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Knowing how we all love a pic of someone else's Jag, and having never posted a pic on here before I thought why the hell not, its the wife's car and I am really taken by it, might even get myself one..
I bought it knowing it had a list of jobs, but noting that could not be done as a rolling restoration. She absolutely loves it, I will set her an account up on here as she will be doing most of the work. Taken by the Misses on her first trip out in it. Shortly after discovering it had a problem with the rear end. Need to get those headlamp bezels re-chromed I have bought the original 15in Latices
The headlamp bezel would have originally been chrome on that car. But the later original 4 litre AJ16 4 litre had body-coloured bezels and mirrors, to signify a more sporty car to the V12. Unlike cars destined to be sent to the US which put the body-coloured elements on the 6 litre for some reason.
I knew you'd all like it. The wheels we are torn on, I suppose it comes down to how easy it would be to get tyres for each, I am thinking the 16inch will be easier as Pirelli stopped making the specific tyre for them mid production, but have found the Jaguar approved equivalent available. I am stilling to referb and reshoe the Lattice wheels and keep them as they're original to the car, we're just not a massive fan on such 1990's wheels on a sleek 1970's designed car, I suppose they will grow on me, funnily enough I too loved them when they came out, I suppose I could again.
Had a look at the headlamp bezels, they are really flimsy tin things, I think they could be factory painted added after market, I am sure the chrome bezels on my 79 V12 XJ-S were more substantial. I am worried these would dissolve during the chroming process.
The only massive change planned for the car is outboard brakes, 30 years for XJ6 ownership and annual brake changes has earned me the right to insist on this going forward. It has Brembo calipers and disks on the front, so was thinking the same for the rear. I think (but not sure) the XKR shares the same hub as the X308, and a look at the part diagrams in the various parts catalogues indicates they're the same, and as such should take the brembo set up on the rear. I will not compromise on the brakes, and will always up-rate where ever possible.
The interior needs a good clean and repair, and other than a paint drip on the inside of one of the buttresses, rust spots on both lower rear quarters and under both head lights, as well as a scabby repair on the bonnet that needs putting right- it is 100% good to go for March
I understand that you may wish to change the rear brakes for outboard. But, if so, only do it for ease of maintenance. XJSs are never underbraked. The front end original setup is extremely good and the rear end is perfectly good, whether inboard or outboard. I really wouldn't stray from a standard rear end setup, particularly if you're going to outboard. The standard setup is fine, it really doesn't need a Brembo setup for a road-going 4 litre.
Still feeling somewhat disappointed in my own expectations of the Lattice wheels. My friends and I are all classic car lovers and collectors, but rather than have these locked away until we have a spare moment to remember we own it- we all share cars, the rule is that you fully insure it, and if you brake it you fix it. This arrangement works really well. One of my friends who I visit a lot is like us; a keen Jaguar enthusiast and owns some 22 Jaguars. In that collection he has a 93 4.0 Convertible on the 15 inch Lattice's and a 95 Coupe on 16inch 5 spokes. The 15 inch gave for a much smoother ride, and we both agreed when we swapped wheels over that the 15inchs were softer on suspension components. (No Science involved, just assumptions made from general observations). I am simply smarting because I did not stop once to consider the availability of tyres. This is going to be my wifes daily driver so it does make sense to keep the 16s.
Rear brake conversion is for 3 reasons. The first is as I stated that I am sick after 30 years of dropping the rear cage out to service the brakes, outboard are the way forward and the purists still have the e type to hark back on. The second reason is I have a love for over-engineering. This goes back to my marine engineering days where the belief was if something was designed and built to do more that was ever required of it- it is going to operate for a hell of a lot longer than the basic spec. The last reason is simply for theatrics, it has brembo on the front, they look good so lets mirror it on the back.
Cornishcat
Very interesting point about the ride difference. I went from 15 inch OEM starfish rims to 16 inch "modern" OEM 5 spokes (purely for tyre availability and cost) and the ride was a guastly contrast! Eventually after years of fiddling about with shocks and springs I got the ride back to something close to how it was, and high speed stability and cornering is better on the 16 inchers. But even so, when a friend turned up in his car with 15 inchers and Pirellis, as per mid 1980s factory spec, the ride was still noticeably better.
Disagree on outbard brakes though! A set of remote bleeders from Fosseway, and you get a solid 10 years or more from the inboards.
Finally got round to uploading the pictures.
