If you run an XK in the UK, you might not wish to read any further! My 2001 XK8 had developed a few bubbles around both rear wheel arches and close to the seams on the rear quarters. I thought about tackling the work myself, but given the compound curves at the rear, anything less than perfection would show in the finished results. Living only about an hours drive from XK Racer, I thought it best to trust the work to an expert: I'm glad I did!

What follows are the photos taken by Tony as the work progressed. They are self explanatory and need no further description. The final photos were taken today and show the finished result. It is all now protected with Waxoil underneath and in the cavities.

 

Wow, that's superb work. My compliments!

 

Undercoating before rust starts is critical, so is fixing it when first noticed, great work.

A body shop can charge a lot hours in fabrication and man hours for rust repairs.Some don't repair, they replace the entire panel ouch!

 

Better than new, you sure made the right chose. The photos show a true craftsman at work.


Wayne

 

Beautiful. Nice work. I'd taken one look and run the other way. The results are outstanding. Enjoy it. Rich

 

That is a work of art, pure and simple.

 

Very well done and she looks pretty!

Although I still prefer human **** to rust ****.

 

Excellent, beautiful work

 

The fact that he did it all from scratch with no real body panels shows he knows hie trade. Great work.

 

Trying to frighten me?? My car goes in next week to be treated for rust in exactly those places. He said he would have to cut away metal and replace a lot of stuff but had no idea it may be that much!

He has done a terrific job on your car. If we did not know you would not be able to tell what work has been done.

Thanks for sharing.

 

Thank you all for your kind comments. The credit goes to our own XK Racer who did all the work. Not only did he do a great job, but he kept me informed and supplied the photographs showing the progress.

Frankc, are you having yours done by Tony? If so, don't panic, I don't think they come much worse than mine!

 

Well, I wish I hadn't seen that - I'm just praying mine isn't as bad.
Do you think that was the result of a previous botch-up job putting filler over rust?

 

I'm sorry to say there was no filler, it was just rusty metal. From the outside there was not a lot to see other than a few bubbles, although it was a little more evident on the offside. Unfortunately, it was eating away the metal from the inside, leaving the shiny paint largely intact on the outside.


The wheel arch repair panels are the new panels recently introduced by SNG Barratt.


The front floor pans still need attention, but this is a job I will do myself.

 

The inner wheel arch panel looks like it was made to measure on a stretcher, nice. Time I bought a shrinker/stretcher.


I have a single paint blister on the top of the wheel arch on my 450SL, once I dig into it I am sure I will need to do the inner and outer section like yours above. I have aftermarket outer arches but will need to make up inner repairs myself.

 

I would like to say this was the worse I have seen....... But alas not.....

Funnily enough as I was doing Renaulvations XK I had another customer show up wanting exactly the same thing but his was beyond financial repair.... Sure if you have a sentimental attachment but I had never seen an XK so bad..... The car had in excess of 180K miles, was an 8 no real redeeming features and would of cost many thousands to fix..... His one saving grace was somebody had reversed into his front wing, this of course wrote the car off, I suggested he take the pay out and buy another......

Always a pleasure!

 

Live in one of the original colonies where it was 67* F today and you never see such issues except on 30 year old General Motors vehicles. Restored a couple of those and came to the conclusion that GM engineered rust into their manufacturing process.

Cannot believe the destruction of road salt on vehicles in the mother country.

 

Incredible work. Very thankful I live in a dry clime.

 

Beautiful!!! Spray soak the whole car down, nooks, crannies, joints, welds, fenders, body, doors with 50% Kerosene and 50% ATF. It will never rust again. Lay some newspaper on the deck to soak up the excess. Drown it.

 

Light blue touch-paper and retire to a safe distance

 

Personally id recommend Black Waxoyl. Years ago I did my Ford in the clear stuff. The engine gave out before the body. I had a challenge, find any rust. Often got commented on when I went for the MOT. The old Ford Escorts were notorious for rust, but this one never did.

Why the black instead of the clear stuff? Easy really. You can see where its been sprayed. I heated the can up and only used half. Before that I treated the rust with rust killer. Then painted on top with Hammerite. Got some work to do in the engine bay and behind the rear bumper but I reckon if the engine etc holds out the car will outlast me.