saving eventer no. 58

[volkerweiss]

hello enthusiasts,

a few weeks ago I bought a damaged xjs from 81 that had been converted by Lynx to Eventer no 58 in 1994/95. The car was hit in front and back just 1 week after the client received it from the conversion.
Having been stored in a dry place the car finally went to a scrapyard where many parts (engine, gearbox etc.) were taken out but not the special madre trim, side windows tailgate etc from Lynx.
My plan is to strip the body completely, have it repaired and resprayed.

What do you think about the idea of taking a very late 1995/96 donor car?
Will I be able to fit the front wings, bumpers and bonnet?
Will the complete facia fit into the body as the rear axle with outboard rear brakes? With other words will a pre-facelift body accomodate the technique from a facelift one?

Many thanks for all kind of hints or help.
Kindest regards

Volker

[almcl]

What do you think about the idea of taking a very late 1995/96 donor car?
Will I be able to fit the front wings, bumpers and bonnet?
Volker

In a word Volker, no.

The screen rake and doors changed on the facelift. The wings and bonnet won't fit (there are even differences between facelift bonnets.) The facelift doors are pillarless and their glass has a different angle (because of the screen.) The boot lid won't fit (the rear buttresses are different) and the bumpers have different pick up points.

Undoubtedly everything could be fitted eventually but it would be an awful lot of work with much modification required.

If it's been front and rear ended the chances of straightening the shell out aren't that good, either, although someone with a good hydraulic jig could probably advise you better about that.

[iain1980]

Crikey, What are you going to do after lunch?

The rear lights and doors could be a problem as the shell, despite looking the same actually shares very little bodywork.

You would also need a tailgate for your car or modify your own.

Its alot of extra work, and it sounds like you have enough on your plate, but it is do-able.

If it is the look of a facelift car you are after then there are bodykits available for pre-facelift cars that are moulded from the facelift bumpers and sills that fit on your car. Justjags sell them.

[Mr.Ian]

Just get it jigged straight and rebuild as it should've been in the first place.

[volkerweiss]

Many thanks for your thoughts.
I should have described the plan more precisely.
As you already suggested the body is going to be repared with the original old style of rear lights and the chromed bumpers. The intact tailgate will be used unaltered.
Since many parts like engine, gearbox, prop-shaft are missing i will anyway need one (or two?) donor cars.
My hope was when getting a late AJ16 engine car I would be able to use at least the front wings + bonnet. Since much of the interior is missing as well it would be further good to know if the front seats, the facia and the door trims would be interchangeble.
So the upgrading should be rather in technical terms benefiting from the advantages of the later models than transforming the body into a facelift one.
Volker