To remove or not to remove

[VinylFan]

I have been dreading removing the inner wing liners on my XK8 for a couple of years now, dreading what I might find.

After all after 20+ (23 now) it's not going to be a bit rough
My options were
Should I leave it until it's beyond repair (yes I did think that)
Remove and repair whatever I would be confronted with
Or hope it wouldnt be too bad

Well I am glad to say after a struggle with the liners it was number 3. A little bubbling here and there which needed scraping off. POR 15, chassis black and waxed. Check the underneath, subframe etc and treat as before then a fight with the liners again and it was good to go.

I do have some more pics if anyone is interested but it's definitely on the too do list if anyone hasn't already done it and removed the liners because I have seen cars a lot younger than mine that looked fine and they were rotten as a pear.

Kind regards

Pat

[mike020150]

It's good to have a positive XK8 rust story! Mike.

[Andy P]

Hello Pat.
Good to see you getting involved with your car and keeping the old tin worm at bay.
X100's suffer in much the same way as the X308's do in that area but in my opinion they are well worth the effort to keep them.
Such a lovely looking car.
Thanks for posting the photo's as well.
Good luck and enjoy your car.
Take care.
Andy

[VinylFan]

It's good to have a positive XK8 rust story! Mike.

Hi Mike

Many thanks Mike I had been dreading it

Hello Pat.
Good to see you getting involved with your car and keeping the old tin worm at bay.
X100's suffer in much the same way as the X308's do in that area but in my opinion they are well worth the effort to keep them.
Such a lovely looking car.
Thanks for posting the photo's as well.
Good luck and enjoy your car.
Take care.
Andy

Hi Andy

They can certainly dissappear at an alarming rate if left to their own devices. I have always found prevention is the best way and am not averse to sliding under the car to treat it if required. As time has passed it's known that ithey rust and where they rust so the best thing to do in my mind is deal with it.
Many thanks for your comments I also think they are wonderful to look at and every day I see people looking or gawping at it. Even though it's an early one.
It's kept as clean as possible but I can't wash it and drive it at the same time so cars were invented to be driven so driven it is. Since last October I can count on one hand the number of X100's I have seen on the road. Even X308''s I have seen 2. Another parked up today at a independent garage and a 2004 XJ in for service

I am looking for a 4 litre X308 but it's hard work

Enjoy driving and looking after your car as well and enjoy yourself!

Kind regards

Pat

[RichardSEL]

I am looking for a 4 litre X308 but it's hard work
Pat

Occasionally see my old 4L LWB being driven in Blackheath (southeast London) but I don't think owner's prepared to sell as he paid top dollar two years ago

I don't know where my first XJ8 went as I needed the money -- but the second (that I now regret selling having fininshed fettling it to my satisfaction) was bought at first sight by a former rock group musician (yes, I saw the 12" vinyl covers) in west London

Agree with you on X308/X350 classic look so an XJ-R would be my target -- there's an X350 I've got my eyes on but I've already got a Volvo V40 (it's for 'er indoors) and a Range Rover for me so I don't think I could get away with three cars on the road. Well I could if I wanted to subsist on pizza's for the next month...

[VinylFan]

Pizza for a month doesn't sound a bad idea!

The former rock musician sounds like they had good taste and you have had 2 nice 308's

I am looking for the xj because my other half isn't too well and hasn't been since he was 11. The xk8 was something he always wanted and I reckon he was born with a spanner in his hand because he was a 'grease monkey' for many years.

The xj gives me space to lie him down if needed

He still loves cars and said which one to get but it's a real nuisance not being able to get one

Carry on driving!

Pat