Jaguar Repair: loud noise on exhaust side of head, aristocrat motors, shawnee ks

Question
'86 XJ6 - Is this a sign of not having a stakedown kit? Can you refer me to anyone in the Kansas City area that knows Jaguars? I have had no luck...

Answer
Hi Winston,
If it is a clicking noise it is possible that it needs the kit installed. I would not run the engine any at all until you either check it yourself or have it checked. It is not hard to check it. If you want to do it yourself, let me know and I will walk you through it.

I don't have any contacts in Kansas City but I would have thought that there is a Jag dealer there.
Google says this is a Jag dealer but you need to call first to see if it is a Jag dealership or just a used car lot that sells Jags.
Aristocrat Motors
9400 W 65th St
Shawnee, KS 66203
(913) 677-3300
My advise is to pull that side cover to see if it is needing a hold down kit or just loose valve clearance. Or both.
The sleeves are soft and if they are coming out to where the cam is cutting them away, sometimes they can be forced back into the head and just install the hold down kit without replacing them. If any are too far out and pieces broken off then the head will need to be removed and a machine shop will have to do the job. If the cam has just warn away edges I have on many occasions just heated the head area and drove them back in and installed a kit to keep them down. Sometimes the sleeve is damaged trying to drive it back in and the machine work is than still necessary. Some dealerships because of the liability will not even try to force them back in and will require the head removal and machine work, so keep that in mind. Do not let anyone talk you into just installing the kit without fully seating the sleeves.
Good luck, let me know how you do.
Howard