We follow the removal of the front subframe and sump on the XK engine in aMk1
VERY OFTEN car maintenance jobs require several hours spent removing parts to be able to assess aproblem and replace components if necessary. This is certainly the case on the XK engine of the Jaguar Mk1 seen here, which along with similar saloons including the Mk2, Daimler V8, S-Type and 420, requires the front subframe assembly to be dropped in order to remove the sump –something which isinturn required to check or replace the oil pump for instance.
The Mk1 shown here arrived at Ken Jenkins’ workshop with aworrying rumble from the engine. Ken suspected the timing chain may need replacing, but also wanted to inspect the crankshaft bearings and oil pump. Consequently, not only did the sump need to be removed to assess those crankshaft bearings and oil pump, but the cylinder head had to be taken off to fully assess the timing chains (see last month).
The following steps reveal that removal of the front subframe assembly isn’t particularly difficult or time-consuming (providing nothing is seized), but it helps to have a four-post ramp and a substantial pair of tall axle stands to be able to raise the front of the vehicle and extract the assembly. Otherwise, it may still get in the way of accessing and removing the sump.
Typical of any job on acar of this age, more problems were discovered as we removed parts, in particular a subframe mount that needs replacing. Luckily, nothing arose that couldn’t be fixed.
1
We’ll be removing the sump, so the engine oil needs to be drained. After positioning adrain bowl underneath it, the 7/8” drain plug is undone and removed toallow the oil to be collected
2
With the vehicle on the four-post ramp, we raise and support the front and remove the front road wheels. There’s enough clearance to remove the front subframe, but notenough to haul it out of theway
3
A transmission jack is positioned under the subframe, the vehicle is raised and this time, asteel beam is positioned across the ramp with two axle stands under the front jacking points. Now we have the room
4
We’ll need to detach the brake pipes inside the front wheelarches, so it’s a good opportunity to refresh the brake fluid. Mike the mechanic extracts the fluid from the reservoir
5
He tries to detach the flexi-hose from the brake pipe inside each front wheel arch, but t
