Jaguar Super V8 Project

[alec.e]

r129sl said:

I saw this car at the weekend and was totally blown away by it. I did notice the paintwork was superb...

Thanks, the paintwork did look good while it lasted, I had a nasty shock cleaning the car today:




This must have happened between the barge meet and commuting to work. Looks like someone has kicked the car...
My freshly painted sills are scuffed and lower rear door. I have disguised the scratches by polishing, but I fear the deeper ones will not come out!

[alec.e]

Went to Santa Pod in the Jag yesterday, got a best time of 13.4sec @ 105mph, very hot day, so I am sure heatsoak affected the times, but on the whole very pleased.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6DXMTILlC8

130i vs Super V8:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHL6GF7_-w8

[alec.e]

Found some more videos on youtube, these against the s2000:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyLW9YtBt2k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZL1jh_GTgM

Some professional shots:








My best time slip (room for improvement):


Average MPG driving to SP:


Total average MPG for the day, including hooning it on the strip!

[alec.e]

A update finally

A few months I was seriously tempted to trade for a W221 S600 or a CLS55 AMG, but have decided to keep the Jag and carry on enjoying the car for the foreseeable future.

Latest projects are:
-Retrofit optional 4 zone climate control
-Finish Android install with upgraded touch-screen, digital TV and reverse camera
-Refurbish Arden Sportline 19" 3pc wheels
-Headliner retrim in black suede

[alec.e]

Geekman said:

Can't wait to see the results - yours is already my favourite XJ I've ever seen, so to improve on that is quite an achievement!

I'm particularly jealous of your paint: whilst mine is in generally good condition with no major marks, I've never had the chance to detail it and it's very dull and swirled. A good machine polish would make a huge difference, but I don't have the time or facilities to wash the car properly so it'd just deteriorate very soon after doing it. So for now I'll just have to stare in awe at your reflection shots

Oh, and I paid £4300, not £4500 as you said previously

Thank-you Seems to take a ridiculous amount of effort to keep it looking nice, no more black cars lol.
All the better for £4300! Still wanting to do that roadtrip, need to get the coolant system fully checked out, esp. valley pipe before driving on the continent.

[alec.e]

My Android/TV/Camera Install to date.

Reverse Camera:
I ended up repainting a new boot plinth, as the old one was missing many mountings.
First flatted and some old number plate holes filled:


Then painted with badges and new camera:


Camera wiring following OEM route under boot lid carpet:


Camera bolted in position (far right) through boot plinth and inner alloy skin:


RGB wires identified & stripped to connect video interface in boot:


I soldered crimp connectors, allowing the new interface to be bypassed and returned to stock if needs be:


I quickly made up a alloy bracket to mount the interface:


Video Interface in place on stack, (silver box on left):




A relay is required to 'invert' signal from the reverse lamps to trigger the camera view on screen. The X350 uses switched negative.

Camera connected with rubbish in view:


Seem to have a issue with the interface distorting picture about 6mm upwards from top of screen, did not have this issue on my install on my old XJ...

[alec.e]

Andriod/TV Part 1:
Pulling all the required cables through, afterwards, all cables tied or wrapped in loom tape to original cable routes:




'Secret' Push-buttons in cubby hole, left is video select on nav screen, right is audio select for cabin speakers:




Connectors in glovebox with original 12v socket:


I wanted to be able to mirror the front screen, so you can have Android and TV on all screens. To get onto the rear screens & input cabin audio, I had to hack into the rear armrest controls. Here is the modified panel:


Basically, the new RCA fly-leads connect direct to the PCB terminals, there are RCA sockets under the flap, which are helpfully designed to allow you to connect iPods etc to the rear screens. I just adapted it so than you can stay connected all the time, without unsightly plugs. The red JST plug plugs into my new cable to allow you to select audio from the front using the secret button.

Audio select button extended using very thin wire:


RCA Connections under rear armrest, next to OEM control panel connectors:


More connections added to the interface, all labeled:


MXQ S805 Android box plugged in and showing on all screens
NAV:

Rear Screens:


The stock screen is really crappy, so will be replaced, but still in OEM housing. I will be following guidance from a very clever man off the Jaguar forum.

[alec.e]

0a said:

Impressive work Alec, I'm pleased you are keeping the Super 8 and improving it even more.

Come down south for the next barge meet - hopefully it won't be so rainy! See: http://doodle.com/poll/tt3kd5ky44zdgwgr

Thanks, already got my name down, see you in Sept. Hope the weather is good too, I will be drag racing that weekend too.

[alec.e]

Some last minute changes in preparation for a X350 only Forum meet at Tan Hill Inn, organized by a good friend:

Colour coded mirrors:


At 8pm before the meet, I decided to wrap my windscreen trim black, to update the car a bit:


On the hills to Inn, really beautiful scenery:


At Britain's Highest Inn:




Another facelifted X350, retrofitted with every extra available:


Bad news on the way home:




Running lean on Bank 1 & 2. After much searching turned out to be a very small (vacuum?)line behind supercharger has come off, reattached, all good so far

[alec.e]

I got the dreaded Restricted Performance message on the way back from the Tan Hill meet. Car goes into limp mode and wont go past 3k rpm

These were the codes I got:



I few things I noticed, the earth behind the headlight sheered off when I touched it, so this was renewed. MAF sensor was dirty, this was cleaned.



Still getting codes coming back. I got my local mechanic to take a look, he spotted a very small hose had popped off:



Re-installed and secured with a cable tie, so far so good!



Also my new display panel arrived for testing



I have disassembled my spare head unit, new screen just placed it to see how it looks with an old laptop connected.
Touch-screen works too with Windows, but now my Android box sadly.

[alec.e]

Finally made an improvement I have wanted to do since buying the car, remounted the DAB controller. Before, the ashtray lid was permanently jammed in the open position, due to the way the controls were mounted. Immediately after buying the car, I disconnected the mount and shoved the controller loose into the ashtray, meaning the lid could close. Today I figured out a way to mount the controls and still close the lid, basically a plastic piece that slots in for a interference fit.
Before (as bought):


Test fit with cardboard template:


Mount cut out 2mm styrene:


Lid now closes:


Finally all done:


I also had a issue that FM stations did not work, meaning no radio when the DAB signal drops out. Turns out the FM signal is disabled by the Alpine unit, after going through the installer settings, I have enabled it to have the choice of DAB and FM . Happy now.

[alec.e]

LED lighting installed:





Inspired by the X351 XJ, I painted my window switches/ashtrays piano black
Before:


Rubbed down to remove texture:


Painted black, then lacquered:


Reassembled:




Improvement I think

[alec.e]

Thanks you both, very much appreciated

[alec.e]

Cheers!

macajc88 said:

Fantastic project! Really like the improvements you're making.

My dad had an '07 XJR and the performance was mind-blowing. Made a great sound too. It was the press car used by Fith Gear (vid is still on YouTube) so had all the bits on it.
I always preferred the X358 facelift as I think it's just more striking looking from the front.

Yes, the Supercharger is what makes the driving experience on this car, I love the whine and so do my passengers .
The performance is good for such a large car with 'only' 400 or so horsepower, but would love to get 600 out of it, but too expensive for me.

Would your Dads car have the same wheels as mine? That review I thought was very bias, why he felt the need to dress like a old man... I love the X358 Facelift, but also miss the sleeker, classy lines of the original X350. Ideally, I would have kept them both!

[alec.e]

monthefish said:

Amazing project.

Can't believe someone would (successfully!) retrofit the twin rear seat option (my personal favourite) - incredible skills

Glad to hear of some love for the X358 facelift - that was one of my projects whilst at Jaguar. I can see that it still divides opinion (as it did at the time). I still think it was a success given the limited scope/resources of the project (most of the budget was being routed towards its replacement, the X351), and the sill covers were a particular success - subtle, but gives the car a much more modern look. The full-width rear bootlid finisher (chrome plinth) is also a highlight.

I've always loved the pace of the XJR/SV8 - the way they relentlessly pile on the speed is a great experience, and loved the vid of you showing the S2000 a clean pair of heels.




Here's your next 'tribute' project:

Thank you very much! Very interesting to hear about your involvement in the X358.

Ah, yes the Concept 8, love the center console, ideas are forming At least I have got the alloy vents and gear surround.

[alec.e]

macajc88 said:

I was only ever a passenger (17 at the time he wouldn't let me near it!) but it really shifted for something so large. I think the supercharger failed not long after he sold it too; dodged that bullet!

His didn't have the same wheels, but striking all the same:

Lovely car and nice plate, those are the same wheels as mine (Cremonas), just mine are diamond cut.

[alec.e]

designforlife said:

Lovely car, must be like driving around in a posh living room.

I can't help feeling it could do with either slightly wider/low offset wheels or some hubcentric spacers...the wheels look great in profile but there's definitively a lot of arch width you could fill. Would make it look that bit more planted and purposeful, without being ridiculous.

Edited by designforlife on Friday 19th August 12:47

I agree the fronts are a bit inwards. The rears are almost at the limit of rubbing on the inside of the arch, due to the 285 tyres, if I fitted much of a spacer, then the arches and liner would need to be modified.

[alec.e]

LeighW said:

Lovely car Alec, same colour interior as my Sovereign. I'm really interested in the upgrades you're doing with the touch screen. Can you get it to control everything correctly (heating/stereo/nav etc)?

The screen upgrades enable you to still control all of the original screen functions, like heaters and radio, but also allows to switch to Android (or whatever) and operate from the same screen.
The work of this chap:
http://www.jaguarforum.com/showthread.php?t=89210

[alec.e]

I booked the car into VR Dyno Tuning for the 1st of September to have 200 cell cats fitted & the rest (bar rear mufflers) changed with a central X-Pipe. Can't wait to hear the result!

Ordered some new tips also, think they should suit nicely (5" by 3" oval)
A quick photoshop of what they should look like:

[alec.e]

0a said:

I love this car. I will have a Super/XJR next! I don't have your skills with regards to the upgrades though.

There seem to be plenty around with healthy mileages so I assume they are generally strong?

Go for it!
Mine is has only done relatively baby miles (98k), but quite a few I know of with 180k plus. My old 3.0 had 160,000 on it with no real issues. The main wear items are suspension bushings and change the gearbox oil about every 40,000 (not a service item).