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[PJinUK]

Hi all,,I need to change the head on my XJ.someone has told me that they are modular in four pieces and that it may be possible just to change the one "pot head".Anyone ever done this at all,,all comments welcome!!!
cheers

[tim_aka_tim]

Yes, the heads are one per pot.

www.vmdieselspecialist.co.uk

[Mike Pavelin]

There four aluminium cylinder heads, and depending if you are pre or post 1997 there will be either four individual head gaskets or a one piece gasket. The heads have a nasty habit of cracking, allowing combustion gases to pressurise the cooling system causing airlocks and overheating. They can be replaced individually but in my opinion, if one has gone, the others will soon follow, so if you intend keeping the car, change all four.
Replacement isn't rocket science but access is very limited in the manifold area and it can be a horrible knuckle skinning job to do yourself.

[Dave69]

the heads sor of self interlock so if it is a middle one you might have to take two off. talk to George the VM specialist as yopu might have a one piece head gasket rather than 4 individual ones. he will save you money with his advice.

been there done it

[PJinUK]

cheers guys,,,Iits the one closest to the bulkhead, furthest away from the radiator that i have a problem with.Dont laff  but I recently was "tinkering" and managed to damage the rocker arm studs and whilst tring to remove the studs I mullered the recess into which the studdscrews.Suffice to say the area around it has had it. I havnt had any gas or coolant issues so its not wuite the end of the engoine.I just need to put a new head in so that I can put my rocker assy back on. Hope that makes sense. I am not sure how or if it was possible just to change the one "Pot Head"

[Dave69]

you could change the one pot, but i haven't tried it so dont know the outcome or the affect on the No.3 pot as they share the same clamp bolts. just a wild idea if the rocker studs still have some thread have you tried to reinforce the thread with some titanium putty/ filler to save you some hassle

[Mike Pavelin]

What year is your Jeep?

[garyf]

If you have only damaged a stud hole why don't you just Helicoil it, save you a fortune but you only get one go so make sure you know what youre doing or get some advise, they are very successful though, I have never had any issues with them and I have you used loads of them

[daggie]

sounds like hes completely fucked it  

[PJinUK]

its a 99, and the one pot area is,,as just mentioned, fubared.Beyond repair.I think its a new head, new part of a head or a new jeep,,,!!!!

[Mike Pavelin]

In that case the whole lot has to come off as it has a one piece head gasket.

[PJinUK]

OK,,, wel,,its all of them then,Anyone got any recomendations for a mechanic local to me in Brum who can work on these, its a bit above my technical skills,,or lack of them...?
Wouls rather use someone with a Birty recomendation...
cheers

[PJinUK]

Well,,,got it fixed after several attempts.I had sheared a rocker stud from the cyclinder on the engine, and was going to have to scrap it due to cost of new cyclinder head.But after a chat with an engineer friend heres what I did.....might help anyone else with a similiar problem and save THOUSANDS!!!with the engine in situ,
I removed the rocker covers and blocked all the oil drain and fill channels with lint free cloth,The area with the damaged studs  was left exposed and visible.  I then took back to the cylinder head  CAREFULLY with a grinding tool attachment on my drill.That left a flat area. I then redrilled and tapped NEW rocker stud holes into the cylinder head (after careful measuring and calulating the sizes etc). I ordered two new rocker studs from JEEP (8 quid) and after using heat resistant epoxy as a loctite i secured them into the  freshly drilled and tapped holes.
 After leaving it to set I replaced the rocker cover and fired her up,,,BINGO.
Revved the nuts off her for about half an hour, 3000-3500 revs and then rechecked everything was still locked down and secure...it was.Did the same with a test drive and the the engine is running lovely.
So thats it, I am still stuck on one thing tho, can anyone tell me how to prime the fuel system using the filter and bowl assemble  by the engine mount.I seem to remember something about pumping  "til its stiff" or was that a film I was watching,,,,any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated guys and girls...
PJ

[Dave69]

i use titanium filler for any metal repairs i need, top stuff and can withstand the heat from an exhaust (repaired and exhaust stud bolt hole on my race bike)