I have aquired a 99 Jagaur VDP. I am an avid Jaguar fan, british motors buff and many other autos. I have been working on cars and enjoying them since I could hold a wrench/spanner in my hand. I was delighted to get the opportunity to own a Jaguar finally, however it does come with its own baggage so to speak. This particular 99 Vanden Plas has 54K original miles and was well maintained all of its life. I know the previous owner my freinds mother, and she purchased it from a bank. The car was owned by the bank here in Tampa Florida from new and was driven by a bank exec. All maintainence was done on the vehicle. Unfortunately my friends mother experienced an unfortunate series of events. The car was taking in for work on the front timing chain covers and also was fitted with new hoses. Apparently something happened to the top hose and it came loose and the car lost most of its coolant. My freinds mother being up in years failed to notice warning signal and drove the car untill it failed to proceed any further. I have always loved this car and helped to care for the car for the three years and 1500 miles she owned it. So I was able to get the car from her for a tidy sum. I now have a lovely lawn ornament. I am currently looking for insight on what I can salvage on this engine and what other damage may have been done. Thanks to all for any help in this matter. Happy motoring to all.

 

1. Any coolant in engine oil?
2. Head gasket o.k. ???? ( not leaking?)
3. If so, replace Thermostat housing with an aluminum one, and replace thermostat
{not very expensive}
4. Replace water pump {original one had plastic vanes}
5. To add to your repairs: Check secondary chain tensioners since original tensioners are made of plastic and they fail at about the mileage you have on your 1999 regardless of any other problems.

This model has aluminum engine in it. Perhaps much damage was not done to it.
Good luck!

burza 1998 VDP

 

If you're up for it, it'll be a top end strip down at the least. Heads away to check they're still flat and true, if not, skimming them may be required. While there, valve seats need checking, and valves need checking for compression.
Once you've done the heads, its a case of fitting them back with new gaskets, in fact a new top end gasket set is the way to go, replace all.
Then go thru what Burza suggested, a good list that will take care of the issues these early engines had.
I'd be looking out for a scrap engine, maybe a nikasil, for melted, burnt parts to use if cheap enough, 3.2/4.0 bits can interchange, of the stuff you mentioned damaged.
Good luck.

 

I am not aware of any coolant in the oil, however I know that there is coolant in the cylinders and I did a compression test and got very low numbers. Did not even bother with a leakdown test at that point. The intake manifold is slightly melted where it met the head and the knock sensors on the top of the motor where so hot they started to run. I am sure the head gasket is at least gone but will not know much more till I can get the heads off of it. I have well versed myself on the tensioners and am definitely planning on all new there, plus all new cooling system parts. Can these heads be shaved down since they have the cams running on them? I thought that if they were warped that I would be out of luck re-using them. Thanks for all the suggestions, expertise.

 

I'm assuming the timing chain tensioners work, this would take up any slack after a couple of thou off the head..... there're workable margins for all engines, beyond them its scrap. I would skim a head if a head gasket can't seal it, but not when it rocks about on the block. It'd someone better advised than me on those margins. I'll ask someone who may know this week and let you know.

 

Very true, I will just have to go ahead and get the heads off and get them to my machine shop. I am sure I can find the specs for the tolerance or they may be able to get ahold of them. If I could salvage the big bits on this motor that would be great. Then I am just left with sourcing a couple items that I will not be able to buy new, like the intake plenum which is slightly melted. Btw if you would like to see how far I have gotten it pulled apart you can take a look at my garage. I have photos of the car and the engine as it sits now.

 

Jeff, Nice pictures. That is a beautiful car - looks a lot like mine. It looks like you are well on your way. If you take the heads to a good machine shop they can do wonders. You might only need a couple of new valves and a skim. After you get it all back together with metal tensioners, metal vaned water pump, new thermostat, maybe metal thermostat housing, gaskets and plugs, you'll have a heck of a car. It might be a little tricky getting the cams timed right, but if you put it at TDC and mark everything before you take them out it might work. I haven't messed with the VVT, but I believe I read somewhere that they need to be fully retarded when re-installing.

 

Thanks Jimmy, yeah this car has been a lawn ornament too long at my place I am hoping to get it going soon. Thanks for your insight, I am feeling much more confident about pulling it apart and getting it going again.