[98_Martin]

Nice one Martin....

Firstly, I courier a lot of parts from way down South to Inverness and beyond, Aberdeen area too and know the differences between costs / delivery time to Central Scotland and Highlands, is crazy!
Feel your pain on that one.

As for bits n pieces, have you at least asked Ali Mcmillan in Motherwell?
He may be able to help, if you haven't, worth checking out

Jim

Yeah it's a pain, the minute you mutter Highlands that's it, stick a zero on the end.

Thanks for the recommendation I haven't actually come across Mcmillan Jaguar before, I've emailed them with the list of parts I'm sourcing. Worst case I'll just have to source the connectors themselves and have a go at making the loom from scratch, reluctant to do this as I really am not an electrician.

 

[JimC64]

Yeah it's a pain, the minute you mutter Highlands that's it, stick a zero on the end.

Thanks for the recommendation I haven't actually come across Mcmillan Jaguar before, I've emailed them with the list of parts I'm sourcing. Worst case I'll just have to source the connectors themselves and have a go at making the loom from scratch, reluctant to do this as I really am not an electrician.

100% Martin.

In any event, hope it helps

Jim

 

[98_Martin]

Removed the last of the exterior chrome accents this weekend and replaced it with a old stock bare primer rear tailgate plinth that I sprayed body colour for a more blacked out look. The badges will be left the way they are as I'm not a fan of a total debadge/blackout look and with the chrome tailpipes they stand out just enough for my liking. I did also manage to score a old stock rear spoiler for a decent bit less than new that I need to spray but I think I'll hold off until the slightly warmer weather. Once I get that fitted I think that will mark an end for the exterior modifications/upgrades as there isn't anything left that I feel would enhance the car further, perhaps some new waist seals for the rear quarters but they will have to wait a while longer.

With the interior still out I I noticed that the wheel well grommets looked past their best so at the start of the week I ordered some from Jaguar to swap them all and did some wire wheeling and painting to treat the surface rust that has not long started around their holes. Tomorrow the primer will be top coated with some left over body colour to blend it in slightly better and I'll see about installing some sticky back neoprene closed cell foam where the spare wheel has been rubbing to better isolate it. The underneath got similar treatment and will be overcoated in some underseal once the grommets are installed for a further layer of protection.

 

[JimC64]

Nice work Martin

Jim

 

[JohnW]

Nice work Martin: love your attention to detail 👍

 

[98_Martin]

Nice work Martin

Jim

Nice work Martin: love your attention to detail 👍

Thanks guys, I wanted to catch it early before I had to take the welder out

Hit it with some high build primer this morning and then a light coat of some topcoat that I had left over from the tailgate plinth for which definitely showed all the imperfections from the brush on primer, maybe a little rushed on the prep work but I guess it isn't an area all that often shown. Gave it a few hours to dry before installing the new grommets so that the cars all ready to go for the commute tomorrow morning. Underside then got a spray of underseal so should be totally watertight for the foreseeable.

 

[JimboV8]

That photo makes it look factory fresh. Great work as usual Martin.

 

[Little George]

I'm in awe of your skills Martin. Great job.

 

[JimC64]

Thanks guys, I wanted to catch it early before I had to take the welder out

Hit it with some high build primer this morning and then a light coat of some topcoat that I had left over from the tailgate plinth for which definitely showed all the imperfections from the brush on primer, maybe a little rushed on the prep work but I guess it isn't an area all that often shown. Gave it a few hours to dry before installing the new grommets so that the cars all ready to go for the commute tomorrow morning. Underside then got a spray of underseal so should be totally watertight for the foreseeable. View attachment 63180
View attachment 63181

Great work as always Martin.

You have to be struggling to find much more to do on her now surely?

Or do you have a list of little things you want to tackle still?

Jim

 

[98_Martin]

Thanks guys! I appreciate the kind words

Great work as always Martin.

You have to be struggling to find much more to do on her now surely?

Or do you have a list of little things you want to tackle still?

Jim

I'm really my own worst enemy by going looking for jobs rather than waiting for them to find me. I've still got the coolant change to do that I keep putting off for fear off it taking the car of the road due to the chance of something else needing done that I didn't plan for. The suspension is getting pretty worn and would really benefit from a refresh but again that's a pretty big job and one for better weather also a fair hit on the wallet depending on how deep into it I go. I'm planning to do the rear suspension this summer by dropping the rear subframe, cleaning everything up as best as I can such as the mounting points and around the fuel tank while everything's out and change out all the bushes and shocks.

It won't be far off a rolling restoration at that point I fear so the car will have to live out the rest of its years with me for it to really be somewhat financially responsible. Some of the other projects will soon be taking up my time so I'll have less time to work on the X-Type. I recently ordered a replacement galvanised chassis for my Series 3 Land Rover so I'll be soon making strides into that project which should be a lot of fun.

 

[98_Martin]

Some small updates to report.

With much of the interior still out for the audio upgrade I took the time to tidy up the Alcantara seats that I purchased a couple of months ago along with all the components for Premium Sound. It was a package deal for everything and I fancied the change from the current all leather as it will break up the mostly black interior, plus it won't be so cold to sit on during the winter before the heated seats warm up.

They were pretty tired looking but after a good going over with a fabric shaver they came out looking much fresher. I'm still thinking about how to clean up the leather as there is a couple of marks in places on both the seats and door cards so I might buy a leather repair and dye kit to really go to town on it.

Realise I haven't put up a picture of the car properly in quite a while so the other day when I was pulling it into the garage I took a quick photo, have to say after the upgrade to the HID kit I really like the look of the car as it gives it just that little bit of a modern touch.

 

[Henry_B]

Very smart motor that is, like the new seats too quite fitting for a sport

 

[98_Martin]

Very smart motor that is, like the new seats too quite fitting for a sport

Many thanks Henry, I must agree on the sportiness of the Alcantara. Short of the full body kit it's about as sporty as it comes once the seats are in, without going too far from the OEM+ look of course.

 

[JimC64]

Some small updates to report.

With much of the interior still out for the audio upgrade I took the time to tidy up the Alcantara seats that I purchased a couple of months ago along with all the components for Premium Sound. It was a package deal for everything and I fancied the change from the current all leather as it will break up the mostly black interior, plus it won't be so cold to sit on during the winter before the heated seats warm up.

They were pretty tired looking but after a good going over with a fabric shaver they came out looking much fresher. I'm still thinking about how to clean up the leather as there is a couple of marks in places on both the seats and door cards so I might buy a leather repair and dye kit to really go to town on it.
View attachment 63337
View attachment 63338
Realise I haven't put up a picture of the car properly in quite a while so the other day when I was pulling it into the garage I took a quick photo, have to say after the upgrade to the HID kit I really like the look of the car as it gives it just that little bit of a modern touch.
View attachment 63339

Looks great Martin, seats came up nice too.

A little leather dye on the bolsters and they'll be like new

Jim

 

[98_Martin]

Looks great Martin, seats came up nice too.

A little leather dye on the bolsters and they'll be like new

Jim

Thanks Jim, sounds like a plan