realistic worst case scenario. No signs of overheating, the water temp gauge (when working) was showing below half way.
If it helps, the engine seems to run fine; perhaps not the most powerful I've driven but not bad either, no funny noises when it revs...perhaps a bit rough on idle.
These engines are great to play with, at least I thought so when I changed the head on a 4.2 XJC I used to have for one from a series III for the larger exhaust valves.
The one thing I was most nervous about was sorting out the timing etc... for the new head and camshafts, but the little timing adjust plate sorts all that.
Setting the tappets was easy, just a case of finding the right size shim and rubbing it down to the right size to get the clearance. I also remember fitting a valve fixing kit whilst I was in there.
None of this can be that difficult, not if I managed it.
If you're gonna get a garage to do it properly I would budget a couple of days labour, the parts for all this are comparative peanuts unless there's issues once they get in there.
The one thing I was most nervous about was sorting out the timing etc... for the new head and camshafts, but the little timing adjust plate sorts all that.
Setting the tappets was easy, just a case of finding the right size shim and rubbing it down to the right size to get the clearance. I also remember fitting a valve fixing kit whilst I was in there.
None of this can be that difficult, not if I managed it.
If you're gonna get a garage to do it properly I would budget a couple of days labour, the parts for all this are comparative peanuts unless there's issues once they get in there.
The kit for both sides is about £80 + fitting. This will hold the loose guides down until such times they can be properly.
To do it properly costs about £600 just to fit new guides. On top of that is overhauling the head, gaskets and labour. So all in all around £2500+vat I would think. The repair kits will be ok for a while if you aren't doing loads of miles - but very temporary.
You also could have the complication of the head being stuck to the studs on the block, broken studs etc.
Maybe you could get it done by "Top Tip" Ed China on Wheeler Dealers where all jobs go so well without complications!
To do it properly costs about £600 just to fit new guides. On top of that is overhauling the head, gaskets and labour. So all in all around £2500+vat I would think. The repair kits will be ok for a while if you aren't doing loads of miles - but very temporary.
You also could have the complication of the head being stuck to the studs on the block, broken studs etc.
Maybe you could get it done by "Top Tip" Ed China on Wheeler Dealers where all jobs go so well without complications!
If the water temp is not reaching 90 deg,is the 'stat stuck open.. ? You want a stat that opens around 88 deg, hth.
I had the scenario with valves, head etc that cost £1300 at the main agents twenty years ago in my 4.2 Series Three. I would avoid any XK motor that ticks or rattles in any way, the bill had that effect on me !
Paul
I had the scenario with valves, head etc that cost £1300 at the main agents twenty years ago in my 4.2 Series Three. I would avoid any XK motor that ticks or rattles in any way, the bill had that effect on me !
Paul
If you can't do these jobs yourself then expect fairly sizable bills. One of the cheapest and best places for recon Jaguar engines and sundries is VSE http://www.vse-engines.com/
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