I like it...

 

Looks mean.

 

this one even has spots :-)

 

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Sir William would turn over in his grave.



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Tried to remove my rear left side shock today. All nuts of the spring pan came undone - miracle - and the lower main screw/bolt holding the shock to the wishbone undid as well - weird and amazing. But in the end, my spring compressors weren't able to compressor the spring enough. So I needed to borrow one... Hopefully I can get them both changed this (long) weekend...

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One side replaced... Took 'only' 8h incl. lowering one side of the axle.

 

Might have been farther ahead to just drop the rear subframe pan all at once. I've done that (twice now) to replace my rears. I don't have any spring compressor so I just did it that way, and just lowered the conrol arms with a jack until there was no tension. My hardest part was physically fiddling those uppers back into position in the holes and getting the fasteners back on. Good feeling to be done though! I'll be there with you again this summer - KYBs are getting swapped out since they just don't hold up here.

Myself, I went and fixed my brake vacuum line today. I used an X100 off ebay for 25 bucks or so versus the ridiculous money for the proper one. A little heat with a heat gun does let you change the curves ever so slightly. You MIGHT be able to duplicate the actual curve of the X308 with enough time and patience (I had neither) but you can get it to route fine as it is. It just curves over and down and around the brake booster assembly by the firewall, instead of the traditional way. Once the panels are back on though, you'd never tell. Started the car with a PHWOOOMP! sound, on crank #1 instead of cranking over for a couple seconds, and settled nicely. Haven't moved the car to see if it actually fixed my brakes, but it DID leave me with only a P1111 now. I call that a success.

Now I'm going to subject it to a fully loaded couple hundred miles to go get my other toy in it's proper place - the lake!

 

Could have, but waste of time now, as I have discovered that rust behind the scenes has exceeded the idea of repair. It has so much rust and isn't worth it anymore. So I will be breaking it up Shame. Just bought so many parts for it... And this really hurts...

 

 

No good. I just caught mine in time as i picked away part of the under seal and found the metal was wet behind it. By the time i picked it all off i found a few holes and some rot inside the sill. Found a guy local to me that cut that panel out on each side and weld in a replacement for a few hundred euro. It is fixable, if its worth it to you..

 

I'd love to keep it, but that isn't the only spot I found. Some previous owner just coated everything in underfloor sealant resulting in holes all between the front and rear axle. In the engine bay, the shock mount pieces are rotting under the body sealer. I even had an appointment in May for that to be sorted but it isn't worth it to be honest. The car requires a lot more work yet before I can make it look better So, I'll cut my losses and part it out. Even though it looks shabby, it is full of goodies. Perfect auto dimming rear view mirror, good fully power seats, the engine is immaculate with all new timing chain tensioners and guides and chains, transmission overhauled, new alternator, new throttle body, new shocks all round apart from rear right, where the rust is, new shock mounts, new ratior hoses, new water pump, new cross over pipe, new headlights, new horns, I have loads of parts waiting to be fitted. I should be able to get about 3-4k in parts. Heck, I'll part with all my special tools. ABS ring removal tool. Tension tools incl. VVT of AJ27 4.0l engines. Etc.

 

Decided to take a day trip to the ocean with the baby.

 

Cleaned my cowl drains w/ compressed air in hopes of stopping a passenger foot well leak. Made an appointment for Friday AM w/ a indy shop to check my rear wheel bearings &/or grease the rear differential zerks to pinpoint my last hum/howl back there.

 

I found that when grocery shopping, or just carrying anything in the trunk, it tends to slide around in there, I even had an instance where a large box I had in the trunk snagged on the emergency pull handle and opened the truck lid!

So I searched the internet and found this 41"x 25" cargo net, complete with a variety of hooks and fasteners. That measurement is ideal for the XJ8 trunk floor. Using the four "double hook" fittings I drilled a 5/32 hole in the corners of the removable covers, two in the spare tire cover, and two in the battery cover, and screwed in the "double hook" fittings. I attach the rear loops of the cargo net to the double hooks, and then when I carry anything I can stretch the cargo net over the items and attach the rear loops to the rear double hooks. Works like a charm, doesn't interfere with normal use, doesn't affect the operation of the tire or battery covers, and can be removed completely at any time.


https://www.ebay.com/i/142679782513?chn=ps




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My noise = rear driver's side wheel bearing, the shop said they lack the tools to do it. Something about a calibrator to ensure the bearing's depth is correctly pressed in. Not sure I've ever heard that before but whatever lol.

 

had my drivers interior door handle stop working a few days ago, assumed cable snapped (it had frayed)
new cable arived, fitted in about 20 mins and all working perfectly.
wish all jobs were that easy.

 

I cleaned my wheel sensors this morning. I'd read that these things need cleaning once in a blue moon or two or they can begin to give false readings.

Really easy to do, you could actually do the fronts without removing the wheels, but access is much easier with them removed. The rears the wheels have to come off.

Unplug the sensor connector, undo the 8mm retaining bolt (blue loctited) and remove the sensor. Mine were DIRTY! I cleaned gently with a toothbrush, and then wiped with a clean rag. Cleaned out the hole the sensor fits in, and the surrounding area, and re-installed them. Takes less than a hour to do all four.




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Coolant flush & fill.

 

Started to take it apart...

 

Engine and front subframe are basically ready ro come out now. And I found a lot more rust. I mean an awful lot more. Common spot...