Hey forum. Thought I'd add my current resto to the forum. A couple of guys here were interested in sharing current progress of people restoring these beauties. Please add your own progress here if you want. So my story. Rebuilding 1988 XJS Coupe in QLD Australia. Really good minimal rust car so that's why I bought it. I initially thought, yeah I'll get it going, fix a few things, paint it and I'll have my dream car to drive around it. But that snowballed big time hahaha. Yes probably a mid life crisis. Currently- Exterior stripped, gas tank swap out as it was rusted out, engine full re-build with all new paint, CAD plated bolts etc, engine bay painted, whilst she was out, full front and rear suspension rebuild, GAZ adjustable shocks, rear sway bar, all exterior re-chromed where necessary, new leather reupholstered front seats and console recovered, rest of interior trims etc professionally spray painted to match colour, all new wood grain dash in the dark burl colour, LED dash and lighting upgrades in green. The list goes on but I'm almost at paint. Anyways here are a few photos.

 

Wow!!

Great work!!

Rob

 

Far out !

Cheers
DD

 

SUPERB. Congratulations. And in one shot I even saw a print of my binnacle flexible circuit board connections identifier.

 

I think I would have just given the snake the keys and told him to have fun :|

 

We call that "Project Creep." It happens quite a lot in our shop. I find it sort of comforting to know it happens other places.

Great Job as others have said, Beautiful Work!

The thing I like about doing it this way, Everything you touch, you know WHAT was done, HOW it was done, WHEN it was done, and WHERE the parts came from. Ya usually don't get that when someone does it for you.
(';')

 

Greg, would you post a link to the connections identifier? A search here didn't come up with much, and I didn't see it in the stickies.
Jon

 

[QUOTE=Lachy;2482556]

/QUOTE]

"....of course, the hardest bit was sourcing the snake oil that Grant had suggested..."

 

Voila

 

Thanks!
Jon

 

This little fella was keeping the mice away and doing a great job. Unfortunately my wife made me call the snake guys. Imaging seeing that under your car when your under there.

 

Greg. Yep used you dash thing. Very helpful thanks.

 

Hahaha. I had mice then they disappeared. Found out how. Luckily it wasn't is the car, that would have freaked me out.

 

Wow, maybe I should find a way to overcome my procrastination this year!

 

Great work!

 

G'day Lachy,
A lot of work and parts involved in that restoration. I am a paint job, an engine and suspension behind you, so:
a.

 

Must have hit return! anyway,
a. What suspension and brake parts did you use, where did you source them;
b. Who did your engine rebuild, I have a Series 2 engine under strip down, and I'm going to need some milling done;
c. where did you get your wood done for the interior?

Cheers, Chris

 

Haha. It's been 2.5 years so far. Can't afford to do it all in one go.

 

Chris. Hey mate.

The rear springs are the originals but I got them powder coated yellow to match the lowered front springs. I got them from VA Spiteri in Melbourne. The shocks all around are GAZ and from VA Spiteri also. The rears are adjustable height and rebound so I can lower the back to match the front when done. I kept the rear brake discs as they are fine and I found some recon rear calipers from a guy here in Brisbane. The front discs are DBA ventilated and the front calipers rebuilt with stainless pistons. Just to be clear I didn't rebuild all of this myself. I can ask my mate who did the resto on the suspension where he sources components, bushes, mounts etc if you wish to list them.

The engine was done by the same guy. He is extremely knowledgeable with Jaguars. Mainly the V12's and re races them also, well used to but still has his race cars. He's a work from home mechanic and boat mechanic, rebuilding engines, suspension, 2 pack painting parts, restoring old cars and keeping them going. He's here in QLD but is retired sorry. Can't help you there.

Interior wood, which I didn't add photos for yet as they are packed away were done by https://www.jagsrus.com.au/about.html in Melbourne.
He is awesome and the finish is amazing. I don't even want to take them out of the cupboard in the house. They will be the last thing that goes in. I'll worry about them too much if I put them in now. It cost me $1200 for all wood. Yes that included ski slope and door trims.

Hope that helps. Lachy

 

Good afternoon Lachy,
All good I'll get the parts list Steve Snape at SNG Barrat sent me through for a rear cage rebuild, and we can compare prices. I was just going to go through SNG but some of the parts are seriously heavy and will cost a small fortune to freight from the UK.
There is a performance shop here in Newcastle (Carrington) which do some serious Hot Rods, and a mate at the Carrington shipyard is going to introduce me and see if we can't establish a way forward with the V12s. The series 2 engine I have is the pre HE but I believe I can fit the HE fuel injection onto the Series 2 engine if I substitute some top end manifolds etc to allow the HE vacuum system to fit. Really the only difference would appear to be the heads, and the position of the spark plugs, plus some difference in the old and new fuel injection/engine management air take off's. All I really need is some head work, I can do the disassembly, clean and reassembly myself. Once I have "easter egged' the engines I'll do up the HE, which despite all the work I have done/had done still leaks.
I'll get on the wood website and see what they can do, although you seem pretty pleased with them, so good recommendation.
Great idea this thread of yours!
Cheers Chris