Hey guys, I'm currently in the middle of basically a complete top end overhaul on my '00 XJR. Long story short, I dropped one valve seat on one of cyl 8's intake valves, so I've got the motor torn down and the heads off. I will be posting a complete walkthrough with pics of the entire procedure w/ pics in the next few days since there aren't many guides I've found for these jags on the forums. I figure I might as well make a contribution since this forum has been such a help to me.

So, two questions... First, I read in some post that there may be a company that offers a complete coolant hose kit for the XJRs but I cant seem to find it again despite my searching efforts. I'm mainly concerned with the coolant lines that run underneath the s/c. Seems like an absurd place to run COOLANT LINES of all things since they are known to wear out with time and replacing them involves a huge amount of labor. It would be my luck that I'd finish this huge projects and get 100 miles down the road just to blow a hard to reach coolant line. Can anyone point me in the direction of a source for a full coolant line kit?

Second, instead of completely rebuilding the head, I got a hold of a nice used unit from 2000 xj8. Obviously I need to plug the oil feed hole for the VVT unit since my XJR doesn't use it. What is the best way to plug this hole? I wondered about removing the plug from my original head and installing it in the VVT head, but it seems impossible to remove without destroying it. It also doesn't appear that there are threads in the VVT oil feed hole that I could thread a plug into. I was thinking of running an appropriately sized tap in the hole to thread it then installing a plug with some sealant on it. Also debated installing a helicoil to thread a plug in to. Anyone know of a good method for plugging this hole? Anything else I'm missing on swapping this VVT head on my XJR?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

I do not think you need to plug the hole.

 

Really? I've read about a couple people having low oil pressure warning lights at idle when they left that plug open I could be wrong though. You think it will be fine to leave open?

 

Your proposal to tap the hole and put in a set screw to plug it is harmless, and if it makes you feel more comfortable, why not?

 

The oil passage NEEDS to be plugged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a TSB for replacement heads that come with the plug INSTALLED.

When the heads are installed on a VVT engine, the plug needs to be REMOVED.

When a VVT head is installed on a supercharged engine, the plug needs to be INSTALLED if the head did not come AS NEW from the factory or is NOT from a supercharged engine.

A simple tapered pipe plug, tapped to fit the hole is all that is required.
You could use a pressed in type plug but it might be easier to drill/tap and plug the hole.

bob gauff

 

I stand corrected- Thanks Bob!