I have finally cleared the space in my workshop so I can finally start work on the XJS (92MY 4.0), So to day I started my poking and prodding , kind of categorising each job as either; essential, cosmetic, practical and ongoing rolling repairs. My intention is to enjoy the car over the summer then bring it in for the winter and strip it for parts,,,,, only kidding, I meant strip and rebuild it, because this is what it is looking like. My concern is that even if I treat the restoration as a full time job- only own it would take my 9 months of solid work (probably would be the best 9 months of my life but the wife and kids wouldn't agree.



This car has to be a rolling restoration and as much as I would love to strip and rebuild it, I have too many other projects so it would likely end up like the XK8 I have just sold because I dont have the space or time (lost interest in the car because of all the plastic and annoying electrics and flimsy parts,)

These are the Jobs I have to do before May

Refit poorly installed exhaust (leak test)
Replace gearbox damper (manual transmission)
Repair hand brake
Service Steering and front suspension
Full engine service and fluid change, belts and cooling service- Engine is running rich so will look into this
Repair the lower rear quarter panels below the rear bumpers (we called them tank guards on the xj6)
Repair lower rear panel under rear lights
Respray the bonnet
Repair rust under headlights,
Replace: boot and bonnet struts (trunk and hood rams), lower grill under front bumper, matt black headlight bezels for the original chrome, Chrome blade to right rear bumper blade, 16in 5 star for the original 15in Lattice on the modern narrow tyres
Replace head lining, restore the leather and interior and give the carpets a good clean
I would like to service the brakes (Teves Mk3) but at the very least give them a good looking at and checking over

Should keep me busy shouldn't it?

Whilst compiling this list it occurred to me that as I am doing the handbrake cable, I could do the outboard brake conversion and service the diff and braking system at the same time, I want to address the heavy woolly steering so do the brakes and suspension at the same time, the gear box damper needs replacing so look at the mounts at the same time so take the engine out too and give that a proper going over. Whilst the shell is tripped out, I could look at all the rust prone areas to the underside, I want to look at the rust on the front wings so I could also whip them off and check for scuttle rot (it has signs of past repair work to the scuttle), I know its had a windscreen leak as its gunked up in places so could take that out as the interior is coming out, and it could really do with a complete respray.......

I always start with the best intentions and then end up with a full on bare metal restoration project (To prove this I am currently 90% of my way through a complete 2005 X Type restoration). I bought this car for the wife, I am seeking a XJ6 for my next project so dont have the time, but you can see the utter logic in the latter strip down-repair-rebuild option.

What would you do in this situation?

 

Scrap it and buy another one?
Be a lot quicker.

 

^^^
Where would be the fun in that?!!??
(';')

 

Exactly.

For the Budget I had to start with- this was inevitably going to be the calibre of car I was going to end up with, sadly I would much rather rip apart and rebuild than maintain and molly coddle

"get it working then drive it until it breaks again- then fix it again" Its the Jaguar way