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OK, I know this is being real [picky|OCD], but I'm looking all over, and know that it has to have existed somewhere in Jag parts books somewhere...
let me 'splain...
On the front end of the chrome drip rail trim where it meets the fender/scuttle, there is, on both the near and offside, a black rubber finisher piece that helps clean up the transition from the drip rail to the rest of the car.
Mine, after close to 20 years, have deteriorated on both the XJR and XJ8.
Anyone have an idea what the part number is, and if they're still available?
OK, I know this is being real [picky|OCD], but I'm looking all over, and know that it has to have existed somewhere in Jag parts books somewhere...
let me 'splain...
On the front end of the chrome drip rail trim where it meets the fender/scuttle, there is, on both the near and offside, a black rubber finisher piece that helps clean up the transition from the drip rail to the rest of the car.
Mine, after close to 20 years, have deteriorated on both the XJR and XJ8.
Anyone have an idea what the part number is, and if they're still available?
As with virtually all parts I've asked for in the last couple of years, the local Jaguar dealer informed me that part was no longer available. Sorry I didn't take any step by step pictures of the process, but I made replacements a few years ago and it was quite easy. Maybe a couple hours work each. Basically, I put a big glob of epoxy putty on the end of each drip rail, roughly molded it to shape with my fingers and then after it set, sanded it down to a final shape and smoothness. Finally painted it with semi-flat black Krylon.
The kind of putty I used comes in a sort of log roll with part A in the center and part B on the outside. You cut off a hunk and knead it to mix the parts. Its sold in most hardware and home stores but what you have to look for is the working time. Most of those epoxy putties set hard in like five minutes. You need to look for a putty that gives you some working time, like 20-30 minutes at least. You don't want ordinary bondo because that stuff is kind of porous and won't last long in this application where its going to get wet.
Shaping is a bit of a trick because its very tacky. You'll need some tight-fitting neoprene gloves. While its still kinda of dough consistency, you can cut off the straight line across the top with a razor blade. Let it harden. Put several layers of tape on all the adjacent surfaces to protect and use files and sandpaper to bring it down to the final shape. Lastly, mask and paint.
It's not a concourse correct reproduction, but the average Joe can't tell the difference. And it sure beats the heck out of catching your wash mit on the sharp exposed metal end.
One of those fell off on our '93 several years ago and the only solution I could come up with was to purchase a salvaged chrome drip rail with that black plastic finisher still intact. I don't believe Jaguar ever sold that part separately - it was part of the drip rail assembly.
I took some GE black silicon and sealed the end of the drip rail then tried to carve it into the shape (the right side was intact, so I had an example). Looked crappy. Gave up, pulled the stuff off and said to hell with it. But I am not as OCD as Bryan.
Dealer couldn't find a part number -- even the complete drip rail was out of production.
Fool's Errand or does the part exist?
