Good day,

Here is my project I picked up for a little over $3500... I apologize if the pictures are too big...

I only found one place where there was paint overspray... I think it was a fixed scratch or something like that as I didn't see any evidence of body work... There are two dings in the bumpers... Otherwise the body is in great shape...



Here is the trunk... Almost everything back here was pulled apart... I had to search for the mounting hardware and still didn't find it all... There are NO convertible top locking block hoses at all... The others are in really bad shape... I lowered the top manually and will continue to do so for a while...





All of this was totally pulled apart and unbolted... Instead of pulling the last mounting bolt, it was probably quicker to just break the tab... I just flipped it over and used it as a locking tab... I still don't know where all the relay sockets go...



These were just hanging out with the relay sockets, but I have NO idea what they go to... There were no open spaces in the fuse block...



These are up by the positive side of the battery... Again, I have no idea what they go to...



Here is the battery... I had to leave it on the charger for a couple hours to bring it back to life... Should there be a tray under it? Seems odd to have it just sitting on the bare metal... Also, the mounting bolts are maxed out on the threads and a previous owner had to put that bolt in there to take up space...





Here is the interior... the back seats are in pretty decent condition... They weren't bolted in and I don't know what the mounting hardware looks like... This area was covered with hydraulic fluid... I pulled the foam out and cleaned everything up...





Here is the shifter... Destroyed!!! Still functional for gear selection, but REALLY!? The console wasn't bolted in place... I think these black torx bolts hold this stuff down... But, I'm guessing as there isn't much else to choose from...





Here is a good shot of one of the bolts I think hold this stuff in place (but blurry)... Top right corner of the pic... If this isn't right, PLEASE feel free to let me know... Thanks!!!



The front seats are perfect... I don't think they are original as they weren't bolted in properly either... The driver seat wasn't hooked up electrically, but the pass seat was and it worked... I hooked up the drivers seat and it worked, but now the pass seat doesn't... REALLY!? Sheesh!! Sorry, no pic of the front seats... YET!!!

No interior light... Really!?



No gas cap!! And they tried to SUPER GLUE, yep... SUPER GLUE the gas door locking bracket to the door... AND got glue all over the place...



The engine bay is a mess... but it does run... badly!!!







No power steering fluid!!



.... Well..... That is it for now... Thanks for sticking with me thus far...

Cheers!!!

 

It's obvious you enjoy a project!
Looking forward to your updates.

 

This thread's going to run for a while. Did it come with a large box of parts or is it WYSIWYG?

Good luck.

Graham

 

What year model is your car? I live in Newberry and I will head your way and we can put the cars side by side and see if it will help to determine what is what!! I am leaving for a trip to Canada and will not be back till Aug 20.. Just let me know if it will help. Jim

 

Graham and then some!!

 

I have 2000 in sweet shape. If you need a pic of a certain area for comparison just holler.

 

wow, thats got the makings of a really nice car, but some amount of work involved.

The guys here will help for sure, I see you've already got some guys hooked and offers on the tanle.

Please keep us updated and if we can help we will.......There may be some really good info found in the FAQ as well and well worth trawling through.

Good luck

 

Is that the car advertised on ebay out of Acworth? If so, it's been listed many times over the past six months or so as having a blown head gasket due to overheating.
RJ___________
97 XK8 Conv 85K mi

 

It did come with a large trunk full of parts... Lots of various hardware that eventually found it's way back to the place of origin... Some guess work... Interior is back together, for the most part... waiting on a shifter assy to put the center console back in...







I have a 99... SN 040154... That is what I wish I had... A spare that is totally complete... Oh, if you have an OBD II reader, bring it too... Mine is on a boat in the middle of the ocean, with all my other stuff...






Thanks much!! I may just take you up on that...





Hmmmm... I may get in trouble for this, but yes... This is that very car... I plan on doing the head gaskets anyway with the MLS version and maybe some ARP head studs to keep it locked together...

I will post pics of the finished (almost) interior... I need to clean the white leather up still...

Thanks for all the help everyone!!!

Cheers!!!

 

Who the hell owned that car--Attila the Hun?!?!?

Doug

 

Take me 10 minutes to put that back together .... LOL good luck you certainly seem to like a challenge


And I was joking about the 10 minutes probably take me about an hour

 

Sure, a bit of tidying up is indicated, but $3500?
I think you got a better deal than I did

 

The battery doesn't have a tray. It sits on the floor like that. The problem is the one fitted is too small. It may have the right capacity but should be a taller battery so the securing strap doesn't need and extra nuts or washers.

This is my 4.2 but the earlier 4.0 litre model is the same:



Another thing on battery type. The original Jaguar batteries have a vent pipe from the left hand side (nearest the fuel tank) which vents gas out through a hole in the floor.

Graham

 

That is what I was thinking too... Oddly, the original batteries look more like BMW version than Ford... Mine has the vent tube, but it is on the side nearest the CD changer and way too short... I had to lengthen in to reach the vent hole, which I'm guessing is in the corner where the open connector is in your picture...

Thanks much!!

Cheers!!

 

I gave some thought on buying the car when it was first listed in a shop in Macon, but I was unwilling to pay more than you did and the asking price was much higher. I forget the details but seem to recall that the steering was replaced and maybe transmission also. I think the shop was working on a retirement plan until the owner ran out of money.
Before you go too far it would probably be wise to remove the heads and see if they are warped and if the valve seats are in place. Even if you have to replace the engine you will not be out more than the car is worth if you do all the labor yourself.
RJ_____________
97 XK8 Conv 85K mi

 

YES - in my picture, the vent is beneath the black retaining bar.

When you buy a new battery from Jaguar, the vent is separate. The battery is plugged at either end and you have to remove the left hand plug to fit the vent.

Graham

 

Sorry to hear he didn't take you up on the offer you gave back then... Maybe a little comforting to know you were right on the value of the car...

Cheers!!

 

I was confused a little until did a reboot and read what you typed again... The vent out of my battery is by the CD changer, but where does the tube go from your battery? I put mine through a rubber grommet in that corner by the gas tank... I was guessing as the previous owner had it just haning down; venting into the trunk...

Cheers!!

 

Just in case it wasn't clear, the batt. vent can be moved from one end to the other of the .cover. At last it can on my batt.

 

You're good in that hole! ;-)