Jaguar Super V8 Project

[alecescolme]

I thought I would finally share my latest project with you, having bought the car in May.
This is my third car and my 2nd Jag.
The thread for my old jag was HERE

I bought this off a friend I made on the Jaguar forum, who spent a fortune on getting it to how it is today. It is still work in progress to get it cosmetically where I want it to be though.

2003, 92,000 miles

Main upgrades are:
-X358 Facelift conversion
-Portfolio Alloy Vents + Gear Surround
-Respray in Black Cherry (Portfolio Colour)
-Wald spoiler
-Interior swapped for Ivory/Charcoal
-Louder exhaust
-Supercharger Pulley
-'Caldoofy' Intake
-LPG Conversion
-DAB radio with USB/AUX

Spec:
-Adaptive Cruise
-Rear door blinds & electric rear blind
-TV (Analogue)
-Heated seats all round
-Rear DVD headrest screens
-Brembo calipers
ect.....

















To do:
-Respray front & rear bumpers to start
-Fit & refurbish reclining rear seats
-Refurbish Arden Sportline centers in Bronze
-Refurbish OEM wheels Anthracite/ Shadow Chrome
-Refit walnut trim
-Respray calipers
etc...

[alecescolme]

Thanks for the responses chaps!
The side vents & wings of the are very rare Portfolio model, made from solid aluminum. But I can see what you mean, I wont paint them, but probably will wrap them and all chrome in satin black.

[alecescolme]

JQ said:

Looks good.

What Jag forum do you frequent, I'm thinking of an XJ as a potential next car and want to do plenty of research? Cheers.

jaguarforum.com and jaguarforums.com

[alecescolme]

Sound clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMs9V5hubsU&fe...

[alec.e]

Finally a update, current jobs in progress are:
-Interior refit & refurbish, convert car to 4 seater with separate rear memory seats.
-Retrim headliner in black suede material

Just done:
-Respray all brake calipers & new lettering
-Install 20" Jaguar Cremona Wheels and tyres (255 front, 285 rears)

[alec.e]

Pacman1978 said:

That's gorgeous, one of only a few (IMO) that can turn my head from all angles. I'd be very content to own that as is :-)

Thank you

[alec.e]

NinjaPower said:

I hate to say this, but those 20" wheels look truly awful. They just look really cheap but I suspect they weren't.

The car looked much sexier on its standard alloys or possibly on those ones you posted earlier in the thread.

But I have to say, the car looks absolutely superb, is a stunning example, and is an absolute credit to you

No worries, I appreciate diamond cut wheels are not everyone's cup of tea, yes they were not cheap
I was not too sure before they were fitted, but in real-life they look much better than the old 5 spokes as pictured above.
I think the shiny front goes with the polished alloy and the black goes with the, well black.

The 21" Arden wheels went to my friend who traded wheels with me, as they needed re-building and more expense.

They are inspired by the XFR-S wheels:

Edited by alec.e on Saturday 30th January 20:41

[alec.e]

problemchild1976 said:

disagree completely

the original ones look like they are from the dark ages of alloy wheels when you could get 3 spoke or 5 spoke painted in silver and that was it

the new ones look right at home on the car

love the car

superb

JJ

Cheers, JJ! Good to hear other peoples opinions. Like your Brabus, bet it's a real pocket rocket

[alec.e]

problemchild1976 said:

how much are these now?

my father in law just had to get rid of his XJ Sport (cam chain tensioner sheared and was a BIG job to fix) but it was soooo nice to drive and visibility was fantastic

V8 and supercharger has to be the perfect mix

the BRAB is pretty nippy and great fun to own and my only mechanical issue in 8years has been 1 x thermostat failure - a real joy

JJ

A facelift 2007-2009 XJR is about upwards of £10k.
The 2003-2007 can be a bit of a bargain, someone on the forum only paid £4.5k for his Super V8.

[alec.e]

Sparky137 said:

Got to say I'm afraid I agree on this. But I've always liked the look of the standard wheels anyway.

They are standard wheels, just diamond cut

[alec.e]

Oilchange said:

Beautiful car, really very very nice. On the original wheels though. Imo the new ones are awful but that's just my opinion. Enjoy it, it's a fab looking machine and I envy you.

Thank-you for the compliments and your opinion, just out-of interest which part of the new ones is 'awful', is it the black/polished combo or the shape?

Either way, I still love the wheels and to me they have made the car look a bit younger Maybe they look better 'in the flesh'?

[alec.e]

Croutons said:

I'm intrigued, impressed, and jealous (in a good way I hasten to add). I have envious eyes for Geekman's gorgeous (and bargainous) SV8, and wonder if I've missed the window for picking up a reasonably priced X350, at £1.30/ ltr no-one wants anything other than an econobox, but at the moment these seem to be picking up in price, even if they hang around at dealers for some time...

Anyway, some questions: It was a low mile, well spec'd SV8, so what prompted the effort and expense of the nose job and spray? I appreciate there is a big difference in price between a 2003 car and the 358, but save a smash (or working in a breakers) I am wondering why someone wouldn't just buy a later car..?

And the lpg, how do you find it with the supercharger? What kit is it and where is the filler?

If I could find a LWB with all the toys for the same 49p everyone else seems to, I would very much consider gassing one to keep it for a very long time, they are a very classy way to travel...

Edited by Croutons on Monday 1st February 16:11

The facelift was done by the previous owner, as he felt the bargain price he paid for the car justified the cost, from then he just carried on. The car was 1 owner, low mileage with no accident damage (to my knowledge).
The main expensive updates are the Portfolio extras, including Black Cherry respray, which are not available as a X358 in the UK, a 2009 US one is up for $50,000 with 30,000miles!

I can't really comment on the LPG as I have only used once and just run on Petrol, much preferred the way it drove on Petrol, so stuck with it. I may get the LPG tuned/improved sometime. The filler cap is under the rear bumper.

[alec.e]

Some progress, just general tidying up. Still loving the wheels

Turned the engine bay from this:




To this:






Basically, bodyshop that resprayed the car from silver to black cherry, did a terrible job of prepping the engine bay. The paint could be washed off with a hose or scraped off with a fingernail. So I removed all traces of the black paint down to OEM primer, de-greased and flatted with 400 grit. Sprayed it satin black myself, but still need to re-do the bonnet hinges.

Also changed the intake silicone tubing from blue to black.


Looking better, still need to tidy the LPG pipework, any experts know what the silver cylinders are for- filters?

New Bosch AeroTwin wipers:
Before:


After:


Removed this from the intake tube before the filter, doubt it will make any difference, maybe just a bit more induction noise.

[alec.e]

Harby74 said:

A good friend has a LWB Super V8, black with red leather and nearly every option available, plus some personalised extras as it was originally Angelina Jolie's car, so it has a special privacy coating on the rear glass.

This one?:
http://www.superv8.co.uk/gallery/

[alec.e]

The sill covers are different on the X358, much deeper and from the side profile follow the lowest point of the X358 bumpers.
I believe the part numbers are:
C2C33838XXX RH, C2C33840XXX LH (SWB)
C2C33839XXX RH, C2C33841XXX LH (LWB)

Here is a photo comparing the two:

Original X350 top, X358 bottom.

Hard to see in the photos, the depth is more noticeable in real-life. Please excuse the filthy car!
Before:




Quite pleased with the end result, the old covers were looking a little worse for wear, with severe chipping/peeling paint. I painted them myself, the first time I have painted body panels. Bumpers to do next...

[alec.e]

The holy grail for this project- Picnic Trays

Interior as it stands:



F-Type Pedals:

[alec.e]

0a said:

I'm really looking forward to seeing this on the barge meet on the 1st May!

Thank-you Looking forward to it myself, and seeing the other Mercs/Jags, ect.

[alec.e]

Thanks all
Was great to meet you all and some lovely cars.
Not touched the gas system, not sold on it for this engine.

Got some detailing done before the barge meet, not that you could tell in the rain...
My new DRLs working too

Edited by alec.e on Monday 2nd May 21:01

[alec.e]

Thank-you, my 'detailing' nothing really special, just a clay, polish with a DA and wax. Looking into ceramic coatings sometime in the future once the paintwork is done.

[alec.e]

0a, thanks, a very enjoyable day despite the weather. Your 190 is a stunner, in fantastic condition and puts many much newer cars to shame. Got me looking at 80's and 90's Mercedes in the classifieds;) Hope to meet again at a future barge meet.