The XK

[911hillclimber]

These workings a just the best.
Thank goodness the two of you go about these restorations with such acute focus.
Fabulous to see and read.

[sladey]

Fantastic stuff Jonathan - thanks for sharing. Also love that JFK quote

[jtparr]

Thanks chaps…..glad you agree Mark…

[hot66]

Stunning JP

[jtparr]

Part 16

The Metal Meister …part 7

In many respects that was the biggest test of patience and difficulty for the body, so whilst not over ….the remaining work was a series of smaller but equally creative tasks, all undertaken with the single aim to reduce visual clutter ….each with a story best told in pictures……

Boot lid
Just like the 911, an E Type has an internal pull mechanism for the operation of the boot and this feature was something I wanted to replicate on the XK. The original mechanism was a classic T shaped handle which operated a pretty basic system of rods to lock the lid….all of which were worn out and not something I wanted to reinstate. An alternative and hidden locking mechanism was sourced which could be modified to fit and operated by the same discrete pull handle that an E Type has
However this was also part of the same upgrade process as the doors….so out with the timber frame and in with a bespoke profile to create a completely aluminium assembly




























Number plate, lock and handle
In a similar fashion the original external mounting plate and external light really needed to be redesigned so we could simplify the collection of individual parts
So after a number of conversations and mock ups we agreed that a simple recess was by far the best solution
Having crafted the modified bumpers on my E Type, Barry excelled himself by then creating this lovely shape which doubles as a handle incorporating concealed lights for the number plate….an addition function of the original design which was to provide a reverse light is going to be provided by modifying the wiring loom and incorporating a reverse light into the paired rear light units





































Steering column
There seem to be a variety of solutions to the conversion of XK’s from LHD to RHD as all incorporate an upgrade from the original rigid column design and worm drive steering box to a later XK140 or 150 rack and pinion assembly which uses a multi linked steering column which then requires a different exit through the firewall than original
We were not convinced by any of these primarily because they all have a somewhat Heath Robinson appearance, being composed of a collection of bits….so we refined the parts….naturally…involving rose jointing and finishing the lower steering column on a lathe to create a solution that actually looked like it may have been the original design























And that, as they say….is that……for the shell at least….there were other issues and ideas but this is the essence of the work….more than I had probably imagined but nothing that I wouldn’t repeat if we had our time again
It has involved an immense amount of effort, and has come as some cost ….but this car was a reaction for too many friends passing….so in that sense the cost is utterly irrelevant



Thanks for looking…….mechanical works next…….

[911hillclimber]

Quite breathtaking and as said before, just fabulous this has happened between you both.

What a great project for us all watching.

[911hillclimber]

We have been holding our breath for 4 months since the last fascinating up-date...

Where are we now?

[PeterK]

That’s cruel Graham - I got all excited when I saw an update, thinking that JP had written a new epistle

[sladey]

Me too

[911hillclimber]

Sorry, didn't think of that effect!

However, maybe we will be treated to an update.

[keith fellowes]

Hopefully this will elicit an update

[jtparr]

Evening chaps…..if it helps I will admit a certain amount of guilt at the moment as an know an update is overdue…but I have been enjoying the work on the car in a truly selfish kind of way……

An update will follow very soon…..

[jtparr]

Suffice it to say she is back with me all painted …….

[jtparr]

Part 17

‘’…..all I needed was a chassis….trouble is it was holding a body together…and would need to do so, for some time to come….”


What the eagle eyed viewer may have noticed is that there was a moment when the chassis was no longer bolted to the body…….primarily because after a certain point the body was sufficiently stiff enough that it could be removed….

Excellent…….

Time for me to re-clean it and get it into paint……and then enjoy myself as I finally began the enjoyable process of reassembly…..all those lovingly restored and painted parts needed a single home…..

But first…being the obsessive character I am, I needed to employ the MIG welder and improve the quality of welded parts that were formally known as a perfectly straight forward XK chassis…..not only seam welding in many places but also removal of all superfluous brackets……and tidying up original welds and a small amount of filler to leave the smoothest possible finish






















Oh…and adding additional brackets needed for the rear suspension upgrade to adjustable dampers…..

Just because……

Final cleaning was done with a mild phosphoric acid, which I did in stages after each substantial welding session….so too was the initial epoxy primer coating, which was done by brush in a thin coat initially….once the entire chassis was prepped I converted the workshop into a rudimentary spray and applied 3 coats of epoxy…setting the chassis on stands we flipped it between coats as spraying upside down so close to the floor wasn’t really practical










Light is not a word to be applied to this chassis…….

Then onto gloss black 2K topcoat….also liberally coated…complete with runs…just as Jaguar would have done back in the day….the principle here was to get a lot of paint on









This was early August 2023 so weather was kind to me so drying times were short thankfully as I was more than a little keen to get to the fun bit…..


Which doesn’t really require too much in the way of a narration….the sheer satisfaction of being able to reinstate clean original fixings and fixtures is a personal pleasure…to save originality is important to me…the all too often “nut and bolt” restoration phrase is missing the point in my world…



























Whilst I fully accept that any object can be original only once I cannot fathom the logic of replacing original GKN or BEES fixtures in this case for some soulless modern bolt…why would anyone ever do that if they had a choice….

As ever the faithful Jaguar spare parts catalogue was ever present to confirm the exact fixing needed with correct spring or shake proof washers as required…..so too my trusty Draper brake pipe kit was also returned to productive use, with my typically obsessive approach to making perfect shapes…..







Love it…..



Leaving just the heavyweight objects to complete the process, helped by decent weather as we moved into September of 2023 and with the assistance of my son we installed the engine which we had mated to the new 5 speed gearbox















Which together with propshaft and a beautiful 2” stainless sports exhaust completed the assembly









For one single reason….the rolling chassis needed to make its way back over to Barry’s to be temporarily mated to the body as there was a certain elephant in the room





Registration and the DVLA……

[rhd racer]

Great update! Looking fantastic, love the detail on the brake pipes. How much do you think the engine and box weighs? 300kgs?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk