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After removing the engine and trans to get some bolts out and a broken one fixed (all done) I took the opportunity to clean up in the engine bay. I really hadn't planned to do this at this point but I'm pretty glad all round that I pulled the engine - should have done this from the get go.
The Right side flitch and chassis rail were covered in rust, for sure this was caused by spilt brake fluid, looks like a lot of brake fluid. I wonder how many have had major corrosion caused by this, had I left it for a future job there is no way I could clean this damage up properly engine in.
Take a look at this you can see how the brake fluid has run down and stripped the paint, tracked along the brake line stripping as it went, all the way back along the chassis rail a good way, the good part is that this is invisible when the heat shields are in place so how many cars out there have this and have no idea.
The brake fluid had also got behind the seam sealer
As it stands now I have sanded it all back, dosed liberally with Aquasteel, sanded again, then sprayed with Bilt Hamber Electrox (high Zinc primer) - doesn't look much for an entire weekend and around 18 hours
Yeh I know my welding could have been prettier, I have tidied it up some but I originally welded this engine in situ - which I really shouldn't have done. Although you cannot see it fully the entire front crossmember is also painted top and bottom.
Yeh I know I sprayed the plastic bungs - too miuch hassle to mask them and I didn't want to mess them up by removing, there was no rust around or near them. This needs to cure for a couple of days before I hit it with the cars actual colour, followed shortly after by lacquer. Once I've got that done I will flood the boxes with an underbody wax
When checking your own cars you may want to poke around some and catch things like this before they turn into something nasty.
Already sprayed - may hit them again though - I'm a bit paranoid I guess. I've also used some stuff from Bilt Hamber called Atom-Mac not sure the science behind it but like I said - paraniod
I concur. Here is a photo of the engine bay in my 88 XJS H&E Version.
This car was a basket case and it was recommended that I junk the car. That recommendation only made me want to get this car back on the road.
The car runs and right now I am in the process of completing the interior.
This car had a locked up engine so I lumped it with an LT1 engine and 4l60E transmission.
When the interior is complete, I will be prepping the body for new paint. Engine bay cleaned and repainted LT1 and 4L60E installed LSeat leather seat covers installed by me. Not happy. Sent it to the upholsterer to put new seat foam.
I've not touched the interior, of all the skills that is the one I lack the most - upholstery - it's on the list but I think I will also be farming it out. It will be a pretty satisfying day when I get my engine bay into that kind of condition. I will at some point farm out the paint as I lack the facilities (paint booth) to do the kind of job I want done.
you guys got it easy!
pic of my xjs without any lower section of body and doors, no useable metal anywhere!
upside down on roll over rig. upside down on jig. more metal gone ,rust. before after
3yrs later
Pretty sure I'd have walked away, no questioning your courage and determination, quite how you managed to get things as you did with nothing to work against as a template or guide is impressive.
And - next weekend we do the dusting and final clean up under the bonnet - tasks completed - except removing the horns - not decided where I'll put them, I'll focus on that once the engine is back and the radiators etc - that way I'll know better what space is available. I have all new metalwork for behind and below the bumper.
Reason for Rot.?
