I bought a 1970 XJ6 in 1984. I drove it for about two years before I threw the timing chain. It was towed home and I put it in my garage. I did pull the engine and start to rebuild it. I discovered the block was very corroded and the studs (long) were only a 1/2 their original diameter due to the corrosion. I also discovered a small crack along the top of the block.
The engine went back in the car and it sat for twenty years. I did strip the hood to bare metal at one point.
