Antelope!

I think I've found the future paint color... Antelope metallic. Dark enough for the chrome to pop, and light enough for high contrast with the rubber. Shouldn't super heat in the sun like the current blue. Has a lot of character in the sun.

Free kittens...

are never free.

Fuel tank integrity and capacity test. 24 gallons and FAIL!
There are a few smaller holes just barely dripping below 'old faithful'. Once cleaned to bare metal I suspect a few other pinholes to show. Have not yet found a new tank, let alone a price for same. As it's a small area I'm thinking about solder/leading to repair.

 The other pinholes.
Also found a refurbished fuel tank... $1050!!!! Used tank, no pictures $600. Ridiculous.  I could have a custom aluminum fuel cell for that.

Tear down begins.

 Hood, bumper, and front valence off. The hood needs longer struts so it opens further. Front bumper has some light rust and rubber damage. Later models had aluminum bumpers.... hmmm. Headlight surround and grill are plastic, missing some chrome, and have some damage. Also one headlight bucket is missing a adjuster screw. Engine oil was thin and smelled of gas.

 Fuel tanks. Yes, tankS. The main 24 gallon tank drains into a 1/2 gallon sump tank. The sender is in the main, the pickup is in the sump.  I've heard rust nighmares on theses, but mine suffer mainly from battery acid damage. The main has been repaired with epoxy before. My pre filter on the pickup had come apart. There's apparently a larger replacement available.

Fuel tanks out. You can just see the ECU on the right. SO far not much rust in the trunk, but some battery acid damage. I'll have to install the new battery in a sealed plastic container vented outside the trunk.

Fascinating.

Jaguar does some of the oddest things. In an American car of the same vintage a front bumper would be a stamped and chromed steel single piece unit held on with 4-6 carriage bolts, or a one piece molded plastic part help on with a dozen screws in front of a painted metal bumper. Not Jaguar. 3 rubber skirts reinforced with metal held on by 20-some bolts with oval washers, possibly originally stainless steel, and a steel bumper, fabricated from several pieces, with a rubber covering held on with clips, more oval washer bolts, and springs to keep everything taut.
I can imagine a Ford accountant asking a jaguar designer how they could possibly make money given the expense, complexity, and and labor involved. "With panache." or "We can't." would have to be the answer, depending on whether the question was asked in 1978 or 1999.

The horror, the horror....

 Driver's 'floorboard'

 I don't even know the name of what's left of that panel. It's behind the brake and gas pedals, and I believe it's structural.

 Passenger 'floorboard'

The rail formerly known as frame. Taken from underneath, drivers side, beside the transmission tunnel.

DOH!

 Stable is getting full. Time for more spring cleaning.

 I didn't know brake fluid could coagulate?... crystallize?... do that.

 I hate rust.

 And bad paint, hate bad paint.













Rat bastards! Judging by the bones they died for their transgression though. Wonder if they were sipping green wine through a fresh hole in a radiator hose.

Lola

Repair manuals bought.

Amazon is a wonderful thing. $85 for both.

Home!

She's home! A 1978 Jaguar XJ-S with 5.3 liter V12 (Pre HE) motor, three speed automatic, salisbury limited slip differential, 4 wheel disc brakes with inboard brakes on the rear, and more hoses, wires and tubes than any sane person would put in an engine compartment.
Any old car is a bit of a question mark due to previous owners, and Jaguar even more so due to the factory! More specs to follow as they are checked. Engine turn freely, but not running due to mouse damage... probably. Fuel mileage... don't ask! Horsepower potential... high.