So like the title says I purchased an 89 xjs with one bank needing a head gasket. I need to decide what I’m giving to do with this car. I may part it out as I have another 89 xjs and can use a few parts and probably do pretty well on parting it.

has anyone done a head gasket with the engine in the car ? Or is it just not advisable better to just pull the motor and do the gaskets ?

this car is very solid not any rust issues which makes it difficult to decide. I could also do some kind of swap of coarse but I’m not very keen on that idea. I also thought about stripping her down and making a track day driver car but would want to make it a manual trans which apparently isn’t cheap no matter how you go about it.

when I do see swaps they always seem to be Chevy v8 s with auto trannys. Is would seem possibly to do a v8 with a manual for relatively the same cost and effort but I am probably wrong about that.

 

First, are you 100% sure that is is a head gasket failure?
Second, head off engine in car would be far more difficult than pulling out the engine, and once out all sorts of other things can be easily sorted, improved fixed, etc.
If you do not need the car, parting it out is always a good idea; and increasingly parts are harder to get, it helps people; also it makes a store of useful parts for your other car.

 

Well never 100% on anything to do with car purchases but the seller claimed the car had white smoke coming out heavily on the right side. He seems pretty familiar with xjs s but he is a v8 swap kind of guy. He started disassembling the engine intake is off and some other pieces. Everything is there I suppose I could reassemble and get it running see what I have. I may be snake to just pull plugs and look for coolant in the cylinders as well.
Anyway I do believe it probably needs a head gasket not uncommon in them.

seems like a lot of work to pull the engine to me. I agree it may seem like the better way to go but the again maybe not. I would like to hear from someone that has pulled the heads in the car.

 

White smoke is far more likely to be a failed injector loom holding the injectors open. I would do a compression test pronto. I think you are in for a nice surprise!

 

I will do You never know. The seller was familiar with these cars though. Still who knows for all I know he never engine stated the car. People say all kinds of things when they are selling.

 

OR

On the A Bank side, a failed Trans Vac modulator, they will lay a smoke screen of WHITE.

Since you are 1989, no vac brake booster, but they also can lay a white smoke as they suck fluid from the master cylinder.

Head gasket failure in the real world, taking out OVERHEATING, could be counted on one hand for me.

Comp test YES, also look inside that Inlet manifold, it will have oil residue aplenty if that trans modulator is failed, as will the small vac hose behind the heatshield.

 

I had a dropped valve in my 91. Pulled the head w/o much trouble (need to make the tool) in situ. Had the head machined, and also the tappet block (both sides). Had to readjust the valves. Not too bad overall.

 

By saying make the tool do you mean the big metal plate that is see around that bolts to the head studs ?

 

Just in case you would like to keep it all Jaguar. I have a 89 XJS, I bought for (parts) the wiring under the dash, to replace what was burned in my 89" I have no need of the V12 and the Trans. I have had listed it on Craigslist in the Chicago area, as I have a son that lives 60 Miles south of Chicago, just outside of Kankakee. So I could arrange to bring it to Chicago, and get to see my son, at the same time. A win win so to say. If you're interested let me know. It was a running driving car when I got it. And it's still all together. Maybe I can help you out. 870-349-4417

Jack

 

I have decided to part either car out. It’s really just not nice enough to repair and I need some things off of it myself.

If anyone needs parts let me know.

PM me

 

thanks jack but I am going to part the car out. Let me know if you need anything.

 

Since I have 2 Jags. The only thing I'm missing is the DS (left) front fender chrome. The other 3 are there, and in good shape. I just can't seem to get that one. LOL! Give me a Price / Shipping if you could please. I'm at zip 72473.

Thanks Jack

 

jack I have that piece I will send you a pm

 

Cool I would sure appreciate it. Thanks

Jack