Getting off my ass and finally writing a build thread for the Jaguar

[exexpat]

People often ask me if I have a build thread and the truth is I found Stanceworks a bit late in the process. You see, I am a moderator on a few Volvo sites and come from the other 5x108 former Ford-owned marque.

Why Jaguar? I always liked the XJ and X-Type cars, never really was a fan of the S-Type, but I also had this pile of 5x108 wheels and adapters. I had a Volvo C70 convertible in black on tan with Porsche wheels and before that, a Volvo 850 on Mercedes S-Class W140 wheels (wish I still had those wheels).

So in December 2009 after spending a month watch BMW Seattle trying to sell a 2004 X-Type Sport, I went in and negotiated a third off their price, knowing that it was destined for a wholesale moving and even lower price for them. It started out essentially like this, but with the 2-piece BBS wheels called Melbourne:


Within the first 2 weeks, I sourced some different wheels, installed H&R springs, tinted the glass, covered the red and amber bumper lights with silver vinyl and replaced all the amber bulbs with mercury-dipped units:


At this point, I was kind of happy with the look and hadn't yet stumbled upon Stanceworks, really. So I moved on to the next project, Car PC.

[exexpat]

Now that the exterior was starting to look a little sorted, I moved on to the inside. You all might think I'm a wheel whore and you would be right, but I'm also a computer whore. At the time, I was spending my days building tools and instructing people how to migrate off Windows XP to Windows 7. I got pretty familiar with the operating system installation process.

The first things that happened was the PC I would use in automated deployment demos (an Acer Aspire1 with a 7200rpm drive and 1.5GB RAM) was starting to act up, it wouldn't allow me to apply a Windows image against the hard drive any more - I had probably installed Windows on it 800-1000 times in the year I had it. Guessing it was a CMOS or motherboard issue. It would run through sysprep specialization though, so I imaged a drive outside the netbook and then installed it to complete the process.

I started to accumulate parts to make the netbook a Car PC - it had to be touch-enabled, support Dolby 5.1 and have all the peripherals needed to make it as practical as possible. It turns out a double DIN dash opening is very close to the screen size of an 8.9" LCD from the netbook.

It took a little than expected, but here this is what I had and what I did.

My list of components:
1. Metra Double DIN Dash Kit
2. Acer Aspire One netbook
3. Touchscreen kit
4 .USB powered hub
5. USB 6-Channel audio card
6. USB VGA converter
7. USB Bluetooth
8. 3 x phono-to-AV adapters
9. 5 channel amplifier
10. Slot load USB DVD
11. Headrest monitors
12. PCMCIA Wireless Hub
13. 12v-to-5v DC converters
14. USB GPS Module
15. USB squid hub (mini and full USB ports in ash tray)
16. Zune HD (in case I want radio besides HD Internet streaming)
17. Free Microsoft Origami Experience 2.0 front end for media, calendar, Outlook integration and free Krento application launcher

I used the netbook's 8.9 screen (which fits almost perfectly behind a modified Metra double DIN X-Type kit) and I had to put a momentary soldered from the motherboard next to the screen to suspend and resume Windows.

The only thing that make this usable is the Origami frontend. I tried a bunch of others, but I like this one from the UI perspective and it has the functionality I need.

Here are some pics of the install, Origami front end, headrests, slot DVD and router:

[exexpat]

Continuing on with the Car PC and breaking my chronological order, I changed my dash around a one year later, installed an XK-R shift knob and fitted some Audi RS pedals to the car.

Covered the wood on my dash with 3M Di-Noc vinyl.






That is roughly where the interior mods left off - even now. I have only added a Lenovo handheld keyboard.

[Yogi_Bear]

Awesome, your wheel choices are always awesome as well

[exexpat]

^Thanks, man.

I then moved back to the exterior and added the 2005 X-Type Sport factory chin spoiler. The funny thing with this piece is that Jaguar in 2005 decided to update the look of the sport model and put a factory kit on the car with side skirts plus front and rear valence. In 2006, customers complained because the car didn't pass the all important "my car needs to always clear a parking lot curb without damaging the front bumper" test, Jaguar started selling the Sports in 2006 without the front valence, but leaving the side skirts and rear valence. I would have personally done the opposite, because I find the side skirts and rear piece too "skirty" - I only like the front piece, and here is how that looked:




Here is what a 2005 looks like with the other pieces:

[exexpat]

At that point, I turned my attention to the engine bay. I did a few things... the transmission and transfer case in these AWD cars are notoriously weak when it comes to adding more horsepower. I am used to adding 20% or so more HP to about every car I've owned through various mods. Coming from a turbo car with 20 lbs of boost, this car was really lacking in comparison, but the C70 was a horrible car if I needed to take my kids anywhere in it - I wanted 2 more doors and something that hadn't really been done.

Back to the motor. So another weird thing I found out with the Jaguar were the 2002 and 2003 models actually had tidier engine bays and more covers installed. In 2004, they stripped the engine cover on all cars, so they look like this:


I found the 2002/2003 pieces and painted them gloss black. Also because nobody makes anything for these cars, I decided to piece together an intake from Spectre parts. I also found a new hoodliner to replace the nasty horsehair one that the factory put on - it was sagging, had burn and oil spots and it looked like critters had chewed on it in places

[caddydaddyoad]

Looking very smart Sir.....

[x17x]

very nice.....

[electricalbox]

Staying classy, I love it!

[Evil Panda]

<3

[smoky0937]

fucking love the pc set up you have in there. very impressive sir.

[exexpat]

Thanks caddy, x, box, evil and smoky.

Continuing on to the outside of the car, I decided to do what I thought was a minor mod, but Jesus did it upset a large portion of the Jaguar community. It was mainly a test fit and I'd decide after it was done if I would keep it. Cost me about $100 in the end, so no big deal.

I saw this shark vent thing in person and I had to try it for the first time on an X-Type:


Wasn't sure at first, but I like it and it is as aggressive looking as hell from the rear sides (especially given how dainty the car appears in OEM form )








I essentially Dremeled the backs of them flat and used a combination of 3M molding tape and Permatex black silicone adhesive to make them perfect and the edges look like they are OEM gaskets. They are reversible though.

[exexpat]

Once I got the outside sufficiently done, it did start to look a bit gangsta, so I went out with my girl and did a proper shoot.




It was about this time that I discovered Stanceworks. I came in, posted a thread and y'all told me to go away and come back when I was a couple inches lower. (well, not exactly in those words). I didn't disagree and always wanted to try my hand at something different than the springs and coilovers I was used to.

http://www.stanceworks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5854

So I did and started planning out the air ride. I would soon discover that air beats static any day of the week...

[D.Brown]

Not a fan of the side additions. Looks like it doesn't sit exactly flush.

[Team_Gileto]

wow. this is nice. whats funny is that my shop has one as a company car, we plan on slamming it and throwing some wider wheels on it. but it is literally the exact same color as yours. ours has the sides and rear valence with no front lip, silver, with the same black leather/wood interior