I decided to get serious about this car.

She sure is pretty but she needs some love in the mechanical department so here I go.






















[img]http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h194/cmontymonty/IMG_6597.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h194/cmontymonty/IMG_6598.jpg[/img]

On and on and on and on...... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Chris,

I love your jack stand!!

I'd forgotten the Jags had dual rear shocks. BTW, that is pretty clean underneath for an English car. All the Sprites I had even leaked 90wt, my dad called it 'preservative'...:D

Sweet!

Russell

We need to have a drool smilie on here. That thing is sick! I love it!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

What year is it?

Rewarding work <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Lovely <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Looks like it was restored at some point. V12? I would love a V12...anything <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Man, that is a beautiful car. Keep the status and pictures coming <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Eric W.

I'm having fun. The best part is I dont have to stress about having her done by Monday morning. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

A little background on the car. Its a 1963 Jaguar XKE Fixed head coupe 3.8 liter inline 6. My pops bought her back in 84 and she had been in a barn fire. Mechanically it was sound but she had smoke damage to the body, interior ETC. We brought her home and just started restoring the damage from the smoke and rust from age. As a youth I did much of the restoration myself and always had dreams of owning this car. My pops told me it would be mine someday.. We finished most of the cosmetics and then started showing the car. It did well in local shows but concourse it was not. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, after a decade or so of showing cars( XKE, model Ts, 32 fenderless coupe, 1916 Buick, ETC my pops lost interest. He must have forgotten whos car it was because he asked me few times if he could sell it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> "no way in hell!" was always my answer. After years of him trying to convince me it was the wrong car, I convinced him it was the right one and he finally caved in. Since my pops lives an hour away and commuting that distance to wrench on the Jag was not an option it was time to bring her home. Pops called me a while ago and said "come get your damn car out of my shop, I dont even want to look at it anymore.....He is a Ford guy all the way and has little patience for English engineering. So now I am serious about getting her dialed in again.

The good.
No rust, great body, complete, everything works..even the lighter.

The bad.
Previous 'redneck restoration' not correct for this car. Wrong color, wrong leather interior, overspray on suspension <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />, The oil looked like brown latex paint when I drained it (car sat for five years). Possible head gasket needed. Brakes needed rebuilding (done). Oil drain plug stripped out(aluminum pan) so I have to re tap the opening and find a bigger plug. I also need to either install a secondary fan or get a better radiator as she overheats on hot days....OK everyday. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.....What else? I'll find more I'm sure. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />




On a side note. The V-12 was not available in the series 1 cars. They did increase the size of the 6 to 4.2 a few years later in the series 1 and 2. The V-12 was only available in the later series 3 XKEs but they were heavy and did'nt really add to the overall performance of the vehicle just a little faster off the line. Enthusists say the 3.8 is the most "sporting" of the XKEs but the 4.2 had a smoother gearbox.

I'll post more shots as I make progress.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Yup <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> Remember the Triumph Stag with 2 4 cylinder block welded together <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" /> They only did that because, even though they were the same company, they didn't 'talk' to Land Rover who, of course, had their Buick based V8 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I didn't realise the V12 was later. Interesting. Looking forward to following your progress with this <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

The old E Type is a beautiful car. I'd love to have one, but realize I could never do it justice. [img][image]http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j252/4breezes/Emoticons/drool.gif[/img][/image]

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> Good stuff.

British sports cars are interesting animals. They were ahead of their time with design but the manufacturing was primitive.

Jaguar did a great job on the rear ends and the DOHC engines but then they put a tractor gearbox from the fourties in there. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />