When I joined the forum some time ago I was nearing completion of my X300 project. I did promise to post some details of the project and some pictures – but you know how it goes.


The car has been back on the road now for about two and half years so the moment for champagne and back slapping is lost. However, the nature of the rebuild may be of interest to others. To my knowledge my car is now unique (not sure if that’s good or bad) but I’d love to hear from anyone else who has done this.


I have documented the summary story in the attached PDF document for those interested, mostly with pictures as I don’t like writing. For those that want the executive summary, here it is.


Before




After

 

Outstanding work! Great post.

 

Wow.. Massive undertaking with great results.. well done!

 

how much did all this rebuilting cost you??

 

WOW!


Cheeers
DD

 

I think one of the kewlest things in the course of life is to achieve an original act. You my friend have just done so and I take great pleasure in applauding your accomplishment! Good on ya Brendan! Well done!!

 

Sensational mate, congratulations on a great job

 

Very impressive results on a ambitious undertaking! Well done.

 

Looks like a very thorough job ....your pictures are extremely informative; I've never seen such images and know I'll find them helpful in navigating the intricacies of my recently acquired Vanden Plas.
Do you have other images that you'd be willing to share, perhaps on Flickr or similar?

 

Heck of a job!

Neat to be able to take a car all the way down and set everything right.

.

 

Great post , very informative, thanks for shareing

 

That's an unbelievable job that you did! I do minor stuff and I feel good about that. This is an order of magnitude away from anything I would ever try. Question, if I read correctly, you replaced all your rubber bushings with poly ones? Most people have said they are too hard on an XJ6. I ask because I have already put Bilsteins all around and found that I like the ride much better.

 

Wow what a job.excellent.

 

Thanks all for your very kind words.


To answer the question on cost, this is a very rough calculation based on a quick scan through receipts for big stuff. I'm sure there was probably other things so take as a guide only (GB Pounds and it doesn't include the donor car). Front and rear suspension numbers include brakes.

Shell Cost
Suspension Front
Suspension Rear
Used XJ8 Parts
Paint
Respray Labour
Door Waist Finishers
Wheels & Refurb
Exhaust & Cats
Full Alignment
Shot Blasting Services
Rustproofing Wax and Paint
Sundry Items


TOTAL

Time taken was about 3 years on and off.


On the question of Poly bushes. Only the wishbone arms at the front are Polybushed. They are harder than stock bushes but I don't find them harsh.


And yes, I do have lot's more pictures. I will work out a way of making them available as a reference. I'm not a fan of links to 3rd party hosting on forums as inevitably accounts on such sites fall in to disuse and the links are then worthless.

 

Great job I have a 96 VDP that is Kingfisher blue it is almost the same as yours. If you have any pictures of the drive line that would help me as some one moved the support bearing before I got the car. I have been replacing bearing but the support bearing is a bit of a challenge. Any help would be much appreciated. Once again beautiful job on your car , inspirational to myself.

 

Possible to share the pics via dropbox?

 

outstanding job

 

thank you very much for keeping me entertained while at work!

 

Very impressive. Congratulations. Enjoyed looking at you detailed explanation.

 

Only now I came across this great post. It well deserves to be bumped.

Congratulations for the undertaking and fantastic result. You can say that you know your car inside out!