Hello all...I've been scanning your forum for about a month now, picking up tips and tricks, and decided to join. I recently purchased a 98 xk8. Good carfax report and in pretty good shape for 12 years old. I had budgeted $5000 to put it all together right when 700 miles into ownership I had a grinding sound from the transmission. I figured it was a bad rear bearing and I was right. After the teardown and inspection we (Me and AAmco) decided to do a total rebuild. There went the $5000. I should get it back this week. Anyway it caused me to rethink my position on paying someone to turn wrenches for me. I'm no stranger to repairing my own automobiles having owned a 64 MGB, 71 Spitfire, 66 Mercedes 250S. I went Japanese in the early 80's because the kids were growing and these cars were extrememly reliable. Well the kids are all grown and gone and 12 years of owning a 93 prelude VTEC later I decided to let the car go and get a Jag. I've been wanting one since I saw my first XKE in 62. Well the XKE's are priced out of my market so I went with the XK8. The rebuild of the transmission has caused me to dust off the tools and do the engine work (secondary tensioners, water pump) myself. I'm renting the tools and can't wait to get the car back and get started. I have seen a lot of posts on the convertible roof....mine worked terrible but didn't appear to be leaking. The fluid was pretty thick but it was the correct fluid. When I checked the pump the fluid was low and just full of foam. I bought a can of Pentosin 11S at NAPA ($22) and used a large syringe and plastic tubing and sucked out the old fluid from the reservoir and filled it up with the new stuff. Top starrted working great....I ran it up and down 10 times and pulled out the fluid and filled it up with fresh again. Repeated again (the litre of 11S allowed me to do this three times). Each time the fluid got cleaner and the foam was gone. I'll probably install the pressure reducing valve that "Gus" talked about. The company that makes them is only about 20 miles from where I live.

 

Hi,

Welcome to the forums - Nice first start, and nice car to start in the Jaguar world. You'll fit in well here!

All the Best,

 

Welcome to the forums , enjoy your ride and forums

 

Howdy itspec60

Nice intro! Welcome to the forum.

 

welcome aboard, glad you decided to join one of the best forums on the net
Nice intro too.....some pics when you can would be good too

 

Welcome itspec, I used to have a 74 Spitfire when I was in high school, still miss it.