Hello to all and I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!

Well it's almost 70 degrees here in southern Virginia with a forecast that might approach the 80s for the weekend. It may not be Christmas weather but it sure is topless weather!

I just recently purchased a pristine 1997 XK8 convertible which has a leaper on it. I want to remove it and realize that I will be left with 1 or 2 holes in the hood. Lowest price to fill the hole and repaint was $900.

Is there anything that is available or does anyone have any ideas to fill that area and avoid a repaint?

 

I personally don't care for the leaper on the XK, but a LOT of people sure do like them....one idea is to just let it be....

 

Not a fan of the leaper on an XK, so agree with your idea to remove it.

Did the PO leave the growler badge on? If not, replace the leaper with the round growler. It would fill the holes and look more appropriate (IMHO).

BTW, $900 sounds like a lot to fill two small holes and do a partial respray. How much of the front end/hood are they suggesting to paint?

 

Exactly where is the Leaper located? Forward of the hood or on the actual hood? If it is forward of the hood, then the solution is as suggested by Jag#4. However, if the previous owner actually located the Leaper on the hood itself, as I have seen some do, then the only option is to take it to a body shop. That said, you can probably do better than $900 if you shop around.


Mark

 

Is there any chance that you could post a photo?

 

The growler badge is still on the car and the leaper is on the hood and not forward of it. I've looked all over the Internet for something to fill the leaper space. Also thinking about moving the growler badge to the leaper spot and finding something for that spot or filling and painting that hole. I'll post pics tomorrow in the daylight.

 

How big in diameter can that pin holding the growler badge to the hood be?

Nick
97 XK8 vert

 

Given this, I think the best option is to pay whatever you have to to get the holes filled and painted. The growler badge would look out of place on the hood as well.


Mark

 

[QUOTE=mjlaris;876526]Given this, I think the best option is to pay whatever you have to to get the holes filled and painted. The growler badge would look out of place on the hood as well.


+1
You would think they could 'google' what a Leaper looks like on your car before they did it. Then they probably wouldn't do it.

(it was 105 F here yesterday)!

 

Then +1 on getting the leaper holes filled and painted. But shop around. The price you were quoted seems high unless there is more body/paint work included beyond a fill and spot spray.

 

Personally I would replace the whole hood with one from an XKR, not sure on US prices but in the UK you would be talking roughly the same amount of money and that would include paint

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/a...xkr-makeup-jpg

 

Well he did ask for "any ideas".....LOL

 

Look for the winged vintage jaguar badge on eBay. It may work. I've seen it used in place of the growler

 

 

you dun like it?

 

These are speedholes, they make the car go faster / You want my advice? I think you should buy this car is from the episode… | Simpsons Reference

 

Thanks for the ideas, folks. Keep em coming.
I think fill and spray is he cleanest way to go and will keep the integrity of the lines intact.

Nick
97 XK8 convert