First time Jaguar owner and first posting
 

This is my first post and my first time as a Jaguar owner. I've always had a soft spot for the SIII XJ6's and came across a car in the Craigslist that I thought I would try. A jag scared me a little because of the perceived running costs. I've restored European cars in the past, but this time, I've always wanted an American car. This is about as close as I could get... A jag with a Chevy 350 in it!
It doesn’t run and needs a little help. I picked it up from a lady who had it about a year. Her husband tells me that the brakes failed on it and she went airborne into a ditch. The front valance is pushed in but the radiator seems to be in good shape. However the transmission is toast and the manifold broke on the right side when it landed (at the exhaust and not engine side). But it was $600 so my cost of entry or exit is low. The car is a metallic wine red with light tan leather interior which has been Texas toasted.

I now need to learn about these cars and hope that I can seek the help and support of other enthusiasts in this forum. I hope I will not be shunned for driving a Chevy powered Jag.

So here is my list, I would be grateful for input.
[ol][*]First thing is first and that’s to swap the gearbox and the engine manifolds. [*]Does anyone know if these custom manifolds that are a part of a conversion kit or standard?[*]Sort the brakes out - I hope this is simpler then the dual servo setup that is on the Rover.[*]Get the car running - It's a Chevy right?[*]Interior is dry and the seams are split, can this be repaired or does anyone know of a cheap aftermarket leather / vinyl supplier?[*]Dash wood is not in good shape but savable, the center console and A/C sections were scraped and removed by the PO. Does anyone know where I can get replacements?[*]Are there any areas that I should pay attention to? [/ol]

Attached is apicture of it, I will take more this weekend.
Thanks and I look forward to posting and talking to people soon.

With best regards

Al

RE: First time Jaguar owner and first posting
 

I am not shunning you, but mechanically-speaking you are trying to fix a Chevy, not a Jaguar. I know little about Chevy.That's funny you paid $600. because I know of a 1985 in Florida selling for the same amount but it is complete, not a "lump", as yours are referred to.

I can help you withupholstery advice assuming it is still the Jaguar upholstery:

there are many Jaguar interior specialists. Depends on what you want to spend, but overall, it is not cheap to repair or replace the seat covers. Any upholstery work is usually expensive, Chevy or Jaguar.

What I would do, if your leather can be salvaged, is to find a local upholstery shop to restitch if possible. If not worth rescuing, then buynew covers and have a local shop install them. But really, the cosmetics are your least worry, you need to repair the car first, why bother with the seats now? And if it was me, I would redo the upholstery in heavy-duty vinyl, myself I don't care for leather, (only if new), though it smells nice and everything, it deteriorates too fast for my taste and it gets to a point where it is not worth trying to save it.

The front, center,valance panel is a separate piece and can be replaced easily, (two 1/2" or 5/8" bolts on each side), justorder a new panel. Ask Ken here for his price on the replacement panel. Also, see below.

In Houston, there is a place who specializes in lumps and parts, (Chevy engine and transmission in a Series III XJ-6). Contact John's Cars at www.johnscars.com They might fix you up with a replacement tranny, manifold, and front valance panel. In fact, you might have one of his conversions, who knows.

good luck,
Jose

RE: First time Jaguar owner and first posting
 

Close, Jose. John is in Dallas. We are in Houston.

RE: First time Jaguar owner and first posting
 

Jose

Thanks for your advise, I actually bought this car only because it had a chevy drive train. I was looking for something with an american drive train that I can tinker with at little expense. I own a few Mercedes Benz cars that are in various states of restoration that keep my wallet nice and light. This is supposed to be a cheapie :-). I checked the johnscars link and they are just down the road from where I live so I may take the manifold off and pay them a visit.

I'm assuming that the transmission is a Chevy and if so, I can grab one from the pull a part for less then $50.

I ran accross a website called http://auto-interior.com that sold what they call "simulated leather" interior front and back for $545.00. With leather costing around $950. Anyone tried these guys?

I think I may be able to find a front valance for it at the local pick and pull also. I need to crawl underneath the car and see what else got damaged during it's flight but none of the above scares me as I've taken on bigger projects.

Like this:
http://www.w108.org/gallery/albums/R...1036.sized.jpg
Or this:
http://www.w108.org/gallery/albums/a...left.sized.jpg

Now if someone can tell me where I can find good used wood for the center console, I would be a happy guy.

With best regards

Al

RE: First time Jaguar owner and first posting
 

great to hear you're handy, you will find the Jag to be mostly easy to work on, so get it going...John's Carshas a lot of of fixes for these cars, he designed them and had them manufactured, he is knowledgeable about Chevy drivetrains.

About the wood: my advise is to take out the dash wood, sand the old lacquer off, and refinish it yourself with polyurethane, spraying it looks best. You are not likely to find a used one in like-new condition; There is a business who does it for you but they are Expensive, and they basically would do the same you would do, sand andrespray. Everybody has the same problem. Doing it yourself helps you learn about the car!!

The Haynes Manual may help in some areas, some not. Best to buy the Factory Service and Parts Shop Manual in a CD. Look at previous posts here to find the link for the company who has them on special. (LBCarco).

If you were closer, I know of a 1985 XJ-6 with anice wine-red leather interior selling for $600.00 (the whole car!). (the dashlacquer is bad). but you would have to get it on a car hauler to take it home.

Jose

RE: First time Jaguar owner and first posting
 

Sadly the PO scraped off all the wood to the metal panel. No idea why. So I need new panels (or used ones).
I'll shop for the shop manual.

Many thanks.

RE: First time Jaguar owner and first posting
 

You can try www.britishautowood.com He's not cheap, but look at the wood! This guy is an artist!

RE: First time Jaguar owner and first posting
 

yep, those guys at British Autowood are craftsmen, but the price....

what I would do is try a salvage yard for a used dash panel in good condition, one that you can refinish yourself. For example, I think Kenhas lots of salvage Jags.

Ken: can you find the man a nice Series 3 dash panel ??? If Ken can'tsupply it, there is anothermember here called Davidwho has a small business calledEveryday XJ; He also has salvage XJ-6 parts. Contact him. you can find his linkin previous posts in this forum Section.

Jose