Hello Chaps,
Some of you may remember me from a while back, I've been away a long time. I'll quickly recap for those who don't know me or remember my vehicle. I started with a 2001 XJ8 4.0 Sovereign which I ran happily for three years until it was written off in an accident. Not one to be beaten my friend Sean (Sean B) and I found another 1999 XJ8 that was was dead from a nickasil related engine failure. We extracted my good motor from my damaged car, did some tweaking and placed it into the good car and I was back in business.

I ran the car for another few years until about 18 months ago I had the dreaded transmission failure. I obtained another transmission and switched units only to have the replacement fail almost immediately. Then I discovered serious corrosion issues had taken hold. With that I decided to try a different brand and bought something else. What followed was 18 months of dreary, mundane torture as I drove something that wasn't a Jaguar. The big cat was calling me back.

So I sold the Saab I'd bought and have bought myself another XJ8. This one is my new project It is a 2002 XJ Sport 3.2 with high spec. It is mechanically sound and has been regularly serviced, but the body has a few battle scars. This is not a problem for me.

I've bought this car not as a daily drive but as a project to make beautiful again and to use for the longer journeys I make. I'm going to be undertaking a restoration of sorts on this car, getting it absolutely spot on and future-proofed. I was very careful to buy a car that had almost zero rust and a clean chassis, the rust of course will be eliminated during the build. The paint itself is a rare colour on the X308, Zircon Blue, and when polished looks the business. I am however budgeting for a total repaint of the car as the body needs some tlc.

Currently it is sat on my drive with various components dismantled or removed. I've been over the car and made lists of what parts need replacing and what I want to fit. I still have my old XJ8 which will be broken up to provide me with parts, spares and a source of funding as I try to sell parts I don't need.

So I thought it would be good to make a return to the forum and keep you all posted on my progress. I'll start another thread for that once I have got the photos off my iPhone. But for now I'd like to say hello and it's good to be back!

S.

 

Stu, I don't know you from before, but welcome back. Seems you brought an interesting project with you.

 

Hi Stu, talk about a glutton for punishment

 

Welcome back Stu!

 

Thanks for the replies chaps! I wouldn't say owning these cars is punishment, I enjoy working on them when I have to. I'm particularly enjoying the dismantling process I'm going through currently.

However in my area of the UK we're experiencing more rain than is usual for this time of year, so I'm struggling to get a chance to do much with the car. But hopefully I'll get a couple of hours on Wednesday, which is my next day off. I reckon August will be a good month. We shall see

 

I hadn't associated with ya before Stu, but I remember you on the boards....glad your back and with a seeming sparkle in your eye. Oh wait, that's zircon blue and a big smile.

 

Nice to see you back!

 

I only saw that color once and it was on a VP.

 

Welcome back Stu!

 

I really don't have funny stuff to say, but I've missed you chap.

 

It's nice to be welcomed back, it's nice to be involved with something like this forum.