Refurbishing Used Parts

[SumoToBuild]

Hello everyone

I own a Jaguar XJ6 (199 and spent a pretty penny refurbishing it. A month after new the paint job some kind soul decided to collide with it and drive off. No witnesses, no details left. The Jag has sat on my drive for a year now and I decided I really must do something about it. As it stands it is worthless but I do not want to scrap it or sell it for parts (all that money down the drain).

After a fair bit of research, I discovered the Sumo can be built using a Jaguar donor. I love the look of this car so figure rebuilding the Jag into a Sumo is the best option and I can salvage all the bits I spent a fortune renewing.

I will need to build in stages - saving for each stage as I go. So I figure I can start by stripping the Jag of all parts, refurbish them and store them until needed. I also figure I can sell off the parts from the Jag I do not need in order to help finance some of the Sumo build.

So this leads me to my question. I want to make the salvaged parts look as good as new. Can anyone advise me what I will need to do this? What paints are best to use and where do I get them?

Although I have rebuilt the Jag, I have never refurbished parts before and this will be my first major mechanical project, so am a little bit lost over where to start.

Also, aside from the usual tools, are there any tools I will need to buy in order to refurbish the salvaged parts?

Finally, is there anything not worth stripping from the Jag? I figure once I have stripped it of all salvageable parts, I can sell it for scrap and put the money toward the Sumo build. (This is not going to be a quick build as you may have guessed but I have to start somewhere).

Last question - promise. Is there any way I can utilise the V5 off the Jag on the Sumo legally? May sound like a dumb question but I have to ask LOL.

Thanks for any help

Jim

[Andy302]

Hi Jim and welcome to the mad house!

You are in a good position to start building your Cobra, first off I would investigate with Pilgrim what if any modifications are required to the drive shafts and lower arms on the rear of the jag setup. I would also check that a 1998 is a suitable donor and what bits are required. Others on this forum might have the answers to those questions already?

Im not sure what special tools you will require to strip the parts off of the jag but either an oxy torch or spring compressor I would have thought is required to release the road springs.

I purchased my components already removed from the donor and the set about stripping them down for refurb, the only special tool I needed was a hydraulic puller to remove the rear hubs. Everything else came apart with normal tools and a blow torch!

With regard to finish I had the parts sand blasted and then chose POR15 silver followed by a top coat of POR15 red engine enamel. Not exactly a stock finish but I like it. The rear hubs have been refurbed by Wards and the diff will also be done by someone who knows what to do with it, everything else Ive done my self with the aid of the forum and a Jag workshop manual.

Im just about to start putting it all back together now with new parts throughout so Ill let you know how it goes.

With regard to the V5 keep it, do not let it go with the scrap. Thats your ticket to an age related plate and unless you use all new parts you will wind up on a Q plate if you dont keep the V5. the DVLA site has good details of how to build a kit car and retain the age related plate.

HTH and Im sure if Ive missed anything someone will fill the gaps or correct me if Im wrong!

Whatever you do enjoy the build, dont worry about it taking a long time, Im at 4 years now and Ive only got 90% of an engine and 60% running gear!

Cheers :thumb:

[rich]

Just to add to Andy's fairly comprehensive answer, get yourself a gallon of paraffin a bucket and an old paintbrush to clean up the parts if you don't want the expense of having them blasted, much slower and messier but fun .

Heres some places to look at to get you on your way:

Wards Jaguar parts

Frost- Paint suppliers and more

[alsuth]

Hi Jim,
I think you will find that the only Cobra replica that will accept a 1998 XJ6 (XJ40) is the Dax de Dion. The others I think still use series II or III parts.
Although other makers may well have made mods to their chassis.
Good luck
Al

[JonnyT]

I may be wrong on this, but having just done a quick search on the internet to confirm, I think that Jaguar stopped production of the XJ40 (XJ6 successor) in September 1997 when the new XJ8 with the new aluminium V8 was introduced.

If your car is 1998 it seems likely that it is the XJ8 rather than the XJ40. If that is correct I'm not sure there is a kit manufacturer that uses the running gear off the XJ8 (and to my knowledge it is fundamentally different to the XJ40, folloiwng the Ford purchase).

I might be totally wrong, but worth checking before you take the oxy to it (even given what great fun that bit of the build is!!)

Don't be put off the build though, you can get some real bargains on donor cars and the money you get from selling the bits that you don't use from the one you've got, I would think will more than cover the cost of a good quality donor.

Jon

[Miket]

Originally Posted by JonnyT

I may be wrong on this, but having just done a quick search on the internet to confirm, I think that Jaguar stopped production of the XJ40 (XJ6 successor) in September 1997 when the new XJ8 with the new aluminium V8 was introduced.

If your car is 1998 it seems likely that it is the XJ8 rather than the XJ40. If that is correct I'm not sure there is a kit manufacturer that uses the running gear off the XJ8 (and to my knowledge it is fundamentally different to the XJ40, folloiwng the Ford purchase).

I might be totally wrong, but worth checking before you take the oxy to it (even given what great fun that bit of the build is!!)

Don't be put off the build though, you can get some real bargains on donor cars and the money you get from selling the bits that you don't use from the one you've got, I would think will more than cover the cost of a good quality donor.

Jon

I agree with Jon, you just saved me a lot of typing. :thumb: :thumb:

http://www.jag-lovers.org/modern/models.htm

[SumoToBuild]

Hi Guys

Thanks for such comprehensive replies. This is so embarrassing but I actually should have typed 1988 () - It is a jaguar XJ40 Sovereign 3.6

I am still at the planning stages (which my GF states should take at least another 6 months to 1 year - women), so am trying to gather all the information I need and make best use of the time before spending money on the chassis.

I guess I will be in here a lot then ...:drive:

Jim

[SumoToBuild]

Hi all

Does anyone have the engine dimensions for the Jaguar Sovereign 1988. I cannot seem to find my Haynes manual and Pilgrim have offered to work out if the engine would fit inside the Sumo build without major modifications.

Thanks for any help

Jim

[craggle]

As said before, if its an XJ40 with the outboard rear brakes then the only kit the running gear will fit under is the DAX De-Dion. An extremely good kit in my view and can be built for a similar cost as a Pilgrim.

The Dax can be built using the V12 or I think the straight 6 Jag engine although a big V8 can't be beaten for sound!

Craig.

[SumoToBuild]

Originally Posted by craggle

As said before, if its an XJ40 with the outboard rear brakes then the only kit the running gear will fit under is the DAX De-Dion. An extremely good kit in my view and can be built for a similar cost as a Pilgrim.

The Dax can be built using the V12 or I think the straight 6 Jag engine although a big V8 can't be beaten for sound!

Craig.

Thanks Craig

It looks like the Dax De-Dion is going to be the better choice. I will probably use the Jag V12 engine - more because I know its history and have spent a lot rebuilding it - plus the fact it is here is going to make the build more affordable.

I actually quite like the idea of taking the Jag apart and turning it into an entirely new car but retaining the engine and main running gear. It is almost like the previous rebuild was just the first stage of breathing new life into it and with this view, it was money well spent.

I have been asked by members of the Jaguar Owners club to document it and photograph it. They love to know the history and story behind any Jaguar and this one makes interesting reading when you add the second stage of stripping it down and turning it into a Cobra replica.

I am excited at the prospect of all this but figure it will take a while to pull it all together. I don't even have a garage to do the build and there are none for hire around here. First problem to overcome.

Thanks for the great info everyone

Jim