XJS-C the rebirth

[Colt45GTO]

i aquired a rather rotten convertible last year. it was pretty bad and anyone with half a brain would have scrapped it..... but my brain fell out completely!

 

http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/David_Healey/xjs-c/story

 

enjoy :)

 

[Old Peter]

WOW!

 

Hard work, but what a result.

 

Peter.

[Colt45GTO]

i have done the head gaskets too trying to find the images of that. i will be running external cold air system into the inlets also.

these suck super heated air through straws, so its going to suck clean fresh air and breath effortlessly without spoiling the looks.

[Colt45GTO]

this album will be updated daily from next week, and i will notify each time it is. just uploaded the engine pics and rear subframe rebuild, rear brake overhaul etc.

[O.T.H]

Hi David

Fantastic a complete rebuild like this is a great project What year is it .????

Frank

[Colt45GTO]

Hi David

Fantastic a complete rebuild like this is a great project What year is it .????

Frank

hi Frank, its an '88 so first of the convertibles

[O.T.H]

Hi David

 

Thats well worth bringing back to life well done ... Looking forward to more photo's :D

[Colt45GTO]

got a little further today, been running around a lot tho but new pics

[O.T.H]

Really looking good a lot of work but getting there.

 

Frank

[Colt45GTO]

finally bodywork is done ish!

[O.T.H]

Well done it looks great. 

 

Frank

[Colt45GTO]

truth will be known tomorrow, i kinda threw the lacquer at it and went. no doubt i will have runs. i cleaned the place and damped it down and still ended up with dust in the clear. kinda why i went straight after lol.

[Old Peter]

David, when this rebuild is finished, I think a lot of members would like to see the result.  Perhaps a meet somewhere suitable would be a great day out, too.

 

Peter.

[Colt45GTO]

that sounds like a plan Peter

[Old Peter]

that sounds like a plan Peter

I tried to organise a meet last October in Gaydon at the Classic Car museum, but it did not really get off the ground  ---  possibly either the date or members might have not thought too well of getting to and from the big conurbation that is the West Midlands.  Perhaps leafy Cheshire might provide a good venue.

 

Peter.

[Colt45GTO]

the next day shown the result.....i really need a clinical spray booth! cant afford one nor do i have the space for one.
but its just dust and a little rubbing with 1200 and soapy water and a final lacquer will fix that.







this is a wet sand and top coat of fresh lacquer today

[O.T.H]

I like it looks good--- years ago I had the same problem with dust and as you say dust proofing
booths cost a lot of money ---I tried a set of curtains  but after a few uses the dust was back  
again If you still have a small amount still on after the final coat.???

I found a good polish after it had weathered for a while was the answer .????
I really like the color and I think it will look fantastic when its all built up .

all the best

Frank

[Colt45GTO]

after a final wet sand with 1200-2000 and a buff, there will be no traces, the car in that colour would probably looked like black chrome the photo's really do this colour no justice, with and without the clear it looks awesome. but with the clear it really adds depth the reflectiveness will be like pearing into a steel mirror.

 

if anything sells this car it will be the paint and the vents. everything else is just XJS except for the sills lol

[O.T.H]

Sounds Awesome keep going

[Colt45GTO]

been ill... getting better but managed to do a bit of buffing

 

 

it will turn out quite nice i think.

 

also had a play with front suspension because there was no travel at all on drivers side. this was the side i had stripped to repair the section of subframe. had a ball ache stripping out the spring even worse refitting. noticed it was 180 out so i made a tool...

it worked very well. better than the last one i made lol

[Colt45GTO]

I sanded and buffed one panel today and I gotta say.....not impressed!
the finish is about half way where I want it to be but parts
of the panel are showing imperfections.

i asked a mate to look to see if he could see anything? he
couldn't!
i gave him another scenario...
you're about to pay 50k for this now can you see anything?
he found what I had spotted.

you cant see it in the pics, you have to be moving the
reflections round in the panel which is how I do it. it
takes longer uses more paint and clear but it's the only
surefire way to get something perfect!
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h364/David_Healey/010-8.jpg
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h364/David_Healey/009-8.jpg
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h364/David_Healey/008-7.jpg
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h364/David_Healey/006-5.jpg
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h364/David_Healey/005-4.jpg
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h364/David_Healey/004-4.jpg
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h364/David_Healey/003-2.jpg
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h364/David_Healey/002-2.jpg
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h364/David_Healey/001-2.jpg

[Colt45GTO]

happy with the outcome so far.






my OCD is taking a turn for the worse i can't get this to sit center lol


this makes me happy, this wasn't even present when i got the car

[O.T.H]

What a build really great to see all the photo's and I can see the work that gone into it

You must feel good that its now coming all together and looking so fantastic .

 

Frank

[Colt45GTO]

there are still daunting times ahead but once the body is complete, i can concentrate on the inside. the interior has gone to lether tech to be profesionally restored. i will carpet it myself. the hood headlining i may also attack myself.

 

but yes i look at it and smile, although i still haven't finished the body yet. it will be deemed as finished when my OCD retreats! lol

[Old Peter]

I am really looking forward to seeing the finished car.

 

Just a suitable location in Cheshire for a  meet.

 

Peter