She only went in for some screen wash
Discussion
After the rebuild and change to manual, the XJ's been running well, rather sweetly in fact. It hasn't been serviced in 4 years, yes its had some things attended to, but other then topping the fluids, which we know is a regular occurrence, the V12 hasn't really cost that much to maintain, or at least that's what I keep telling myself.
So thought I'd get a full "intensive" service done, oh and the low AJ6 engineering exhaust looked at, and the ride looked at as well. So nothing major..... surely what could go wrong??
Then I get a phone call...... best come over and have a look.
Was shown a perfect looking near side front chassis rail, now look at the drivers side... obviously the photo shows it stripped back but with the panel in place the bulge and deformation was fairly evident.
Seems as if at some time it had some rot but only a plate was welded over.... neither me nor its previous custodian can recall any work of that nature being carried out. So that's being attended too.
Obviously the front subframe was removed
and stripped, with all components blasted
so all suspension is being repainted, with all original OEM bushes, sending the dampers back to GAZ for a rebuild (only £30 each!) as one front and 2 rears were leaking quite badly, new Jaguar Sport pack springs on route, front and rear (matched set). I have resisted the urge to go for the larger 1" anti roll bar, but if its wobbles too much its an easy enough swap.
I was never happy with the ride, and the state of the bushes showed why, nearly every bush was f...d, the front springs were different sizes and the rears had compressed quite badly, add the leaking dampers. Hoping this all does the trick without going to B6's...
Also the packers in the front springs were different (!)
So all going back to original factory mostly to dial in back some of the legendary ride without, hopefully losing its stance.
Have also stripped and rebuilt the brakes courtesy of BIG RED, which was a very satisfying job, 2 of the pistons were seized, so I cant wait to see how it stops now, new set of Yellow Stiff EBC's on route, Crossed drilled EBC disks barely worn.
We now will refit the original down pipes just to add a little more refinement and remove the AJ6 down pipes which sit too low... new stainless intermediate pipes making up the distance courtesy of Simply Performance. One of the over axle brackets was missing so that's being fixed and would've contributed to the low hanging exhaust.
Still a bit to do hence News Day to Brooklands is off the cards, but should have it back mid to end January.
Will keep you boys posted.
Happy Christmas!
So thought I'd get a full "intensive" service done, oh and the low AJ6 engineering exhaust looked at, and the ride looked at as well. So nothing major..... surely what could go wrong??
Then I get a phone call...... best come over and have a look.
Was shown a perfect looking near side front chassis rail, now look at the drivers side... obviously the photo shows it stripped back but with the panel in place the bulge and deformation was fairly evident.
Seems as if at some time it had some rot but only a plate was welded over.... neither me nor its previous custodian can recall any work of that nature being carried out. So that's being attended too.
Obviously the front subframe was removed
and stripped, with all components blasted
so all suspension is being repainted, with all original OEM bushes, sending the dampers back to GAZ for a rebuild (only £30 each!) as one front and 2 rears were leaking quite badly, new Jaguar Sport pack springs on route, front and rear (matched set). I have resisted the urge to go for the larger 1" anti roll bar, but if its wobbles too much its an easy enough swap.
I was never happy with the ride, and the state of the bushes showed why, nearly every bush was f...d, the front springs were different sizes and the rears had compressed quite badly, add the leaking dampers. Hoping this all does the trick without going to B6's...
Also the packers in the front springs were different (!)
So all going back to original factory mostly to dial in back some of the legendary ride without, hopefully losing its stance.
Have also stripped and rebuilt the brakes courtesy of BIG RED, which was a very satisfying job, 2 of the pistons were seized, so I cant wait to see how it stops now, new set of Yellow Stiff EBC's on route, Crossed drilled EBC disks barely worn.
We now will refit the original down pipes just to add a little more refinement and remove the AJ6 down pipes which sit too low... new stainless intermediate pipes making up the distance courtesy of Simply Performance. One of the over axle brackets was missing so that's being fixed and would've contributed to the low hanging exhaust.
Still a bit to do hence News Day to Brooklands is off the cards, but should have it back mid to end January.
Will keep you boys posted.
Happy Christmas!
t. These old cars are worth taking care of.Just fitted new wishbone bushes, standard Jaguar. Only fitting poly bush on the small bush trailing arm, that will have no significance on ride but will sure up the rear cage when going side ways! Have rotated the large bush 90 degrees as well...
Have also painted the dampers that were refurbished by GAZ.
Have also painted the dampers that were refurbished by GAZ.
At least the chassis leg is still kind of there 
when I took my XJ coupe to bare metal the passenger side chassis rail was pretty much non-existent 
and someone had put metal bars in the sills to "strengthen them" i guess and they had rotted the sills from the inside out!
Always nightmare Jaguars of this kind of age when it comes to the structure. Once you can see rust on the surface its really bad. Well done for getting it sorted.
when I took my XJ coupe to bare metal the passenger side chassis rail was pretty much non-existent and someone had put metal bars in the sills to "strengthen them" i guess and they had rotted the sills from the inside out! Always nightmare Jaguars of this kind of age when it comes to the structure. Once you can see rust on the surface its really bad. Well done for getting it sorted.
Its funny you say passenger side, as general consensus it always seems to be the drivers side that goes, Harry's XJC had the same. My mechanic showed me the passenger side and said "looks fresh out of the factory" then showed me the drivers side...... despite this car being owned by my dad, my brother in law and now me, we cant recall when the plate was fitted... no paper work for it either!
Thankfully its a lot more intact then the initial photos, steel sections have been fabricated and will be welded in place this week. It did have its benefits though, allowing the removal and restoration/refurbishment of the front subframe and all of the suspension components. Front & Rear. OK so the wallet has and will continue to take a hammering but its one job that was never ever done. Got new H&R fast road springs from Simply Performance and all bushes to Jag spec. Just need to decide on how many packers to fit as she was always a low rider.... Hope to have it back some time end of the month.
Thankfully its a lot more intact then the initial photos, steel sections have been fabricated and will be welded in place this week. It did have its benefits though, allowing the removal and restoration/refurbishment of the front subframe and all of the suspension components. Front & Rear. OK so the wallet has and will continue to take a hammering but its one job that was never ever done. Got new H&R fast road springs from Simply Performance and all bushes to Jag spec. Just need to decide on how many packers to fit as she was always a low rider.... Hope to have it back some time end of the month.
Edited by V12 Migaloo on Monday 12th January 09:06
Edited by V12 Migaloo on Monday 12th January 09:07
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