New XK8 Owner: Before and After Pics
#1
New XK8 Owner: Before and After Pics
Aloha All, I recently purchased a 1997 XK8 found on craigslist for $3500 with only 30,000 miles on it. It was left under an awning for a decade so half the paint was gone and the top badly stained, otherwise the car was mint with a near-perfect interior.
Mods to date:
Paint: Porsche Sapphire Metalic Blue $2800
Wheels: Monarch 19" Staggered with Nexen tires $1100 (thanks again, craigslist)
Re-dyed top: $50 worth of Forever Black
Adamesh XKR-type grill insert: $230
New top pump $250 ebay
Sold the old rims for $250
New Sound system $550
Easily the nicest car I've owned for the total cost (so far, heard many stories of catastrophic engine failure, liner failure, the "green curtain of death" etc.) but I really love cruising around Hawaii with the top down and stereo up!
The following 4 users liked this post by jobagadonuts:
#2
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Summerville, South Carolina
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Thanks for the kind feedback. I wasn't sure how the wheels would look with such a wide rear lip but I like it now that they are on the car. Future plans include:
XKR Brembo brake upgrade
Coil-over shocks
Urethane bushings all around
Remote twin turbo set-up (I can dream, right?)
(I've got a spare LS1 waiting in the wings if the motor grenades)
More pics to come....
XKR Brembo brake upgrade
Coil-over shocks
Urethane bushings all around
Remote twin turbo set-up (I can dream, right?)
(I've got a spare LS1 waiting in the wings if the motor grenades)
More pics to come....
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#9
I really like those wheels. Good choice on color too. A lot of the original colors lean toward the bland side (at least for me).
I also have never seen color on the front overriders like that. Looks way better than the black ones. Especially when you have to deal with the front plate.
Nice work saving this car from a slow death.
I also have never seen color on the front overriders like that. Looks way better than the black ones. Especially when you have to deal with the front plate.
Nice work saving this car from a slow death.
Last edited by Norri; 04-10-2015 at 09:59 AM. Reason: Deleted pic to help load time
#10
Replacing the secondary tensioners will not cost much to DIY and in all likelihood would prevent the motor from 'grenading' (unless you subconsciously want the LS1)
#11
That's because when new these cars cost between $70-75k for a XK8. They were purchased by 40-60 year olds that wanted a more conservative color. With that being said the XK8/XKR like the Porsche 911 looks good in almost any color. I like the color choice but for me would have chosen those wheels in 18 inch. Enjoy your ride and remember to take the long way home.
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#13
That's because when new these cars cost between $70-75k for a XK8. They were purchased by 40-60 year olds that wanted a more conservative color. With that being said the XK8/XKR like the Porsche 911 looks good in almost any color. I like the color choice but for me would have chosen those wheels in 18 inch. Enjoy your ride and remember to take the long way home.
When I've looked at Corvettes, sometimes I found a nice car and then it was a god awful color like Yellow or Aqua. Most of these nicer luxury cars don't have a bad color and I like that! It's also amazed me that on the X100 and X308, the vast majority of the factory wheels are extremely good looking. Some people consider the Revolver kind of ugly, but honestly, if that's the "worst" looking, it's still quite nice.
I really like the Double Fives and Pentas I have on my cars and have no desire whatsoever to change them (and I like $$$ in my hand!). The Monarch wheels the OP has are quite nice though. I like the deep dish in the back a lot.
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#18
That car is gorgeous, great job! Make sure that the first thing on your to do list is replacing the secondary plastic tensioners with upgraded metal ones as others have previously stated. If you do that first, you won't be using that Corvette engine anytime soon. I almost lost my engine because of my assumption that it had been done by the previous owner, and I got lucky. I will pass 160,000 very soon, and it runs smoother and stronger than when I bought it.
Enjoy your beautiful "new" car.
Enjoy your beautiful "new" car.
#20
Join Date: Nov 2006
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