The XKR is now at Falconworks for the next go 'round of performance enhancements.

To be done over the next week or two (we've got a major holiday tomorrow):
install OS Giken limited slip differential;
install Brembo rotors and calipers;
install AMG blue-top solenoids;
install new jeweled tail lamp assemblies (Victory);
install remote convertible top electronics;
replace driver's side rear control arm bushing;
install new fuel pumps;
install Mina lowering springs (they just now confirmed they ship today);
perform alignment.

Pictures will be posted along the way. Here we go!

 

Jeff see the rear strut brace that bolts the rear diff into the body? Where those bolt into the body brackets theyre SPOT welded. Have them fully weld those brackets while its out, Ive seen them tear out on cars with less power than yours

 

I really cannot wait for the kit for the STRs to come out!!!

 

This just gets better & better!

 

Jeff,
you have built a true supercar (both in terms of performance and aesthetics). I see that you have recently installed new wheels. LOVE them. Did you buy them new? If yes, where?
Also, I really like the spoiler that you did in a single day (i read that post ) - pretty amazing how nice it turned out.
Keep up the good work on keeping us informed and keep on motoring.

 

DevSpider, thanks for the compliments! =)

I got the awesome wheels from forum member jgaxkr. They are factory XKR wheels from a 2006 called 20" Perseus by BBS. 9" front and 10" rear. The bite on the road is AWESOME!

BTW, you have owned some pretty great cars. VAROOM!

 

It's getting ready to be put on the bench to have the OS Giken unit installed. =)

 

I had new brake rotors brought in. The used ones that I got were no good. It seems that the calipers are in fine shape, though. We'll see when they get hooked up. =)

A lot will happen next week. The Jag might be completed with its final installations, but we also might get delayed by the custom braided stainless brake lines. That could throw it over into completion of the following Tuesday or so.





I couldn't stand having my Jag in the shop for improvements again, so I stopped by the dealer and did some pretend driving...

 

Last picture is godlike Jeff, you made my day

 

I anticipate that the car will be done around Tuesday/Wednesday of next week.



This pic shows the oil fill hole on the rear differential:




The new OS Giken limited slip differential goes into its case tonight:




Mina lowering spring installed into rear:




Mina lowering spring installed into front. We kept the spacers to help level the car out:




SHOCKINGLY bad factory exhaust being replaced with a Mina kit:



Performance Exhaust Mina Gallery for Jaguar XKR


I had an intermittent problem with 'popping' on really hot days that had come up recently (112 degrees F). We did a leak test with a smoke leak detector and found that the liquid gasket sealant couldn't seat the intake plenum to the supercharger when it got really hot. The plenum was actually not flat on its mating surface. It was sent out to be machined and the Falconworks techs made a great gasket to fit it. They also filled a hole that was against the flat face of the plenum so that there would be no tendency for pressurized air to try and go around the gasket:




...and for those of you that have never seen such a thing, this is me chasing a giant Gila Monster in the desert where I went to practice shooting my new AR-15 pistol and KSG tactical shotgun over the weekend. This critter is WICKED!!! (Click the link below.)

9C030FF3-005F-4E1B-8FD4-6304F48BDC3B-636-00000069406A86A0_zpsb0fa633e.mp4 Video by MonsoonMfg | Photobucket

 

wow.... os giken, big brakes, mina goods, man this just keeps getting more and more epic!!!

 

Boy, that stock exhaust looks very restrictive!

 

Restricive for what? Sound? Performance?

Oryginal exhaust is enough for more than 500 hp, so... maybe Jaguar engineers are not idiots.

 

Link didn't work for me. I got a KSG a little more than a month ago. It's brutally painful with 1600fps slugs!

 

Krajcok, the restriction is unnecessary. It's the kind of thing a factory does to speed assembly rather than make it right. If you have the opportunity to do things correctly, and your customers are paying big dollars for your product, the product should be correct. The flow through the factory pipe is dramatically affected, and less volume of air can travel through. The use of a correct ROUND and NON-SQUISHED pipe is typically higher power and gas mileage.

 

If you examine the system they designed, it was optimized to reduce sound, not for performance. Just look at the factory cat and the over the rear axle portion... Neither of those were designed with performance in mind.

 

Well, the OS Giken 1.5 limited slip differential is now in its housing and ready to go back into the car. =)

Sometimes it makes me bonkers to not be able to drive the car while upgrades are being done, but these techs at Falconworks are quite meticulous. Since I plan on keeping the car until I become a much older version of myself, that's a good thing.

 

Quite a prodigious upgrading. Would you mind providing (at least in ballpark terms) a total and/or breakdown of costs for these various improvements?

Thanks,

Doug

 

SeismicGuy, the approximate costs so far are $22,000 USD for the newer, bigger motor plus supercharger and all installation; $15,000 USD for the parts and installation of huge brakes, lowering springs, blue-tip solenoids into transmission, new exhaust, & new limited slip differential. Other expenses for the car include items like tires, wheels and new leather seat upholstery, and high end speakers, approx. $8,000 USD. The car was purchased for $8600 USD. The only thing left to do after this current upgrade session is to get it painted. =)

Oh, yeah... it's all paid for, no monthly payments. Wahoo!

 

Jeff, are you really sure about no monthly payments??? Maybe you should look into an EZ payment plan with the local police for those speeding infractions. I tell ya I would have a problem controlling myself with that TS and limited slip rear. In all honesty have you thought about taking some driving lessons at the track? I'd have to take some lessons with that kind power.