Summer Project!

seenthelight · Post by **seenthelight** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:17 am

Having finished the fine detail on the V8S, thought my new ebay purchase might be of interest? Rare Celebration convertible that only needs a bit of love and attention to the finer detail to make it like new again! Drove it 200 miles home and she never missed a beat!

Needed a few bits sorting but this seat is photographed before I had it repaired this week!

Have a pair of Bilsteins to fit to the front end; some ball joints to do; lighting upgrades; temp sender unit; door hinge pins and then to the bodyshop for all the paint to be done!

Later AJ16 engine is the one to have!

Just like Granny's sideboard, lovely!

Post by **neil** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:31 am

Looks great - my Dad's mate had a couple from new - think he's still running one now - The Colour is a good choice too.

seenthelight · Post by **seenthelight** » Fri May 01, 2009 11:02 pm

Updated if anyone is interested, hoping the Summer is as good as they say?

Did some graft on body, suspension, brakes.....

Spot the Bilsteins, small Alpina influence

Here is what she looks like after all the graft...wheels are period XJR deep dish 18's which suit the car well I think...

blacky · Post by **blacky** » Fri May 01, 2009 11:10 pm

you have done a cracking job on that

dose it drive any better than when it left the factory??? iv heard there not that good new &only get worse with age

seenthelight · Post by **seenthelight** » Fri May 01, 2009 11:50 pm

Thanks Blacky, much appreciated coming from one who knows about these things.

I worked on these cars many years ago and the early ones were poorly put together and rusted badly. Later cars such as this one had galvanised bodies so many are pretty solid and can actually be substantially improved in many areas.

I have fitted Bilsteins, polybushes have replaced the original rubber nonsense and I've improved the anti-roll bar links and steering rack bushes.

Had to re-build the front with V12 springs when one came out in two pieces and Jag don't make them any more

Have acquired some others, though and these are to be re-calibrated to XJR-S ride height and torsion, tricky given that this car carries the much lighter 4.0 litre alloy engine. This is being done by a specialist and is my next major task. I have XJR-S Bilstein coil-overs to go on the rear.

Even with this to do it already drives far better than I dared believe and with the front springs done it should be better still

blacky · Post by **blacky** » Sat May 02, 2009 12:16 am

it makes it all worth it when you know it will be better than when it left the factory

should be nice to use if we get a summer this year

KevinB10 · Post by **KevinB10** » Sat May 02, 2009 6:58 am

Looks superb, I love the colour.

My Father-In-Law is a Jaguar nut, he is has just bought his fourth XJ6.

thomas v8 · Post by **thomas v8** » Sat May 02, 2009 7:14 pm

I'm not into convertables much but i do like the colour combo's here. Especially the leather seats. Looks mint Peter. Enjoy

Ikule · Post by **Ikule** » Mon May 11, 2009 9:35 pm

Looks superb in that colour, Congratulations and enjoy the summer in it.

seenthelight · Post by **seenthelight** » Mon May 11, 2009 10:44 pm

Thanks for the positive comments, guys, much appreciated.

Interesting point, I have insured it on a limited mileage policy (4500 miles per annum) with four friends/family as additional named drivers for only Â£350 fully comprehensive

Bring on the Summer then, though apart from the Bilsteins it is not, of course, an Alpina

Geoff · Post by **Geoff** » Tue May 12, 2009 10:33 am

Looking good Peter. I remember you telling us about it at Wetherby back in Febuary, seems like five minutes ago

How are the front springs coming along?

seenthelight · Post by **seenthelight** » Fri May 15, 2009 9:40 pm

Springs should be in next month I hope Geoff. Just running it around a bit to see what else suggests itself, have noticed a knock from the steeering column UJ, should be a straighforward fix though.

Gets a lot of attention and already one offer to buy

Didn't do it for that, though, plus my twins fit in the back at the moment and would probably never speak to me again if I let it go so soon

On reflection, might ask Charles for an opinion on whether that last point could actually be a good thing

BTW, noticed that there are a few of us on the Forum that have twins, must be an Alpina thing

Geoff · Post by **Geoff** » Fri May 15, 2009 9:56 pm

I like the new wheels they suit the car a lot better than the originals.

blacky · Post by **blacky** » Sat May 16, 2009 12:16 am

next time we have a north meet you can be the one not in a alpina ;p

Toby · Post by **Toby** » Sat May 16, 2009 6:01 pm

Fantastic looking car. Great colours. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for these cars but always been scared off owning an old jag. I just don't know enough about these cars so could easily end up buying a money pit.