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[roadie]

Hi guys. I'm new to the forum and have just started using the internet to look up XKE topics.

My father-in-law is in Los Angeles and bought a 63 XKE in the early seventies; after a succession of speeding tickets he parked the car in his garage (1/2 mile from ocean). Intending to restore the car someday he removed and covered the engine. Begged him for the car 18 years ago when I married his daughter but he still thought he'd restore it someday. Well here we are and after some health problems he's decided he'll never get around to doing it and he's now telling me to come out (from KS) and pick the car up.

I have no idea what I'm getting myself in for. I don't know if all those years that close to the ocean rusted it out or not. Other than doing routine maintenance I've really never worked on cars much. Therefore, I'm in need of a really good detailed manual. Any recommendations or words of wisdom?

I have gotten the web site for the local jag club and I'm sure they will prove invaluable as well.

 

[SilentUnicorn]

WOW !
congrats and welcome to tne forum. wish someone woould give me a jag. well you will find lots of help here.

mark

 

[Basil]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by roadie:

I have no idea what I'm getting myself in for. I don't know if all those years that close to the ocean rusted it out or not. Other than doing routine maintenance I've really never worked on cars much. Therefore, I'm in need of a really good detailed manual. Any recommendations or words of wisdom?
<hr></blockquote>

Hi roadie! There are lots of Jag forums out there, but you'll be hard pressed to find one with a nicer group of folks than we have here! (Sorry, had to get in a little self-promoting there

) Anyway, If the car is in relatively decent shape, it would be well worth restoring. These cars hold/increase their value quite well. As for a good manual, the one I use is the "Complete Official Jaguar E," by Bently. It just happens that someone is selling one now on EBay. Here's the link:

Complete Official Jaguar "E"

But hurry - as of this posting, there is only 8 hours left in the auction. I have both this one and the Haynes and find the Bently to be a better manual overall, but that's a subjective thing I know.

Good luck and welcome again!
Basil

[ 09-28-2003: Message edited by: Basil ]</p>

 

[roadie]

Thanks for the welcome.

Ended up bidding on that manual but alas was outbid in the end. A search on Ebay turned up the same thing, brand new in the celophane, for $37 so bought that one.

Basil, will that manual help a neophyte like myself, or will I still need someone with experience to help me? I feel comfortable building computers but never tried anything like this with a car before. Too bad the local college doesn't offer a course in restoring classic cars.

I hope the car is in decent shape but have no idea as I haven't seen it in 15 years. Hard to argue with the price. I have a mechanic friend in CA so will try to give him some time with the car before bringing it home so he can give me an idea of how bad it is.

The other issue is that her dad hasn't registered the car in 25 or so years and I don't know if he even has a title. Maybe their records go back that far so he can get a duplicate. Otherwise I don't know how difficult it will be for me to title the car. Anyone have any experience in this regard?

 

[Basil]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by roadie:

Basil, will that manual help a neophyte like myself, or will I still need someone with experience to help me?<hr></blockquote>

Yes, the manual will definitely help. However, if you ever get to the point where you don't need someone to help, then quit your job and start restoring Jags for a living

Seriously, I have been playing with these cars for years and there is so much I don't know it scares me. But I find there is always someone here who can help when I get stuck. You just have to be able to recognize when a job or task is too much for you and then farm that job out to a pro.

Cheers,
Basil

 

[Larry Kronemeyer]

Roadie: If you run into trouble we're here to help the best we can. When in doubt find help, and remember to do it like it isn't yours. That helps in details and wish I had later. Good luck, remember we're here, have go.
Larry

 

[Constance Martin]

Well Roadie...what did you find out?
I am new also, and this is a very nice forum.

 

[roadie]

CCM,

Don't know anything more at this point. My wife has called her dad but he's a busy guy and hasn't returned the call yet. She'll find out when he needs us to pick it up and we'll drive out once scheduled.

Still waiting on my manual as well. Evidently there's something called "book rate shipping" and it may take 3 weeks to get from PA to KS.

Larry, thanks for the advice. Even though I will soon own it, the XKE will always be her dads so I feel like it is someone else's car. Just wish he'd done this 18 years ago when I tried to convince him. We were "pk" then and had money to burn.

 

[PC]

Hi roadie,

Welcome to the party.

Being ½ mile from the water probably isn't as much of an issue here in SoCal as in most places. We don't get that thick coastal fog that permeates everything for months on end. As long as it's been garaged the whole time, hopefully also draped in a breathable cover, it's likely surface corrosion won't be too bad.

I would be surprised if the hydraulics aren't frozen. It's pretty common when they sit for a long time. Anything rubber is suspect as well. Don't expect to be able to drop in the motor and have it to go and stop under it's own power. It's possible but I wouldn't count on it. Be prepared to have it winched onto the transport.

I'm sure California does keep records from that far back but they won't be in the computer. They'll have to be dug out of a paper archive in Sacramento. That'll probably take at least few weeks. If he never titled it in the first place check with the Kansas Division of Motor Vehicles to see what they want.

Good luck, keep us posted.


PC.

 

[roadie]

PC - thanks for your comments. It was always garaged but not covered in those days and I'm not sure if he has it covered now or not but as it's not in his garage anymore but someone's building I think it is. I think you've given me hope that it probably isn't rusted through.

I'd never expect to drop the engine in and have it go. An old friend who's a mechanic in the area and has restored jags before will come with me to retrieve it and go over it with me. I was hoping that 4 or 5 of us could just push it up onto the trailer.

I know he titled the car in the past but hasn't registered it in 25 years or so as it was non-drivable. Maybe I should have him request a duplicate title now since it may take awhile.