Hi, my XK ownership has come about because of a long standing love of the marque and model design. It was out of reach financially for a long while and only now feasible because i bought an accident damaged example. I’m based in the UK and therefore its a European spec. It would be great to share experiences and helpful info with anyone else who’s embarking on the same or a similar project. I’d also be interested to hear from anyone breaking up or who has front end parts at reasonable cost. Parts needed currently (there will be others required but don’t know what they are at the moment) include; bonnet, driver’s (right hand) wing, radiator, condenser, plastic radiator cover, plastic windscreen scuttle, bonnet hinges, wing support outriggers. Thank you for reading this slightly too long thread and here’s hoping there’s at least one fellow XK repairer out there. My car is a 2014 model. Best wishes

 

Welcome to the Forum. The Forum Marketplace is where you can place a free "Parts Wanted" advertisement for all the parts you listed above.

If you haven't already done so, you should read the New Member Area and learn about the qualifying period before new members can gain access to all of the Forum's features, including the Marketplace.

Good luck with your project!

 

As you are in the UK, try Eurojag at Darlington - one of the biggest specialist Jaguar breakers in the country:
https://www.eurojag.com/

Graham

 

2011 XK Indigo Pearl Project October 2, 2019

2011 XK Indigo Pearl Project October 2, 2021

The before photo (2019) is an actual auction/bid photo. Damage appears deceptively simple: Hood (bonnet), Headlamp, grille, bumper cover.

Actual damage included the windshield, plastic covers, both upper radiator structural supports, power steering reservoir, both front fenders, bent left fender support "horn" structure, both hood hinges, Left hood hinge support (integral with the frame rail), both headlight assemblies, both headlamp support/wings, right front lower ball joint, right shock absorber, two electrical connectors, right rocker panel damage, rear bumper damage as well as the grille, bumper cover, etc. Although the A/C condenser was functional it was warped and the radiator mounting bosses were sheared from the otherwise functional radiator.

Black replacement body panels were painted Indigo to match, prior to assembly, by Billy in Rockville, VA. The after (2021) photo shows buffed and waxed OEM paint on the door and rear quarter with other parts newly painted.

OEM reverse camera retro-fit is in progress. OEM Blind spot monitor retro-fit is in development. Upgradeable OEM navigation is being investigated. Manual transmission conversion and limited slip differential is ... being seriously considered. ( I like the style and the back seat. So, I don't want an F-Type.)

This is the XK that I would have ordered new, but on a shoe-string budget and with a lot of love/sweat equity. It really is "my XK".


So, show us yours!
Bill

 

Bill,

I've deleted the first version of your post - looks like you made a minor correction and it duplicated the entire post.

Graham

 

The date on the "After" photo is incorrect. It should be 2021.

Bill took on a difficult "sweat equity" project and did an outstanding job! Don't try this at home, unless that's Mechanicsville, Virginia!

 

Thanks Graham. repeated posts look so foolish!
Thanks too Stuart. Date corrected.
This project would have been nearly impossible without the knowledge gained from years of reading comments, conversations and pointers on the Jaguar Forums.
I stand, as Sir Isaac Newton said, on the shoulders of giants,
The list of contributors is truly too great to mention, but you know who you are!
Thank you all.

 

Just a thought for anyone who decides to take on an epic project like Bill did. Document it in a new thread, step-by-step will photos, just like Ranchero50 did with his Green Turtle:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...x-junk-178422/

A great thread, worth reading. Kept me on edge waiting for the next problem to be solved.

 

Plus a huge commitment yourself. Taking on the repair of one of the aluminium bodied Jaguars is a serious challenge. The end result looks superb. Same colour combination as my last 2007 XK.

Graham

 

Repeating here part of a message to Stephen for the benefit of others attempting or considering the same project.

A rear ended "parts car" has been invaluable both as a source of parts and for reference/learning.
The left hinge support/landing was salvaged from the parts car. However, in retrospect I would purchase new.
Check out: Rail Reinforced - Jaguar (C2P3374) at your on-line parts catalog. I believe this is the hood hinge landing/support.
Cost here is $150 USD, which is a bargain considering the labor required to salvage the part intact.
The support is secured with structural epoxy and large pop-rivets.
I can suggest sources for those if you wish.
Consider using new or undamaged used parts because small imperfections/misalignments become amplified as assembly progresses.
Best regards,
Bill

 

Thank you for the several messages containing suggestions. I’m a few weeks into the repair now and making a little progress albeit slow because the weather of deteriorating here in the UK and I’m doing the work on the drive. I should say also that available time is limited only to weekends which doesn’t help.

Here’s a photo of what I started with;



Since this was taken, I’ve removed all of the damaged components except for the bonnet hinge support posts which is where I believe the impact was mainly concentrated. These are quite deformed, particularly on the left side but they attach to the chassis rails and more so on the inside of the rails extend back beyond the front of the engine. I’ve decided these could be repaired in situ but to do so I’ve opened the box structure by drilling out the rivets so the original shapes can be reformed. The chassis rails themselves are perfectly straight which, while I bought the car believing this to be the case, now I’ve seen and checked for myself is one of the main risks to the project which I can happily retire.

Here’s a photo which hopefully shows the detail on the right hand side before I removed the bonnet hinge;




It also shows the deformation to the hinge which I attempted to repair but eventually decided to replace as, whilst ok functionally, weren’t aesthetically pleasing.

I’ve also been sourcing parts which has been far far more challenging than I was expecting it to be. In fact, the more challenging it’s been the more I’ve enjoyed it because I’m doing this on a budget which I’ve set at £5,000. I’ve connected up with several people who are breaking cars. One of whom was selling several of the parts I needed but for expensive prices. We talked for a couple of weeks until he happily declared that he knew of several people who had done similar repairs and ended paying more to buy their cars and repair than they would have done had they bought an undamaged car. I suddenly realised he was showing me the future for my project and I ended up not buying from him. And you know what? It was a good decision because I’ve gone on to find what I believe to be are bargains relatively speaking - with significant help from people who have kindly answered some of my questions on this forum.

A great example of this is the bonnet. The one I bought arrived this week and here’s its photo;



It’s a new old stock item and the price was £199. It is scratched (heavily in one spot) but I don’t mind this because of the price. The cheapest I’d been able to find one before discovering this was secondhand at £495 in a choice of different colours so would have needed painting anyway.

This weekend, I’m ready to rivet back the box turrets which provide the hinge position and will be able to do the first trial fit of the bonnet. It’s slow going but I’m not in a rush and thoroughly enjoying the process.

 

T26_SYK
I would caution against repair of the hinge support/landing. Purchasing new is highly recommended since they are critical to hood/body alignment, difficult to remove intact and are reasonably priced new. Check out: Rail Reinforced - Jaguar (C2P3374) at your on-line parts catalog. This should be the hood hinge landing/support.
Cost here is $150 USD, which is a bargain considering the labor required to salvage or repair. I firmly believe in sweat equity but not here.

And yes, you will have to remove the power steering pump and A/C compressor, as a minimum, to replace the left hinge/support landing.

Please remember that body part alignment begins at the frame and is additive through to the bumper, fenders and hood. It's like the paint: more care must go into prep/prime than the finish coat. Defects are telegraphed to the finish and become impossible to correct after a certain point.

So, reviewing your photos, please be aware that the lower "wings" that support the bumper and fender are distorted. Consider replacement with used, undamaged, if reasonable. Otherwise, remove and repair on your workbench. It is much easier to see the defects in hand. Clue: the back side is supposed to be flat.

In your first photo, notice the left fender horn (right of PS reservoir in photo) is bent. this can be pulled and tapped to correct. It may be necessary to drill a 13mm hole on the outside to tap the inside during this process. An undamaged upper radiator support is highly recommended to use as a gauge for realignment of the fender horn and final assembly.
Also, an undamaged upper radiator core support is necessary to properly align the hood hinge supports. This alignment is critical to your success.

Always keep in mind that each time that you tighten a structural bolt or replace a part it will affect the final alignment of finished parts.

Alignment: compare diagonal and front to rear under hood measurements. Similar points should have the same values, mirror each other.
If you can get access to an undamaged vehicle, make good notes.

My first restoration project (X-Type) went wrong when I accepted a less than perfect radiator core support. It went together (with some professional help) but was never really satisfactory. Recommendation: Do not accept bent parts! Seek rear end damaged donors (better yet, flood vehicles).

Last suggestion for this post: be aware that the bumper undertray is no longer available from JLR. Make sure that you get it with your bumper cover.

Best regards,

Bill

 

I checked the power steering reservoir and LH inner wing structure today and found, to my relief, that the reservoir was angled on its rubber mounts because of the force being applied to it by the duct to the airbox which is detached at present. Holding up the airbox meant that the reservoir relaxed into its fully horizontal position. The inner wing is completely unaffected by the accident.

 

I also completed the riveting of the bonnet hinge turrets today. It was fairly straightforward apart from the flat faced rivet snap which had a tendency to move whilst the hammer was operating. I’m pleased with the end result; the hinge positions are re-established, the structure feels strong and the aesthetics are ok (noting the turrets are eventually largely covered by the plastic radiator cover anyway). You can judge whether or not you agree from the photo;