I have been in the process of refreshing stuff in the rear.

New shocks, new wheel bearings, new u-joints, cleaned up the A-frame and that is getting new bushings. While I am at it, change the diff fluid, doing the brakes all around including rebuilt rotors (did not really need) and new brake hoses (definitely time). General clean up, threw a bunch of bits in the blast cabinet and repainted them. Since I have to bleed the system, also did the front brakes and will do the solder joint on ABS module. Should be good to go for next 100k miles!

 

Of course I finally find the seat belt trim pieces I need. The listing only states " cream,tan" for color & the price is double what new ones cost & they're used lol.

The pics look close to SDZ but I will wait & see if anything else surfaces.

 

Just to add to the X308 goodness...saw that my XJR was in need of some loving last evening...so, off to the wash rack to spruce her up.

As some may recall, she was in serious need of a roof and boot respray. Sorry I didn't get photos during the process (real busy with work travel...), but most are aware of what it takes to sand back to bare metal, acid etch prime, epoxy seal, and color/clear top coat. One item which had to be really dealt with was the sunroof; the channel on the sunroof for the seal attachment was quite rusty after 20 years. Not that it was perforated, but it was in need of being renovated. My body guru wire brushed it to good metal, then tinned the channel with lead, acid etch again, and shot the primer and color/clear while the sunroof was off the car for the repairs. Gasket fit back on just fine.

Color match was perfect; he brought the respray right out to both rear quarter panels (I also had the bumper covers redone) and blended in with the rear doors. A fine top coat sanding, buffed back up (along with the rest of the car...), and it's back on the road.

I added a tasteful (i.e. subtle) gold pinstripe to break up the plain side view. I think it looks good. Others may not agree. That's ok.

Next up for the R is the top and bottom chains and tensioners.

Then it will be ready for sale.


The two ladies in the early twilight.

 

Had mine resprayed recently as well, also pondering a gold pinstripe, great minds' think alike lol.

 

Ok quick question how long should it take my very capable but fairly new to XJ8s associate to do the rear shocks. I have sent him the blackonyx rear shocks PDF as well as the threads from here detailing the pry the sub-frame instead of removing it technique. He's decided to go the non-removal route. I'm just curious as to how long my car will be down.

Also is it advantageous to do the rear differential oil whilest under there w/ the shocks.

 

For the shocks; I should say 2 hours of hard working per side if he has a lifter, maybe an other hour extra if he needs to craw under the car.

 

Excellent looks like that will be tackled this weekend, w/ the front end stable, I seriously can hear & feel every bump & knock back there now lol.

 

Perfect time to check that your diff breather is still clear, and not blocked with crud

 

Last weekend we went out for the day and used the XJ, went to a few different places. I'm always amused at how many looks and glances a well looked after X308 can get from people. I parked in several different places and saw people stopping to look at the car a couple of times.

Yesterday I was off work so I used the car all day, went to visit my parents then did a few messages around the area they live in before heading back home. Then I was meeting my friend who works at the local Jaguar Dealer so made my way over there to pick her up. My other friend's 2015 XF was in having warranty work done, so I parked next to his car for a cheeky photo. What surprised me was there was a 1998 XJ8 in having work done at the dealer, most unusual. We had very heavy rain last night and the multiple layers of Auto Glym Aqua Wax did their job and water streamed off the car as the rain hit it, although I'll have to give her a wash soon anyway.

Back to work today though, so the little 2006 Fiesta is back in play. LOL




My XJ and my friend's XF in the Jag Dealer

 

After scouring the web high & low for seat belt trim I finally found one which I hope is SDZ or tan but the pic has bad lighting & the seller doesn't know. I figure $15 what the heck ?! We shall see as the saga continues.

 

Bought a new driver's door card. Even though my car is a PITA I still want a rattlefree interior!

 

After quizzing/badgering several E-Bay auto salvagers, I finally found one willing to leave his desk & go search his yard & behold ! All my missing trim pieces in SDZ !




Of course this comes after I order other pieces w/ unspecified trim code, already in transit lol.


Also pondering refreshing my car's badges. Replacing my trunk button w/ the green one from Welsh & redoing the "V8"s on the pillars w/ BRG instead of the dark grey/black background's that faded.

 

Got the inspection done and it passed

 

I fitted my new door card. The car Pet section is dark grey instead of black (1st pic left is new, right is old) but heck... Doesn't matter. All bungs and bushes in the door were replaced and all new clips bought. Now I can close the door and it sounds as solid as a Rolls... More solid than a Merc! Y​ay!

 

After having some hard transmission shifts, I thought I'd check my tranny fluid level. Engine running, came pooring out. Couldn't top anything up. So can't be too little. Maybe too much. But still shifts crud. Tranny has been overhauled... So something doesn't seem quite right. Can still be the clutches wearing in...

 

Of all the things I have done to my 2000 VDP I find new rear shocks to be the worse, had a bad bushing clunking and wanted it fixed so I dove in head first to get it done. THis same job 20 yr ago would not have been to bad but now in my advanced years and bad knees I am wishing I would have sent it to the shop !

 

I washed it. Which caused a Rear Light error, leaving the passenger side parking light illuminated even with the car off. Then, in my attempt to do a hard reset on a whim as a "couldn't hurt", I tossed the neg over to the pos post, and then promptly shut the trunk...

Guess whose key doesn't open the trunk. My first thought was to jump it from under the hood to get power, but hey, did you know if the negative cable is touching the positive terminal when you do that, you can weld? So tomorrow in the light will be a hole drilling session, then see what damage I did.

 

Was able to remove and replace the bush on the front of the front lower control arm without removing the spring. That the arm can be split and removed from the spring pan is surprising. Half the spring pan is held by other half of control arm, and Jack underneath.

Pressing old bush out is a trick as it has a lip that prevents a mandrel from being placed. I ended up grinding a line on either side and then folding it back so I could mount it in my press. Then it came out and the new one pressed in. 2 hours end to end is not too bad.

 

Ran a temporary jumper from the trailer connector over to my passenger brake light to eliminate the SLCM issue keeping it on 24/7. So now at least I can drive without drawing extra attention and give the LEOs the excuse to finally give me a ticket for my tint. I'll be sending it for repair shortly, but in the interim, now I'm good to go.

Giving myself a short break, then out to do some minor polishing on one spot that needs it, and another nice wash while it's not blistering hot out, and get ready to treat the lady to a nice hike through the falls tomorrow.

 

Washed it and did a paint clean and wax on the whole driver's side of the car. Got way too hot to keep going. Here are some pics I got. Hope you all enjoy Vacant for sale house, thought it would make for some nice pics.