Having *Just* done this (full front suspension refurbishment), I Know what a pain in the derriere it is!!

You *Obviously* have Experienced and Knowledgeable help and assistance.
That is SO great! I'm SO glad for your!!
(';')

 

You are doing an excellent job!

Lovely to see how you keep making progress!

 

Well the goal was put the car back on it's own wheels: we accomplished it!
Not easy. rear arms were a pain. one of the bushing was so stuck inside. The pneumatic press went up to 38 tons pushing it out, finally it split in two pieces and we had to weld the arm and machine it to relocate the bushing. the rest was not bad just a bunch of work. We decided not changing the wheel bearings, they feel good. So only grease and repack them. I also measured the brake rotors with a dial and they were excellent, we went very fast, just detail the rotors with a high heat paint (cast iron finish) and done!
The engine is going together too. I hope to install the radiator during the week and also glass and chromes. Front windshield chrome frames had 6 holes on the top ( it had some kind of the 'keepers' to hold the windshield, maybe an old US safety requirement?). Anyway we just fill them with copper and rechrome the frames. Maybe original but in my opinion 'stupid' (sorry if I used this word but I run out of synonyms).
Dave is helping me with the color sanding and hopefully we are going to be able to buffing by end of the week. I'm looking forward to put the rest of the body panels together. We are so excited!!!

 

Debbie,
You're doing an awesome job!
What is your profession?

 

Ditto:


Yes, DOT apparently mandated mechanical keepers for the windshield glass.
idea was that glue and/or rubber was not enough to keep the glass in place.


One of their more logical ideas, even if not needed!! Keep the car intact as possible in he event of a collision and keep the occupants within the cacoon of safety.


Racers do that, but with far stronger retention methods.

 

Thanks Giovanni! I'm working on Italian cars as mechanic (some people say technician but I prefer mechanic). Even though I had been working on some jaguars and other British stuff I never did a XJ12 and for me is a whole new experience. It's way much complex than the early models. During my time in Connecticut I had the opportunity to work in several Mark I, II, VI, IX, e-type, XJ220,... All of them are very different from my Xj12 with this 'curious' injection system and the add equipment for the California version. Smog the cars still something new to me.


Debbie

 

Yup! maybe a safety reason but as the bumpers... they are going out of my car. Honestly, I had a hard time to install the glass. New rubber seals are bigger than the original ones and I promise you that they are not going to come out.


Debbie

 

We have spent some nights at the shop. The car is looking much better since it's getting together.


rebuilt all the smog equipment.

 

After the paint job. Emma did a such nice work with the color sanding and buffing the whole body.

 

The color sanding and the buffing was good! look at the hood, mirror effect

 

Joy from Euro trim gave us a hand to install the hood liner ( same stuff than the famous Jose used to install).

 

Demister boxes from a Series III. almost the same it was very easy to adapt them. Ours boxes were in very bad shape.

 

We had some work to adjust the hood with the new euro hinges.

 

Wow...Really great to see one of these cars being restored at this high level.

 

An experienced Jaguar master on another forum came up with a really slick way to align the bonnet/hood. Remove the grill. Work through the opening to attach the hinges to the bonnet. Loosely at first. Move the hood around til it is ion its best alignment. Then secure the bolts, through the grill opening. Open the hood/ bonnett. Install the grill.


A mostly all gal effort, huh? Slick.


So much nicer to work on clean parts.


That is becoming a very nice car.


We are having high temps and my shoulders are sore. Did an errand. Some neglected house chores to be done. O'wise hibernate with cooler on.


Carl

 

Have you turned the key yet??

 

What a great job, I have followed your restoration from the beginning. Great to see it coming together.

That is a wonderful looking car,can't wait to see the finished job.

 

Thanks! Yes, unfortunately I didn't find more people with great cars to copy procedures or knowing about originality of the car. Normally My restorations are taking longer and I'm putting much effort on them but here I had a budged and a time limit and I couldn't go to the top level. The goal is an everyday car not a concourse car.

 

Your Jag will be of a muuuch higher level than just 'everyday'. To me it looks like it will be better than when it came out the factory all those years ago.

 

NO! no yet, the electrics are not done yet. I,ve basically put the car together because I have to move. I'm going to change my work and going to work in another shop so I put the engine together, install the panels, glass, chromes, and the rest in boxes.