Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum - 1989 XJ-S Resto-Thread

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- - 1989 XJ-S Resto-Thread - or "my Iron Lady" (https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xjs-x27-32/1989-xj-s-resto-thread-my-iron-lady-122921/)

1989 XJ-S Resto-Thread of my "Iron Lady" - PIC HEAVY

Hi there!

Well, I convinced myself, that it would be clever to do a "resto-thread" serving the purpose of showing what I bought, how I bought it and what I had to do to it... And am still doing! So, to the car... :)

I had been watching the XJ-S market for a while and seeing that it only was moving in one direction: upwards! So I had the cash at the time, and reall decided "now is the time!" So I browsed through the classifieds here (Germany), in the Netherlands, in Luxemburg and Sweden, but couldn't find THE XJ-S for me. Until I was looking on the UK eBay and noticed a new add... A light blue XJ-S V12 from 1989. Exactly the engine, year and bodystyle I was looking for. A few boni: factory sunroof, leather seats, low mileage, Lattice alloys, good interior.

I immediately phoned the owner, a very friendly man, and asked what was wrong with it, as the price was amazingly low - considering what the market had. He described the car worse than it was... I think he was the 10th or 11th owner, so she had seen a few owners. He was also as it seemed a collector, as he had a second XJ-S (a black 1988 XJ-S TWR) for sale at the time... Though far worse...

After the call was done, I decided with my parents, as my dad is someone who makes you think it through from A-Z. So, after a through think over, I booked a flight from Bremen (Germany) to London (UK), stayed a night at my Aunt's and then took the train into London to meet the owner and see the car. If it wasn't exactly that what he described, I'd walk away...

As soon as I saw the car, I fell in love... You know that feeling, you get into the car and you know "this is the one"? Everything was exactly how I thought it would be. A slight bit of patina, a few little niggles and woes but nothing bad. The engine was cold when started and it was raining. So great when it comes to starting, bad when it comes to body work control. The body had a few little dings (come on, which 25 year old car doesn't have any without having some serious bodywork done!?).

Took her for a spin: all fine. Nothing bad (steering was off center, but not pulling left/right). She was showing her age.

Seen, wanted, bought!

So there I was, a 27 year old with an old Jag lady (she earned her name Iron Lady upon the drive to my Aunt's). I filled her to the brim and drove her.

Well, teh radio was crap (and ugly), so I had my Galaxy Note playing music via headphones. And the drive was definately great and that what I expected. Driving it in the UK helped getting used to RHD (doesn't bother me).

Got to my Aunt's to find out: the central locking on the passenger side didn't work. Don't matter. Boot and driver's door lock still! :)

The same evening we went to the pub in the Jag to find out, that NO interior lights work. Neither the door lights, nor the ceiling or rear lights. The dash was dark. Everything was dark. And as I had no user manual at the time, I couldn't find the dimmer - until I hit my knee against it to find that it barely illuminates the interior :)

The next day I drove her from Hertfordshire to Harwich (Port)... No problems. She then really tried hard to stay in the UK, as she didn't want to start at the port. Only with the gas pedal depressed, would she start up (I still have this problem every so often). She fired on all cylinders, but ran very lumpy (I also still have this problem too). Forced her into gear (and found out that she had been wired differently so she'd start in D, 2 and 1!) and up onto the ferry.

I was worried all night that she'd cause problems the next day. But nothing. Ferry docked, I turned the key and she started instantly! Smooth and quietly... :)

And then the 450 km (about 300 mile) journey home (the longest drive so far) was due... Not a problem at all! She ran and ran and ran and ran. 120 km/h (~75 mph) on the Dutch motorways. Cruise worked. Dials worked. Steering worked. Brakes worked. Transmission worked. All worked :) Even the cigar lighter! :) Good for the Tomtom :D So I stopped and took these pictures of her trip to Holland:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3700/1...f65d8849_b.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3802/1...d7a74184_b.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3755/1...35ed521f_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7334/1...e8de49e8_b.jpg

Once I got home, I was so full of joy. Finally, my childhood dream had come true! 17 years after I told my friend I'd own one someday, I had her. The car I always wanted... But you don't ever get an XJ-S for a good price, without it having some "niggles" and some urgent repairs...!

But more to come... As I have done loads in the last 9 months :)

I'll be updating this thread throughout the week and as progress is made :) As it is no rushed project, some things will take a while where as others, seemingly less urgent, may be done earlier :)

Cheers and thanks for reading

Damien

First job done, was replacing a cracked tyre... It was fine in Britain but as it looked, it was over it's life span as the car arrived Germany... So the nice and wide, deep crack was instantly removed and replaced.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3811/1...0920e5c2_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5524/1...53d2be2b_b.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3775/1...8b6af2f3_b.jpg

The hub carrier is next to new... The suspension though needs replacing. Which is to be done soon. Hopefully!

Just a quick "classic to modern" comparisson. My Volvo vs. my Jag... In a crash I'd prefer to be in the Volvo - that is safety me though :D

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7419/1...7cf2772d_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5550/1...021e5500_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7442/1...61a033e4_b.jpg

And I started buying parts again... I normally "stock" Volvo parts but after my C30 being so reliable, I didn't bother. Now my shelves are filling with Jag parts! :)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7333/1...16fa1499_b.jpg

After putting her in storage for a month (winter time and the drive was plastered, so I couldn't leave her at home for a few weeks), I bought a second XJ-S... Basically only for the rims! Not kidding! As the car was attached, I thought "might as well" :D

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3778/1...c7a976a7_b.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3825/1...997b04fd_b.jpg
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2856/1...8957c741_b.jpg
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2805/1...f9f5e1c1_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/1...a0401577_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7430/1...f9e05e66_b.jpg
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2859/1...3ed1c368_b.jpg

No worry, the scrapped car wasn't worth repairing...:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3740/1...e494f974_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7417/1...4e103a60_b.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3675/1...fd9216e7_b.jpg

Those higly machined Lattice rims look so much more cleaner than the grotty painted silver ones my car had... Happy I bought the car!

Since I parted it out, I've got a few spares... At the same time, the entire car buying price was brought back into my pocket - 3 times :D

great write up

and looks like your enjoying your XJS experience

BB

Well, there is loads more to do yet. Not that I didn't expect it... Old cars require work. At least I didn't pay too much for it! The main mechanical parts work... Though more jobs are making themselves visible as we speak!

The water rail pipes are leaking now (great... After just changing the coolant!!! Grrr!). The injector harness is falling apart (age). The power steering pump "exploded" but now works. The steering rack started to pee ATF through the tower/shaft, but that has been fixed easily. The headlights are going to be a problem, as I want the Cibie units I have but need them for LHD... The engine is leaking a bit of oil between transmission and engine. The differential and rear shocks are leaking, but that isn't a hard thing to do (axle out, new seals, sandblast many parts, etc.). At the same time I'll replace the rear springs as well as the front shocks and springs. The windscreen seal is brittle (new is in the boot already). The exhaust is leaking - a Bell stainless steel one will be sourced... :) Not a never ending story, but enough to keep me occupied for a few months :D

Wow, thanks for sharing all the pics. I especially like the interior shots at night. The XJS cabin is truly a work of art.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daim (Post 1024770)

The headlights are going to be a problem, as I want the Cibie units I have but need them for LHD... The engine is leaking a bit of oil between transmission and engine. The differential and rear shocks are leaking, but that isn't a hard thing to do (axle out, new seals, sandblast many parts, etc.). At the same time I'll replace the rear springs as well as the front shocks and springs. The windscreen seal is brittle (new is in the boot already). The exhaust is leaking - a Bell stainless steel one will be sourced... :) Not a never ending story, but enough to keep me occupied for a few months :D

Sadly, LHD Headlights are no longer available, and very rare second hand; but you might have luck finding a set in the USA or off a scrapped LHD car in Europe somewhere. Check the oil gauge and warning light senders (just behind the throttle capstan) for the engine/gearbox oil leak, as these two items leak, particularly at high revs, and the oil runs down the back of the engine, also check the camshaft oil feeds and the cam cover gaskets for this same problem.

Many congrats on a great writeup and a really good restoration. By the by, those rack bushes are aftermarket ones, not OEM or OEM JaguarSport ones.

Greg

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg in France (Post 1025407)

Regarding the lights: yeah, I've noticed that. Kind of like finding hens teeth. I'll probably buy the conversion kit to dual headlights (US style) until I find the EXACT lights I want. I really like the idea of keeping the headlight wipers, as they both work and therefore should be kept...

Thanks for the tips regarding all the little leak possibilities. An engine with that amount of oil will leak somewhere... I mean, I was brought up in England, with parents who mostly only owned British Leyland cars. My dad used to say: "If there is no oil under it, there is none in it!" :D

Crud about bushs. My Jag dealer said "sports pack" as I showed him... But at least that saves me a few bits and bobs... No need for sports pack dampers and springs then :D Luckily! :D

Hey where did you source those nice ferrel crimps for rebuilding your fuel lines. Any parts numbers etc... By the way enjoying your write up. Good luck.

Thanks !!

-Scott