Today the XK8 came back from the body shop where the holes were cut and the louvers painted and attached. In the Jag's absence I had rented a mini-van, so I had room to ferry the Hydra's back and forth to the tire store and get them mounted, then put them on when the Jag came home. All the panels match in color, just the lighting was kinda so-so...



Left louver, excellent fit! No shaking on the highway lol...


Very good placement! The cutting of the hood was of such concern that I told him if he needed some lattitude to avoid cutting into any supports by all means take it, and so he moved then down about 1/3rd of an inch.


Here's a slight rise in the right side louver, that will be shimmed tomorrow to tighten that up. He used some kind of material, a gluey tape I think he said, to get the fit tighter because the metal was too thin for the clips to grab tight.


Freshly painted, trued and road force balanced 18 inch Hydra wheels and Bridgestone Protenzas. Still have a little shimmy in the steering around 55mph, so I KNOW it's the car now haha.


Shot of the front again. When I first saw them on the car, the louvers looked a lot bigger than I thought they would, because I had never seen an XKR in person before. So one thing I noticed this afternoon was with the sun behind these louvers, they can cast a pretty good shadow due to not being recessed, and it makes them look even BIGGER, but I'm getting used to them, and really like them a lot.

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions and ideas, it was a big help and you all made this phase really fun! So the cosmetic part is over, and will now focus again on the mechanical issues. Yes. the drive shaft still buzzes despite the lube, still have the wheel shimmy, and am really looking forward to pulling out that center console to replace the climate control light bulbs!

Have a great holiday!!

 

That looks superb.... Well done...

A much cheaper option than fitting an XKR hood, the Hydras are one of my fav 18" wheels, proper job!

 

Your car is looking great nice colour.The headlamps look good are they new?Mine have a slight black stain on the corner grooves.
Alan

 

Nice job!!! Your car looks like new now. The Hydras looks so cool.

 

Looking really good! Thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks guys! Don't know about the headlamps, just bought the car a few months ago. I agree about the Hydras, very cool wheel!

 

Those look great. Just like a 'real' XKR. I wouldn't have noticed that they were protruding, or that they were 1/3" out if you hadn't pointed it out. Lol at finding them a bit big, yes they are noticeable, but discreet at the same time, IMO. Have you noticed how you get a heat haze coming out of them when you're stopped in traffic?

 

Haven't noticed the heat haze yet but I'll look for it next time. I did notice when I parked it in the garage this morning as I walked by the louvers I felt a pretty good blast of heat and I put my hand over one of the louvers and was amazed at the velocity and temprature of the heat coming out.

I also noticed these are the only electrical looking fittings directly under the louvers. Wasn't sure if the XKR has the same fittings there, and if they don't should I cover these with something. There's one on each side.



Looks like the shop left some residue on the heat blanket. Doesn't look like it going to come out ot that fiberous material easily, maybe not at all. Is there some way to clean that or is ther some kind of dye that would work? The other side is about the same, and look worse than the pic lol.

 

I am always quite surprised when I wash my car how easy it is for the water to gush down through the vents onto the engine, but clearly it was designed by Jaguar to do that, so I wouldn't worry if I were you.

 

These are the Electrical Connections to the VVT Solenoids (not used on XKRs).

 

Are they water proof?

 

Well, I would say they are "Moisture Proof"

 

Good enough then!

 

Being the first car wash with the louvers, I resorted to the laying of the towel under the area the louvers are, and closed the hood. I put my keys in an unusal location to make me look for them and remind me to remove the towel before I jumped in the car and cranked it up.

After the wash the towel was damp in two oval areas, but not soaked or saturated al all. Everything underneath was dry, including the VVT solenoids. Think I'll do it from now on.

 

Good job....a really cool looking mod done very well

Thanks for sharing

 

Thanks, Jim! Those Jaguar caliper decals should be getting here soon!