Headlight ring for XKSS

Headlight ring for XKSS

Author
Discussion

julian64

Original Poster:

14,317 posts

253 months

Tuesday 31st May 2016
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I think I'm down to trying to make one of these as I can't find anyone selling one

Mr MXT

7,691 posts

282 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
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Let us know how you get on.

Hoonigan

2,138 posts

234 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
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hehe

julian64

Original Poster:

14,317 posts

253 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
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Okay so this deserves an actual reply as someone dragged it from obscurity.

Long story short I am overhauling the car and the rims round the lights were tarnished aluminium with lots of damage.

I took one off and polished it which worked well. Full of confidence I took the other off and started polishing it on a polishing wheel, half way through this it started to heat up same as the other one except all of a sudden it broke in two and propelled by the polisher on the broken end flew across the room.

I picked up the managed shiny spaghetti knowing full well replacement was going to prove a pain. It broke once more on straightening despite trying to put a few heat cycles into it, so now I had a headlight surround jigsaw puzzle.

After a few days of swearing and realizing this place was of little help with anything other than 'choose my new car', 'and should I upgrade the stereo in my diesel', I decided to try stitching stuff together with an aluminium tig welder. The end result was a frankenring headlight surround which changed the appearance of the car from a catwalk model to a cat that had swallowed a hand grenade.

Further attempts are revolving around making a greensand mould so I can cast a new one, cutting a new ring out of sheet and wondering whether it will bend to conform.

Efforts still ongoing.

a8hex

5,829 posts

222 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
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OK so it's probably a stupid question but have you tried talking to some of the companies that make replicas?

Britcar driver

75 posts

97 months

Saturday 17th September 2016
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Two things, if this issue is yet to be resolved:

1.) Jag is building the XKSS again, a super limited and super expensive run is being produced by the factory to build the rest of the 25 cars palnned, as I believe only 16 were produced before the Browns Lane fire.

They should be able to sell you any parts you need, at a high price I assume. Also, their heritage/restoration department at the original Browns Lane factory should be able to source/build you any part you may need (again at a huge price) much like Aston Martin Works will do for any classic Aston.

2.) You have an XKSS! One of the original 16 real XKSS's? Do you have a post on this that I missed, because I would be mega interested in hearing about it.

Sebring440

1,926 posts

95 months

Sunday 18th September 2016
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Britcar driver said:
You have an XKSS! One of the original 16 real XKSS's? Do you have a post on this that I missed, because I would be mega interested in hearing about it.
This!

I'd love to see photos of your genuine XKSS! One of my dream cars since childhood!

So many out there who casually refer to their XKSS or "D-Type" as if they owned a real one, when of course, it's nothing of the sort.


julian64

Original Poster:

14,317 posts

253 months

Monday 19th September 2016
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Gotta love PH, I only came on to ask if anyone had any idea how to manufacture one, or buy one.

Not going to pay the prices jaguar charge to idiots that think they are buying a 'continuation'.

If its any interest, the eventual remedy was to use a aluminium TIG welder and slowly build up a bridge across the broken part. This was then filed, sanded and then polished to match. Finally it was heated up and bent to a wooden mould I made before refitting.

It was a bit fiddly but the result was pretty good. A picture of the car has been on my profile since I joined PH.

Will start another thread shortly to find opinion on whether to stick with the original looking side windows or get rid of them and replace with some nice trim.