(I first posted this in the wrong (general) forum...
I know I am in trouble, because I am so hooked on a 84 XJ6 in my price range. (under 1000) Yes I also know that it needs a head gasket, and from what little research I have done, I think I may be a glutton for punishment,with this beautiful cat... I do all my own mechanic work. And love it(most or the time) It has 40 miles on a trans rebuild, overall miles 74k, the usual cosmetic rust "spots" in typical places. This wouldnt be a transportaion car, at least not for a while, interior is sweet, exterior is straight, has alum. dish rims, (Jag. maybe from XJ40) newish (upper end rubber) tires... Am I crazy for even contemplating this. I am capabale of most all semi-major mechanical and electrical repairs.
Help me before I fall more for this baby than I already have...Thanks Jery

Submitted by wljenkins@usa.net on Tue, 02/10/2004 - 12:06

The head gasket is a bit of a challenge but if you've done major work on other types of cars, you'll figure it out. The machine shop work to do the head right will probably cost around $1,000.00.

If you buy this car it sounds like you will wind up going down the same road I did. By the time I got it done, I could have spent less than half of what I have into it on a much nicer Series III XJ6 and saves myself many hours of labor.

Check the XJ Saloons gallery for a photo of my car (the third one down) and then look at the one above it. I have well over $15K into my car and the black one above it was purchased for slightly over half of that six years ago and very little work has been put into it since 1997 because the car is darn near perfect.

Then, check out the concours scores for 2003 in Class 12 and you can plainly see that the black XJ6 is much better than my car!! Again, for much less cost and aggrevation.

If a lobor of love is what you seek, great, buy your car. If you want to save a lot of time, $$$ and aggrevation, spend $8K to $10K on a darn near perfect car that someone (like me) is already upside down on!!

Submitted by jam@ispwest.com on Tue, 02/10/2004 - 07:03

hi hooked, how can you fall more than you already have? you either have or you haven't. But it sounds like the cat has you by the horns! 1984 is a John Egan-era car, (the best quality XJ's ever made), and just think: you will have saved one more cat from the attrition transplant farm, i.e., the Salvage Yard Co. Inc. LLC Ltd. Corp.; Based on the JCNA's Production Numbers Chart, there were 26,668 XJ's made in 1984, so 20 years later, based on a yearly attrition/loss rate of 5% worldwide, it's fair to assume there's only 20% of those cars still on the roads, worldwide. On the subject of miles, never trust ANY mileage, speedometers are easily replaced, they turn over and start from zero, they can be reversed, etc., so just let the car 'talk to you', it will tell you its real mileage very clearly. Think of it this way: speedometers and odometers are partners in crime. Professor Restore-a-Lot recommends you offer no moe than $630.00
and predicts you will tow it home.