I got rid of those front over riders, that I think take away the beauty of the front end. After popping the tabs off the plastic covers, they came right off. The issue was getting the massive aluminium supports, that were behind the plastic. I drilled out the bottom rivets, but the top rivets were not accessible without removing the front end. I did the next best thing, and took a 5lb. hammer, and knocked them off.

To my surprise, the 99 chrome grill bar does not have indentations, that you can see, with the over riders removed. I riveted the bar on from underneath, and epoxied the upper section to the black pipe or over rider support.

Eventually I will have a perfect E Type, that is comfortable to ride in, doesn't overheat in summer traffic, doesn't rust, and uses relays instead of massive cables and switches. Life is getting better. I think the wire wheels and new interior should do it......Be cool....Mike

I'll add a pic as soon as I can figure out how

 

If there aren't any pics then it didn't happen...

 

The change must have happened with the 2001 minor facelift, the changes in 2003, or the nose change in 2005. I know my 2000 did not have indentations either.

 

Here are the pics

 

Nice! Looks great!

 

Nice and I really like anyone doing something creative instead of just bolt on. With that said IMHO it would look better if it stopped a little short on each side, would appear to float in the opening but what do I know. As long as you like it, we are all happy!

 

But if he's going for the E-type look, it did go to the edges. I'd love to see the badge moved to the chrome bar as the E-type had. Or even just a growler face. Someone had done that and made a plinth to hold it. I think it was the Arden small plinth badge and they cut two notches to slip over the chrome cross bar. Looked great.

 

I think the mesh is too much but this is VERY E-type. Especially if the bar went from end to end. I even don't mind the V8 used to cover badge holes. Although I'd have the holes filled and nose painted. I've seen very few XK8's that couldn't stand a nose cone re spray!

 

Love the look MR. My first Jag love was a 1971 XKE. Left a deposit on her many a year ago and backed out. No garage at the time. ( dumb)

Love to try your conversion on my 99 XK8, however the pole leese might give me a hard time. Stupid license plates... Rich

 

MrPlow 58 I applauad your efforts and please keep sending updates on your progress toward a tribute XKE. There is no intended criticism. However as we all know the XK8 is a sexy "Modern era" machine the XKE is a timeless beast that will never be replicated.

Just to keep you focused here's a pic from the Market section of an XKE for sale, not my color choice but it does not matter the XKE will never be duplicated or beat when it comes to pure styling and class in any color!

If I ever find a 68 series 1.5 Vert manual in the right color at a price I can handle it will be in my garage.

Keep up the good work,

 

Nostalgia is a beautiful thing. I've owned a few of the Jaguars from that and previous eras, and used to own a shop that specialized in the repair of those cars. I couldn't agree more that the E-Type's beautiful lines will likely never be re-captured, but cannot lament the electrical and mechanical issues that came along with those cars. But, given the opportunity to purchase a Series I E-type that I could afford, all of the memories of the problems would be inconsequential.

 

I was never a fan of the original XK8/R grille so this was one of the first things I changed. I Really liked the badge and straker from the E-type. XKRacer sells a badge and straker and is the one I installed. I also agree, the XKE will never be duplicated. My brother-in-law had a '64 series 1 (my first love) back in the 1960s. Like God, he worked on it for 6 days and drove on Sunday afternoons. Thank God Ford fixed the quality issues but no one can beat Jaguar designs.

Mark

 

I ordered a growler badge, that I am going to put in the center. It is a grill badge, so it has 2 studs, that will force me to drill holes for the mounting. Talk about being a nervous wreck that day. Measure 20 times, and drill once. I don't even want to know what the dealer would charge for a chrome plated piece of plastic, if I was even an eighth of an inch off. Thanks for the encouragement....Mike

 

Here's a tip:
Use a piece of paper and poke the actual pins in it then fold in half to line up the holes. Marie the center of the strake and line up center of folded paper. Use a sharpie to mark locating pin holes. Then it's dead center without too much measuring.
If it's the small grille badge face it should look good. Subtle.
I'd stick on with badge tape first as close as possible with pins and be sure. I've never seen a strake like yours without the notches.

 

PhilHefs picture is my car. It was the previous owner who modified the grille, and although I like the look, and I don't have a problem with the mesh, it really irritates me that it was not done properly, and the centre bar is not level, and is held in place with a cable tie (zip tie).
Once I have a garage (currently lovely garden but only a gravel drive). I intend to repaint the car, and that "V8" badge ($8 on Amazon) will almost certainly go.
My paint is well past its best - some panels have obviously been re-sprayed at some time in the past. The plastic "nose" always seems a slightly different shade of colo(u)r depending on the light, but I think whoever did mine could have probably get it a bit closer than it is.

 

"To my surprise, the 99 chrome grill bar does not have indentations, that you can see, with the over riders removed."

My over riders are in rough shape (cracked and missing pieces) and I'd love to do this mod to my 2003. Does anyone know if my car has indentations on the grill bar?

Thanks

 

looks good mike . gess the scond engine was in much shape .i like the look so much i think i might try it on mine . thanks for the post

 

I actually like your front grille detail. What I think may be the only thing that gets busy, for me, is the over rider bumpers splitting the grille. If you took them off, and replaced the three part grille with a one piece, then put the badge and chrome bar on it, it'd be about perfect. And I'd do a black mesh grille so it would disappear and the chrome bar would be the focus.
I have a couple extra black mesh grilles in my parts stash! Both the convex and the flat style. If you ever need one, let me know! Was going to eBay them but never got around.
Oh, and I LOVE the color of your car!! (I've saved pics of cars that have details I liked while I was restoring mine and yours was one of them!! I seriously thought about doing the bar like yours as well, but without the over riders.)

 

They are still looking around for the second engine, and my car is just sitting there with it's mouth open waiting to have one fitted. The auctions start today, so we will see.....Thanks.....Mike

 

One of these days, I might consider removing the over-riders completely and getting a full grill.
In the meantime, due to a slight altercation with a deer, the front end got repainted and the V8 badge removed.
Not a great photo, and car needs a clean, but you get the idea !!