Jaguar Repair: 4.2 or V12 engine rebuild, british car repair, duel overhead cam

Question
QUESTION: I am an industrial mechanic with some background in british car repair. I have a 2 thousand pound toolbox which includes telescoping gages, mics and indicators. I am very detailed oriented and patient.
If I obtain a good Bentley Manual, what are the chances I can manage a rebuild on a 4.2 or v-12 engine? I am looking for a restorable XKE to project on and prefer a running vehicle, but they are getting pricey.
I have heard that the timing chain install can be a bear on the 4.2.
Also, I have heard of problems with cracked blocks, are the chances high I will get one of these cracked blocks if I buy a non running 4.2?
thanks....gary

ANSWER: Hi Gary,
I have been a jaguar mechanic since 1960 and I never ran into a cracked block on a Jag. There could be some from someone not using antifreeze in the winter but I have not seen any. The only thing I can warn you about is on the 4.2. That engine runs the head studs all the way down to the bottom of the block on all except the front and rear studs and like some diesels has an electrolysis problem the eats the lower end of the studs down in the block.

I was factory trained on the 3.8, 4.2 and the V-12 and while it is true that the 3.8 and the 4.2 timing chains are somewhat a puzzle, the Bentley manual will make them manageable to most mechanics. The rest of the 6 cylinder engine is straight forward as any duel overhead cam engine and the parts are reasonable and available form Jaguar and many aftermarket suppliers. The V-12 is a single overhead cam engine but does have "Wet" sleeves so when you remove a head the cylinders will come loose.
You sound well equipped so with a manual you should not have much trouble.

Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the information Howard. So, I gotta ask, what is the cure for the electrolysed head studs?
...gary

Answer
Go to any truck or diesel parts supplier and ask for the additive to put in your radiator that stops Electrolysis. Also test your engine to frame and battery ground by doing a voltage drop test on the ground cables.
Even if the cables are good you still can have electrolysis due to the dissimilar metals in the engine.
Howard