MadaboutKitcars

I think Sir William Lyons needs all the credit for the way it looks!

I just faithfully copied his design, it's got to be right, right? :-)

Thanks for that Mick, I will investigate.

Mr T, I still think your earlier idea of a "distressed" cockpit area was a good one and am working on it.

For instance all the XKSS's I have seen in pictures, have the divider behind the seats covered in fabric to match the hood bag.

Well, following your idea, I will not cover mine up, but leave it BRG, with the edges in the distressed mode!
And the alloy rivets sort of showing through.

Interior

Further to my earlier ramblings, here are some other thoughts on the interior look I am trying to create, and the final look of the divider that took so bloody long to make!

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saddle for a slim-arse I think!

Mind you the real XKSS is 5 inches wider than the Spit, so that would not have the problem.

Each "saddle" would then be around 20 inches wide!

Seats again

Today I started to feel guilty about not doing enough to the build.

Well, that's not strictly true, I felt guilty because today, I had done sod-all to the build, so as punishment, I worked tonight, and built the passenger's seat base. not a lot, but enough to ease the guilt!

Pics:

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Windscreen

The windscreen, yes the dreaded bloody windscreen. I would not like to put a figure of hours spent so far, cutting out, paper patterns, cardboard patterns, welding, grinding.

Realising it’s double skinned around the edges, grinding again in certain areas, as it fouls the body work and will not sit right.

More welding, bending, grinding. No wonder I got cheesed off and left it for a while.

However, I have to progress, and cannot do the dash, until the dash top is done, I can’t do that until the windscreen wipers have been fitted and hidden inside, at the bottom of the screen, and I cannot do that until the windscreen has been finished and fitted.

So I am finally forced into the position where I HAVE to sort the screen out so it is At a much more advanced “finished stage”.

It still won’t be finished as we know it Jim, because the glass will have to come out, The screen frame will have to be painted, and a new rubber fitted etc. It will still drag on, but today I must plough on.

First thing is to dress the steel screen top to be the perfect curve, before any marking out and cutting happens.

Well I did that, then set about the hard parts.

I put in a total of 8 hours today, got grit in my eye, set my sweatshirt on fire from the sparks off the cutting disc, and had to beat the flames out, then chuck the top away.
I think we’ve all been there, I’ve done that many times! It’s the smell of burning that always alerts me to the problem.

Well the hard bit is done now, and I feel satisfaction once again.
Another day another dollar……….

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Thanks V!
There is still the sides to do, and all the filler etc, but we are getting there.
I keep thinking, if I made it as Chris intended, I'd be driving it around now!
Mind you its going to look nicer the way I have it planned.

Leather seats

Whilst I was at a local sale yesterday, I noticed a rather large 3 piece suite, which I had seen the week before, so it obviously had not sold.

It was in very good condition with not a scratch on it, and well made, from good quality leather.

I have been hanging back on my XKSS seat making, as I was a little short on leather, and thought I would need to use “leather cloth” (plastic) on the sides, and perhaps one or two of the faces..

I was not happy with this, and wanted 100% leather.

So here was this leather suite in the sale again, I had not seen this much leather since the last time I walked in a cow field full of cattle.

So I put a bid on it, and won. I think perhaps I paid a little over the top at £5.

The auction premium was 75 pee.

So I got it for £5.75.

However, when I tipped it upside down, and took a scalpel blade to it, and started to strip off all the leather, the inevitable money fell out from down between the cushions, and totalled £2.20, so I actually got about half an acre of premium leather for the princely sum of £3.55.

I really felt deliciously naughty and wicked as I sliced away merrily at all that lovely leather.

The question is: Did I get a bargain???


Here are some pictures

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Didn't even think of that Paul! Just greedy for all that hide.

To be honest, I was going to attack the seats with the chainsaw, but I really couldn't be arsed, as it took so long to
strip the leather out, but tomorrow is another day, and you've tempted me!!

Yes it really does! Unfortunately, it's not mine! It belongs to an ex army buddy of mine. I've always envied it!

Your friend is correct, I have a rigging machine with a needle so thick, it looks like a screwdriver with a slit in it!

I had a doubting friend, so I gave him a demo, and stitched through a quarter inch plywood board!

Today

Mr T:

Yes indeed, at present, I favour a deep red colour for the leather trim, but we'll see.

Zagmad:

I had considered memory foam, but will not use it, I will use the normal seat foam instead.

Timtim:

My mates MGB has had more money spent on it than it is worth, it is really "as new". He will never get back what he spent!


Reference the wood in the seats for my wood burner, I did attack the sofa today with chainsaw, and have said wood in a pile, pics to follow!
The two chairs will get similar treatment at a later date.

There must be 10 quids worth of wood, and the sofa yielded a further 10 pee today, so at present, it looks like I got the leather free, and was paid £6.55 for my efforts!!

I suppose that is a bargain!

Butch Needles



Zagmad,

This pic give a better idea of sewing needle size:

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Ideas

You are welcome Officer...

Here are the promised pics:

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You make me laugh Mr T!
And I know you're right too!!

More windscreen drama



Today I spent another 6 hours welding, cutting grinding and filing, and it's STILL not finished, but it MUST be 6 hours closer.............

My windscreen is to me,what Paul's bulkhead is to him:
A fu**ing nightmare!!

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Praise

Well Simon,

I feel completely humbled by your praise!

I am driven mainly by poverty! I cannot get the cheque book out, so that is why I am so deterrnined to create a very expensive looking car for peanuts!

Peanuts is all I have!!

Seriously though, it always has annoyed me when looking at price lists for Jaguar XKSS bits and pieces. The prices are all way beyond most hard working ordinary folk. I am very lucky to have found the neccessary skills which have enabled me to get this far with the build on an absolute shoe-string.

I also love a challenge, and this build has certainly provide lots of that!

You MUST NOT feel discouraged or embarrassed, but should think about being inspired! If I can do it anyone can, I used to be a soldier, and took great delight in blowing things up and all sorts of destruction, but then discovered that I also had a creative streak, which is what I am trying to develop now.
Go for it Simon! All the guys on this forum will give you help and advice, which is one reason I started the thread.
I have gained so much input from everyone, there are some really experienced and skilfull operaters out there believe me.

Windscreen

You are on the right lines there Jag.

I always intended to weld a steel strap to the inside of the windscreen at the rear edge, and bolt it to a bracket which I will bolt to the side crash-bar.

After looking at the interiors of XKSS, in one form or another it looks as
though they are all built this way.

When that is done, the bolts holding the screen on around the bottom edge, will hardly have any load on them at all, as the load should be taken by the side struts.

Well spotted!

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Absolutely brilliant!!

The cyclists must nearly be dragged off their bikes when he goes past at 160 mph!!