I am new to this forum thing and will require patience while I learn(cars are easier). I have been a member since july when my wife surprised me with an early birthday Christmas and fathers day for the next five years, present. Imagine my surprise when she came rumbling up in a 2000 xk8 while I was mowing the lawn. She had seen me looking at it on a credit union repo- website. I had dismissed this car thinking that she would be objectionable to another car and I don't really like the auction atmosphere. So behind my back she took $4000 out of the bank and went to the auction. When the bids hit four grand, she thought she was done. Then she thought she might have enough change in her car to make another bid. She bid $4025 and suddenly the other three bidders dropped out and the rest was history. She's a keeper.(My wife I mean)
I had done some research on these cars before hand an true to form this car had already had some of the problems or was about to.

Repaired door rattles.
Replaced sway bar bushings.
Replaced front shocks.
Replaced upper spring mounts.
Rebuilt conv. top hyd. cylinders.
Made my own conv. top pump pressure relief for less than 100 bucks.
Soldered the power terminals on the ABS module. Discovered easier way to get it apart. (pictures will have to come later.)
A-drum O-ring gave out at 120,000 mi. Replaced the o-ring and new style clutch drum that is thicker. Cost: My time and $200. Hardest part of this repair is getting the TEN bolts that hold the tranny to the engine out. (Mysteriously,three of the bolts were lost.hope my tranny doesn't fall out.)
Checked secondary tensioners and they had already been changed to the latest models.
Bought 2 double five 18x9 wheels so that the 255s would fit on the front. these wheels are half an inch wider on the inside and out so that it keeps the factory geometry. the back are 18x9 with 285s and a 20mm spacer. they work great and look awesome. (Pictures will have to come later)
All of the info on this forum has been spot on and I appreciate all of you passion and love for these cars.

BigK

 

Congrats on the car and also on that rarest of things--a wife that appreciates cars!

Doug

 

Congratulations and welcome!

 

Welcome to the forum Karl,

Congratulations on the XK8 and on the issues you have already resolved. Good to hear the information on the forum helped.

I've moved your almost identical thread from XK/XKR section and merged it with this one so you get all the replies in one place.

Graham

 

Yes, I realised I had posted in the wrong place and did not know how to move it. So, I figured, two has got to be better than one. Plus, it gets me closer to were I can post my pics.

 

Great story, welcome and enjoy the board

 

Karl,

You can put pics in a post straightaway.

It's setting up a forum garage that requires a minimum of 10 Posts and 3 Days membership.

Graham

 

Great, When I get home tonight I will post some pics.

 

Karl, don't forget that new member intro when you get a chance.

 

welcome Karl, I enjoyed hearing of how you received the xk8. I appreciate your wife too...from afar.