I've just been offered a 1984 Jaguar Sovereign S3 - wasn't looking for one, but it just came up....
Major problem is that the headlining is bubbling and sagging, probably due to water ingress through the sunroof. It's not a "proper" cloth-over-stretchers job, just cloth glued on to cardboard panels. Research so far indicates that it's a pretty major job to refit with new.
I vaguely recall tales of boiling kettles placed inside with the doors shut, softening the original glue and shrinking the cloth so that it all goes back together as if by magic. Seems unlikely to me, but anybody had any experience of this, or any other ideas?
Geoff Mackenzie ("Geoff Mackenzie" ) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:
"It just followed me home, dear, honest..."
Depends...
Complete and utter bollocks.
The headlining is (usually, no specific Jag experience) foam backed cloth glued to a rigid backing board. The cheap crappy foam padding disintegrates over time. Since the foam is what's actually glued to the board, that leaves the cloth billowing freely. No matter what you do, it ain't gonna stick back. Because all you're doing is sticking more disintegrating foam to the disintegrating foam that's already stuck firmly.
The material's easily available (Woollies - the specialist car trim people, not the pikey pick'n'mix people - do a wide range, plus glues) and not expensive. I got a big roll with enough to do my Saab 900 and a mate's, with a big tin of glue, for about £70 or so.
How big a job it actually is depends on how big a bastard the backing board is to get out. On my 900, it's easy to get the board out - mine's a
3dr, so it just comes out the hatch. On a 2dr 900, you can _just_ get the board out the front door. On a 4dr, you might, perhaps, depending on who you believe, be able to get it out the boot after removing the parcel shelf and back seat. Or you may need to remove the rear window glass. Somehow, I suspect an XJ will fall into that last category.
Once the board's out, rip the cloth off, and wire brush the remains of the old foam off. Then glue the new foam on and Haynes provides the refitting instructions...
The biggest problem will be getting the old, moulded board out. After that it's not too hard to stick a new headlining to it.
I need to do the same with my Alfa 75, but I'm absolutely dreading the removal - apparently you can get it through the passenger door if you're careful.
Owning an SD1 from the same stable and the same age - possibly even the same fabric - the answer is not a chance. What happens is the fabric is foam backed and glued to the compressed fibre (hardboard) former, and the foam disintegrates. But you can buy a near match from Woolies for about
30-40 quid and replacing it isn't too bad a job - once you've got the former off. That's time consuming on the SD1 and I can't see the Jag being any easier. But the end result is well worth it if the rest of the interior is ok.
BTW, you never got back about those tapes you wanted transcripted?
Ah - never occurred to me. The SD1 has a nice convenient hatchback for getting the former out. But I'd guess it would come out through a back door if you removed the seat?
Thanks, all. Sounds like a bugger of a job! Definitely don't fancy taking the rear window out - I'll have another look and see how practical it would be to replace the lining with the former still in the car. It's worth doing - the rest of the interior is pretty well perfect.
Dave - thought I emailed you about the tapes? Will dig them out - eventually.
No leaks at all from the screens, only the sunroof. In fact, the whole damn car is well-nigh perfect - one owner, 80k miles, full main dealer history, the lot. But it has been standing outside for two years since the owner shuffled off the plate, hence the water damage. Don't want to disturb anything which doen't need fixing. Looks like a Japanese Strad job to me.
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