My XJ6: decision made (p4)

[Vince70]

And when you get it finished I want to see a trilby on the rear shelf.

Although technically a Sovereign

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

Technically it's a Vanden Plas! - Skizzer's is the Sovereign!

[stripped fred]

I would work out how much to get it through an MOT and looking tidy and take it from there. Other jobs can be done later if you decide to keep it. I'd also be comparing the cost to how much i would use it or get enjoyment from it, the cost/benefit ratio if you like, to try and take the sentiment out of it.

[HillmanImp]

Look, these are still cheap (although appreciating). Get it up to test standard, roll in it for a while see if you want to keep it.  If in a years time, you do still feel the love spend some cash on it, if not sell it. 

 

Don't spend £££££s and then fall out with it like Lukas did with his Subaru. If its been AWOL for ages, if you spend all that money on it and it lemons on you everywhere you will be miffed. If you familiarise yourself with it for a bit again beforehand and then do that you will forgive some misgivings after renovation.

[Skizzer]

I would work out how much to get it through an MOT and looking tidy and take it from there. Other jobs can be done later if you decide to keep it. I'd also be comparing the cost to how much i would use it or get enjoyment from it, the cost/benefit ratio if you like, to try and take the sentiment out of it.

 

Look, these are still cheap (although appreciating). Get it up to test standard, roll in it for a while see if you want to keep it.  If in a years time, you do still feel the love spend some cash on it, if not sell it. 

 

Don't spend £££££s and then fall out with it like Lukas did with his Subaru. If its been AWOL for ages, if you spend all that money on it and it lemons on you everywhere you will be miffed. If you familiarise yourself with it for a bit again beforehand and then do that you will forgive some misgivings after renovation.

 

Aye, this sounds like the way forward.  Getting it MOTd squares it with my saving-it-from-the-oval conscience, should be affordable and means I can spend more money later if I love it or sell it as a going concern if I don't.  

 

 

Thanks to all for advice and encouragement.  Will report back on progress.

[barefoot]

If it makes you feel any better/worse, I appear to have just spent £5k replacing the rear corners on the T2.

Sadly chap who has done it is a complete perfectionist and has bodged nothing. He has replaced the corner panels,

the inner & outer valances, the engine lid hanger, battery trays & big chunks of the D pillars.

He's even completely cleaned polished & repainted the engine bay and reckons the job will not need doing again in 

my lifetime - cheeky fucker. To save money I still have the original, manky looking tailgate, engine lid & bumper.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

On the XJ, I would get the sills repaired to a decent standard, enough for a straight MOT. 

 

Then either replace the wings later on or sell it to a fellow dreamer (and we all dream) for around what it's cost you, knowing that you've saved it for now.

 

There's a young geezer near me who until recently had a G reg XJ40 on Wolfrace alloys. He's swapped it for an S reg Series 11 XJ that I last saw on Monday, jacked up one side with the outer sill missing and the chap welding bits back into it.

 

If you've not yet considered them, I've heard that Honeybourne mouldings do some very decent GRP XJ wings for about 100 quid each. You need to get them to fit perfectly, apply tons of undersell to prevent stones flung up from the wheels star grazing the new paint as well as using special primer that adheres to GRP - but they'll never rust. That's what I'd do. Fuck paying £350 each for steel wings that'll just rust again.

[Skizzer]

Right, as a couple of people have noticed in the Garages section, I've given the go-ahead for having the metalwork done on this.  After some discussion, it has to come apart to do the MOT work anyway, and you might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb, right?  No point in going bankrupt over a small bill.

 

It's such a big job they're having to build an entire new workshop around it:

 

https://www.facebook.com/73187439423/photos/pb.73187439423.-2207520000.1428051395./10153167126889424/?type=3&theater

 

Work should start imminently (I've put some money down for parts and stuff).  Will keep you posted.

 

 

Fuck paying £350 each for steel wings that'll just rust again.

 

Indeed - and if only they could be had for as little as £350.  Fibreglass is an option but most likely it'll be repair sections (nose cone, £30-odd a side plus a fair amount of post-weld finishing) and A LOT of Bilt Hamber Dynax.

[danthecapriman]

Glad your going to get the work done. It's worth it in the end!

[Taff]

good call, I think mate

[MarvinsMom]

i'm really pleased to hear that the old cat will get to live again!

 

it was i think a good call both to get the car back onto the road and then repair instead of replacing the front wings.

 

will be looking forward to seeing an update.