I'm looking to possibly purchase an XK8/XKR coupe....I've always felt that their stance was a touch high...especially the rear. The rear design--with its thickness and upward angle on the rear bumper flank--seems to accentuate this for me.

My understanding is that the underside of an XK8/XKR already 'rides low', so is slamming the car--even just a few inches--advisable? Anyone have experience lowering an XK8/XKR? How easy or hard is it?

Thanks much, and my apologies if this topic has been jawed to death already....I Searched 'slam' and 'stance' and found little.




69 E-type FHC Signal Red
97 XJ6 VDP Arctic Blue
69 MG Midget Primrose Yellow

 

High? are you for real? I take it you have never tried to get in one as it already feels like you are sitting on the road. You can fit lowered springs but they only lower it by 1" dont try any more as you will just cause a load of damage on kerbs or road humps

 

Of course I am for real, and I've gotten into plenty of XK8s and XKRs, plus even lower cars (see signature, below).

In my opinion, early XK8s have always been too 'butt up'. I Photoshopped one recently to see if I liked a different stance better...option 1 below is non-Shopped...option 2 is butt lowered, and option 3 is lowered a couple of inches. The difference is subtle, but can mostly be seen in the wheel arches. Personally I always felt the XK8 rode a little high in its earlier years for its lovely, muscular shape, and wondered if lowering it was possible or simply too dangerous.

 

Say,How about no 2 with this kit.

Arden Complete Body Kit

Wayne

 

I say go for it, it's only money and your money in fact so who cares what anyone else tells you. It only needs to be as safe as you want it to be. People build all kinds of stuff I would call crazy, but I am sure they don't care what I think. Be sure to post your experience so we know how it worked out for you.

 

Fun site to browse, Wayne--if I get an early XK8, I will definitely consider swapping out the pillared grille for just plain mesh....

...and I love your collection. Those old Triumph roadsters have the most fun rumble seats ever! They have lots of style for a very reasonable price point...

 

Thanks, I understand your thoughts and at 76 I still do crazy stuff with cars.
I did a Spit6 (Spitfire and GT6 combo) for a friend a year ago and liked the concept, so bought 5 cars to get enough stuff, more than I really have room for, to make me one.
I have stripped the rear ridge off the fenders and moved a few things around and built the engine and black wire wheels. So crazy lives on this side of the country as well.

Wayne

 

From what my mechanics have told me, mixing a Spitfire and a GT6 is not crazy at all, but makes perfect sense!

 

Say, just as a courtesy, when someone helps you, down in the right corner is a thumbs up thanks, give that a click if you think the post was helpful.
Oh, and lots of the Spit6's around, Triumph would still be in business if they produced this car. They did a Vitesse but very few were imported here, a four seater sedan with the straight 6.
Sorry off subject, PM, if you want to talk about it.
Wayne

Wayne

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...omplete-54377/

 

Slamming is NOT GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Well, there ya go. Paul Pavlik proves I am not alone at all. Thanks so much for that thread! Your stance solution for your car is *exactly* what I'm looking for. Now, I will weigh whether it bothers me enough to undergo the expense and added risk to the oil pan.

I understand purists--understand them completely. I own an E-type, and would change nothing (except upgrading from a Series II to a Series I for design choices)...but three things always bothered me about XK8s....1. always felt they rode a tad high, especially in back, 2. would always swap the pillared grille for non-pillared for a cleaner look, and 3. never loved the 'squashed octopus' standard wheels, for which there are a wide variety of really wonderful options, from mild to wild. Vive la différence!

 

You can slam it but it makes a lot of negative camber that wears the tires, which is pretty typical of slammed cars. If you use super hard tires the OMG so JDM Herra-Frush guys use, you might get 3000 miles out a 30,000 mile set of tires, but then so do they.

I have HR lowing springs and the back actually looks lower than the front:



The back gets close with just HR springs, but what you need for the front is someone with a Lathe to cut new grooves in the shock to move the lower spring retainer mounting point lower and do a coil over conversion using Coilover sleeves on the shocks, so the height is adjustable.

Someone on the forum has already done this. Speedway motors coilover shocks are bilsteins (like XK8 shocks), so the shock body is likely similar.

Cut a grove 2" lower on each shock, add a threaded sleeve and adjustable lower spring mounting perch and thrust bearings from Speedway (probably less than $250 Total) and you'd have a fully height adjustable front.

 

This is my XKR 2000 convertible with "Mariani" springs.

 

How does it ride? Do you notice a difference at all

 

Here are details on front coilover conversion

 

Hello, my sensations at the wheel with these springs is very positive as they give the car a more sporty feel than standard, which feels excess comfortable. The lower it is, an increase in stability and corner grip. I have also noticed that the feeling of lack of rigidity of the chassis, typical of convertibles tends to disappear. On the contrary we must say that we must be much more careful with bumpers speed reducers, curbs and roads in bad condition. Finally I also think that it improves the aesthetics by giving it a more aggressive appearance.













The springs are from this German firm.

http://www.mariani.de/de/

 

Those springs look identical to H&R's. The ride/handing is excellent with my H&R's.