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Two questions in relation to the rear valance or beaver panel on the XJ6/XJ12.
I have the rear bumpers off both my cars at present. The blue XJ12 will need some panel repair, the red XJ6 just repaired the fuel line from the tank to the pumps.
I note some numbers stamped on a plate fixed to this panel. What do they mean? They are not the same as the body number. The red car has one number J 026610, the blue car has two, J 024383 and 4P1637.
Finally I will need to remove the panel from the blue car. I am not that skilled in panel work, but what is the best method to cut this panel off, using what tools?
those valance panels are spot welded along 3 or 4 sides. you will need to slice through the spot welds with a power cutter wheel, then grind off the remaining welds.
Due to the close proximity to the tanks, I would remove the tanks and seal / move all fuel lines away from the work area. A grinder produces sparks when cutting through welds.
I actually did this job in the very late 80s, (1989, I think). I also fitted a new boot floor, plus the screw-on quarter panels. I first tried with a rather too cheap pattern valence. That did not fit ! The bottom of the boot where the lid comes down looks a straight line, but is curved very slightly horizantally, but the pattern one wasn't. OK you get what you pay for. As I was going on holiday, I cobbled it together using some self tappers, then when I was back, I managed to find a genuine factory valence that fitted like the proverbial glove. Take Jose's advice and remove all the fuel tanks and associated plumbing. I see these valances are available, but if not made on the factory tooling, one will only know how much fettling work is needed when offering the panel up to the car. https://www.carbodypanels4u.co.uk/ja...panel-complete
Fraser I looked at the link and it shows up to 1986 only, but the XJ-6 was built to 1987 and the S3 body was built until 1992 with a V12.
What could have changed from 1987 to 1992 ?
I used to cut those valances off pretty regularly... The thing that always surprised me the most was the number of metal panels that fold into the the rear valance. Particularly the boot floor lining towards the bottom, and the pieces that the side valances bolt to... All of that is pretty intermingled....
Then I found that SNG sells those panels pretty cheap, and outside of a few patch panels, I stopped trying to remove them for using them again... https://www.sngbarratt.com/English/#...0%60valance%60
I'd probably go the route of a new one if it's an option. I think it will be an easier option for you...
Cheers
David
shop.EverydayXJ.com
You beat me to it. Decades ago, I bought a really dirty Craftsman tool box. Top tray and three drawers. Cleaned an painted, it looks decent and the drawers work nicely. The junk in it included a small set of those spot weld cutters. I've used them a time or two on small projects, not Jaguar related. Do just fine..
Plasma cutter works as well.
Cuts a hole through both panels, Ok if you are replacing one of the panels and can get access from the hole for welding! "Hole" can be tidied up with a drill if needed.
Fraser I looked at the link and it shows up to 1986 only, but the XJ-6 was built to 1987 and the S3 body was built until 1992 with a V12.
What could have changed from 1987 to 1992 ?
Jose, the short answer is nothing changed ! However the XJ40 series of cars started build up in 1986, and these body shells too, have a rear valance, so I suppose it reduces the possibility of confusion especially as Jaguar continued to use the XJ6 designation to the new car. Of course the two cars are completely different, there are no common body panels at all. The V12 carried on until 1992 at about 40-50 a week as a Daimler, but sold in the US as a Jaguar, but very very few got to the USA. I actually saw the body shells for these being prepared for paint in a separate shed at Castle Bromwich in the late 80s. The guys doing the lead loading were all grey or white haired ! The whole shell was hand assembled but using jigs, of course. The big difference is between the Series 1 and the rest. The Series 2 introduced the 5mph bumpers, so there are two large holes in the valance and the bumper mounting tube that contains the bumper damper is welded to the valance, (at least it was on mine !)
Jose, the short answer is nothing changed ! However the XJ40 series of cars started build up in 1986, and these body shells too, have a rear valance, so I suppose it reduces the possibility of confusion especially as Jaguar continued to use the XJ6 designation to the new car.
There IS a lot of confusion over this.
Over the many years I've seen many parts listings that simply don't take into account the last of the Series III cars.
The last few months of the Series III XJ6s production, which lasted right up to until April 1987, were for the North American market only, so the ROW wasn't aware of them, including many parts vendors and Jaguar enthusiasts .....who are occasionally a bit stubborn in acknowledging that they ever existed. Many thousands of these 1987 Series III XJ6s were built, though, as the run started in August 1986.
Lack of familiarity with the last few years of Series III V12 production is more understandable, given the small production volume......which I believe fell to even lower numbers than you've mentioned.
Yeah, The Series 3 took a long time to die !! The XJ40 was announced in late 1986, so I suppose production had to build up so there would have inevitably have been some overlap between old and new XJs. All I can say is that when I visited Castle Bromwich in 1987, the XJ40 body line was churning them out, with the small shed for the Series 3 bodies. I ha ve never been a fan of the XJ40 style - too squared-off for me.
Yes, there is confusion on the beginning as well. I have a 1979 which some insist is a Series II when, in fact it is a Series III. So when I order a part I just tell them it is a 1980.
Rear valence (beaver) panel.
I use mine for making very neat holes through bulkheads, panels, etc. They are the forstner bit of the metal worker.
