Jaguar Repair: is my 1986 XJ6 worth saving??, head gasket, head gaskets

Question

86 xj6 in 2006 I bought 1986 XJ6 and have been slowly fixing it up. this car has been tough even drove it with no hood for a month or two before it got painted. everything was running smooth and then everything happened at once, brakes went out, transmission went out, which both got fixed but now the engine is dying. I have a dead cylinder #6, the head gasket is leaking. it stranded me twice it wouldn't turn over so i changed some fuses,the coil then the fuel pump. its running but i know not for long. I'm running out of money and now time. So my question is it worth saving? if so what steps or a checklist you'd recommend to go about to replace the head gaskets and other components while the heads are off.

Answer
Hi Frankie,

It depends on if you want the car and how bad. If you are doing it as an investment, you are probably wasting your time. If you want the car everything can be fixed. Even when you finish, it is a high maintenance car. I love the series III Jag, and have two of them. I don't know of any 25 year old car that is maintenance free car. I will say that you should not have this car as an ONLY car.

I can guide you if you want the car and want to fix it. Don't attempt to remove the head without a good service manual. I can help fill in the empty spots in a service manual except the automatic transmission and the heat/AC system.

There is only one head and one head gasket and get the manual first as it is dangerous to the engine to try to take the head off without the procedure in front of you. After reading that section in the manual contact me and I will add my two cents.

Howard