Jaguar xjc 4.2
Discussion
Earlier today I was out on the front garden to jack up each corner to see if the brakes had seized onto the disks. Well the car had sunk into the ground about 50mm and I couldn’t get the jack under the front of the car (the front has short springs fitted). So started jacking the rear using an off cut of 8”x2” timber under the jack to stop it sinking into the soft soil. Cut a long story short, the rear wheels were siezed up on the handbrake, the fronts rotated perfectly.
Man with the tools will arrive next week with a 4x4 and trailer and extra help to move and take the old girl away for an initial inspection to agree a budget of sorts before stripping begins.
My brief look underneath showed very little rust to the floor but like most things on 70’s classics it’s the horror you find once back to bare metal.
Still a while to wait for that to happen though but I’ll post pictures as and when accordingly
Man with the tools will arrive next week with a 4x4 and trailer and extra help to move and take the old girl away for an initial inspection to agree a budget of sorts before stripping begins.
My brief look underneath showed very little rust to the floor but like most things on 70’s classics it’s the horror you find once back to bare metal.
Still a while to wait for that to happen though but I’ll post pictures as and when accordingly
tortop45 said:
Well have a look at j leno.s garage his latest feture a xjc 4.2 on u tube.......
I was expecting some v8 converted car, so a nice surprise to see a near standard xjc. The engine bar was extremely clean with that nice slightly lowered stance.I’ve been thinking about colours for my car, even my Mrs was chipping in but of all the pictures I could find online the best looking coupes seem to be dark blue. I had thought of a mid silver with ox blood interior but on looking at the interior trim I do have plastic parts which would require painting and therefore could get scratched and show its original colour through. So although i would like a different variation of colour inside and out it looks like a more modern metallic or mica navy blue with a new original biscuit colour interior is probably the way forward at the moment
Today whilst it wasn’t raining I started to remove the interior before the car is trailered away. Mainly the nice stereo I fitted in the boot, parcel shelf and interior door panels. The door panels were sodden and only the vinyl covering preventing the water getting inside 
the delicate jaguar aluminium kick plates were also removed to find sodden carpet underneath. I may replace those with aftermarket stainless items and remake the items underneath also in stainless together with stainless fixings. The door seal rubbers are only ten years old but obviously still let water in from somewhere. I don’t think the coupe was particularly watertight from new so only way of prevention is garaged once rebuilt. Well looking forward to the car being trailered very soon
the delicate jaguar aluminium kick plates were also removed to find sodden carpet underneath. I may replace those with aftermarket stainless items and remake the items underneath also in stainless together with stainless fixings. The door seal rubbers are only ten years old but obviously still let water in from somewhere. I don’t think the coupe was particularly watertight from new so only way of prevention is garaged once rebuilt. Well looking forward to the car being trailered very soon TR4man said:
Pleased to hear that things are starting to get moving.
Looking forward to your updates (and don't forget that we like photos!)
I’ll post photos once the car is stripped before it gets media blasted. She should be trailered away Tuesday but rain is due that day and it’s currently in my boggy front garden facing the wrong way to navigate down a makeshift dug slipway between the front garden 3ft high retainer wall and the front of my house. If she gets down without further injury I’ll be very impressed.Looking forward to your updates (and don't forget that we like photos!)
Last year I had a Range Rover get stuck on that front garden with all 4 wheels spinning and the car getting lower in the mud. All good fun I suppose
I must admit it didn’t take much effort to drag off the boggy front garden. The rear wheels were locked on the rear calipers even though it was parked up without putting the handbrake on. Once the back wheels caught the concrete drive it didn’t take much pulling to free them.
So now while I’m waiting for the estimate I’m thinking should I change the colour or keep it as totally original but new and even put the original steel wheels and hubcaps back. I’m lucky to have it’s service history and original order from new which tells me keep it original. So maybe just use a metallic navy blue instead of the original plain gloss navy blue? A new biscuit colour interior but with navy blue piping and navy blue carpet instead of brown carpet perhaps?
Hmmm I dunno
So now while I’m waiting for the estimate I’m thinking should I change the colour or keep it as totally original but new and even put the original steel wheels and hubcaps back. I’m lucky to have it’s service history and original order from new which tells me keep it original. So maybe just use a metallic navy blue instead of the original plain gloss navy blue? A new biscuit colour interior but with navy blue piping and navy blue carpet instead of brown carpet perhaps?
Hmmm I dunno
I would keep the original blue...from what you say about the history etc I would think that the car's value would be enhanced by keeping the 'factory' colour, especially if you go with silver alloys or even better the OEM steel wheels. But then I am a bit biased having a dark blue Alfa with the original Alfa alloys...the contrast looks stunning...IMHO of course. I have always like the elegant simple lines of the XJ6 2 door coupe ; it is such a timeless design.
Keep us posted with the updates and photos !
Keep us posted with the updates and photos !
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