I Ppck up this 84 XJ6 on friday. I have a project in mind that I will share as it develops.
But first since she isn't running (PO's daugther accidentally changed over to the RH tank which was known rusty). What are the first things to check over when I get her to the shop. Not necessarily fuel related but top list to make sure shes worth going fwd with.
Happy New Year !!!

 

Depends on mileage and where the car spent most of its life. Normally rust is the biggest killer of these cars, but your photos show a car that looks pretty good to me.
If you could tell us a little bit more about the car better advice can be given. All the mechanical stuff is pretty straightforward, although the rear inboard brakes tend to get neglected due to their position. An '84 will have the "slotted block" so doesn't crack, but can be shy on its headgasket after about 85-90k miles.

You'll find, once you get it all operational and maintained, that the magic carpet ride will be very addictive.

 

Fraser, expand the pics and take a close look at the front and rear screens!

Andy, before doing anything mechanical I suggest a discussion and plan of action for the rusted-out areas. It may change the entire landscape of things

Cheers
DD

 

Its 84k miles. Interestingly the rust is odd. Best guess it was repainted at some one reason unknown (not disclosed to PO when he bought it). The paint is gone where you can see the rust but the metal is solid pretty light surface corrosion only. As best I could tell the rest of the car (underneath) is pretty good.
I plan to remove the bumpers and side markers to clean up the look so a reapint is on the cards anyway.
When I get her backl to the shop Friday I'll share more.

 

Um, I was not aware there was such a thing as "surface rust only" under the front and rear glass. Especially if it needed repainted some time in the past.

But I hope you're right.
(';')

 

Its a little odd, the paint has peeled surface is rusty but I could push a knife through the panel so its sound. Time will tell the condition as I dig deeper!

 

Mea Culpa !! My excuse is it was late, so I missed this. Normally a touchstone for even worse rust damage elsewhere, so a thorough inspection is needed IMHO. On my own 1980 car, I had to repair the front windscreen aperture at each lower corner, but rear was OK. I did a lot of rust repairs including new boot floor, and rear valance, plus new quarter panels. These latter are bolt on, of course. A body shop did me new outer sills and closing panels and fitted new wings for me.

 

Andy, Doug:


I did the expands thing. Not the same as poking. But, definitely alarming. PO painted the rust !!!!


Nope, I suspect the underside is worse. I've read of this and it seems they rust from inside to outside. The tip of the iceberg thing.


But, quite fixable. With screens removed. Cut out the old rusty, weld in fresh healthy metal and protect it.


Might check the four floor boards as well as the boot and valences.


It sure is a nice looking car, though. Worth some $'s and effort to fix.
How many and how much ? Owner's option.


Carl

 

The very first thing you should do, is removing the floor carpets and look for rust there.
If that is overseable, remove the windscreen and rear window.
Then and only then, the real rust damage will show.
Don't try to cut corners in repairing the rust damage in those sections, they will haunt you back double for it.
Corroded metal needs to be cut out and new sheet (1.6mm) needs to be welded in. Don't forget to spray the inside of the new sheet metal with anti-corrodant coating after the welding. Welding is a corrosion catalyst, meaning that when you insert heat into the metal, the molecular structure of the sheet metal will change and will even faster be prone to rusting.

When you have all the rusty parts mended with new sheet metal (don't use body filler if you want to keep the car for a longer period), the entire body needs to be stripped of all the paint, because the modern paints and thinner are not compatible with the old paint. You can check this by laying a thinner soaked rag onto the paint work. If the paint dissolves, the car needs to be totally stripped before anything else.

When the car is bare, it's best to first apply a coat of anti-corrosive wash primer, then filler, then 1.5 - 2 layers of thinner based base coat and a couple of layers of clear coating. -> Better as new!

You could have a look at my restoration topic in this forum here:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ew-cat-174973/

Good luck in reviving this beautiful cat!!

 

EPIPHANY!!
I always wondered why areas around welds rusted FIRST!!
Thank you for this pearl of wisdom!
I'll file that away for the future.
(';')

 

Got to the shop today, pic shows the rust typical of the front and rear window surrounds. They paint has lifted and the surface is corroded but the steel is solid. Unfortunately our lift is blocked by a CNC machining center which probably won't move until the snow melts so I have't got under her to inspect.
Eventually the front and rear windows will come out the body will be stripped and re-painted but that off in the future for now.
First jobs are getting her started (fuel problem I'm told).
Then measuring and working through the practicality of the mods I have in mind.

 

So i got carried away and picked up another (85) which hasn't run in 10 years and the reason for being left is unknown (deceased estate).
It arrived at the shop last night after it taking 4 hours to load on the trailer. Three flat tires rear axle may be ceased, 2 broken winches much frustrating and pushing and pulling from my Jeep and diesel suburban.
She will sit out side until the weather clears and I can brave the elements to dig deeper.
Not sure if she will become project #2 or be a parts car, everything will depend on how solid the body is.

 

I've been told this about the Xj6; you can't have just one.
It's like feeding just One stray neighborhood cat; soon it tells all its friends and you're feeding the whole herd.
(';')

 

We will see where it all leads !!

 

I would do it the other way around:

rebuild the '85 with the spares from the '84....the '85 body looks way better on the photo's...

 

LnrB:


The cat analogy tickled me. Not to be overly corrective, but a collection of cats is a pride. And, yes, word about good chow at that place spreads.


I think back to a tale of hobo's. Folks down on their luck or merely adventuresome. Moving from town to town aboard a freight train.
Stop at a house, volunteer to work for a meal. Usually, just got the meal. But, the place was was marked. "good chow" here. in code.


Visit to the ENT, yesterday. Got my ears swabbed out big time. Yahoo. I hear again !!! but, only with an ancient aid. My current one still "in the shop" for repair. My DIY effort flopped. Might even have caused it to be "totaled".


Errands today.


And research. My antique flip phone flopped. Best deal for a simple voice only pay as I go phone. No bells and whistles as text needed not wanted.






Carl
Carl..

 

I guess I'm starting a pride lol
Yes current plan is the 84 is main project the 85 will sit until I learn more, just too cheap to pass up.

 

Good Day got the 84 started, new fuel filter and may be a new fuel tank switch (see separate post).
The difficult part is going to be getting the old bumpers off.