Hi All,

since 3 years I came accross this fantastic and classic jaguar model and started collecting information in the internet about it. Now since 1 month I am owner of an XK8 coupé from 2001 in black with warm charcoal interior and XKR grille and rims. It ran about 70 tkm and seems in a pretty good condition! Let me introduce myself: I am Markus and live in Duesseldorf, Germany. I am 49 years old and just starting to be a "real" (not only reading and dreaming ;-) car enthusiast!
As I am not an native speaker, so please be forgiving with my language! Especially with using special car terms! We are not learning those expressions in school! ;-)

I am planning to keep the car a long period, at least until it will become an official "Oldtimer" in Germany, which starts at an age of 30 years. For the years to come I want to protect the car from rust, which seems one of the week points of its construction. At the moment there is only little (but unfortunately there is already!) corrosion on the underbody. The sills seems to be in perfect condition, but there is the expectable rust on the triangular sheets, which are as far as I know meant to secure the car on the production line. So I want to remove these sheets in an body shop. Did anyone did this before? Is there anything noteworthy? For example how are these sheets fixed? With some spot weldings? (These cars are quite rare in Germany, so I expect the auto shop not to know anything about the construction)
Furthermore, there is rust around the plugs in front of the rear wheels (I try to attach a picture).

In Germany the Fluid Film products are one of the most used products for car cavity protection. For sure there are more e.g. Mike Sanders grease, but there seems to be religious liked discussions around what is the best product. I guess there are different products available and favored in US or UK.
My question is more about, how to find all holes and cavities, which needs to be protected? Does anyone has expierence and advice or a plan / blue print of all relevant cavities?
I do not know especially, how to protect the double skinned sills. To my knowledge they are a few mm apart from each other at the front and rear wheel arches and will meet with close contact at the center vertical welding point. Is this correct? But how to access this little space?

I am glad for any hints and replies!

Best regards from Duesseldorf

Markus


rust around the rear inspection plug right before the wheel arches

 

Hi Markus and welcome to the forum. When I rustproofed my sills I used Bilthamber cavity wax. At the rear wheels end of the sills you should see a rubber bung. Some have them some not. On my other car it did not have a bung so I drilled a hole. I attached tube to a thin cane and fed it down the sill until it reached the front of the car. I then slowly pulled it back while discharging the cavity wax down the tube. It dripped through all the drain holes and I hopefully gave them a really good coating. Just one idea. I am sure others will have better methods and knowledge. I hope you enjoy your car.

 

Hi brinny,

thanks for your quick reply!

I guess, the body shop will manage to access the main sills, similar as you described it. My worries are about the double skin underneath and how to reach this tiny space. Looks like, it is impossible to seal?

Still looking for other comments and hints, maybe someone even has an cavity plan.

Best regards

Markus