Upgrades & Modifications
 

Ok so up to now things are going well as far as jaguar ownership is concerned, although I've no doubt jinxed that now !

What upgrades / modifications do people recommend / avoid on our cars ? I'm not talking about mad engine conversions or anything particularly drastic - I mean the small or subtle things that would improve the car without making massive changes.

Cheers in advance !

I'm generally anti-modification, but I just swapped out for a 1989 XJS sport steering wheel and absolutely love it!! To about 60 seconds to swap and doesn't look out of place at all. I'm new to the club, so that's all I can share!

Some owners convert instrument panel lights to LEDs, but generally those aren't dimmable so that's only good if you want them full bright.

However, upgrading the Opticell to LED is Definitely worth the trouble (not much trouble, just change out the bulb) because it's never dimmed anyway.

I did this to my car last Winter. I got a card containing 2 LEDs (pictured below) that fit Exactly into the Opticell socket with no modification required to the socket/reflector. I got them here:
BA9S 5 SMD LED 1.5 Watt 12VDC - Automotive LED Lights - LEDLight

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...527ab9e740.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...086f61bfc9.jpg

Having just had our first night drive, I can give these an Unqualified 5-star recommendation! I had No trouble seeing the AC controls!
(';')

your car is already better than American cars, for example you probably do not have catalityc converters, and you probably have the European headlights Switch, and you probably have the nicer slimmer bumpers, and you probably have rear fog lamps, and you probably have a clock instead of a Trip "computer".

but if you want to "improve" the interior, install Vanden Plas rear Headrests, (the mountings are already there); Also you can install the top-mounted Center Stop Lamp that came in 1985, and you can install the Vanden Plas rear center console section which contains another ashtray and cig lighter! (make sure you get the wiring harness from the lighter to the front).

Steering wheels? I needed to replace my extra large pizza 17" inch steering wheel so I found a Momo Olympic which is 15" but it should be 15½". ( ♫ no I still haven't found.....what I'm looking for ♫).

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...35c70a5c7.jpeg
Theres a few things you can do to upgrade the interior. I swapped out dash for vdp dash with the walnut burl and countersunk gauges, added rear reading reading lights ( well. Po added them. I just got them working) stainless sill plates, rear head rests, just to name a few. Car already had nardi steering wheel when i got it! And i love it! I got tired of.looking at cost of redoing leather and did the velour seats too! There is a.list of things i want to do, ie add amber fog lights in the high beam bulb area of hood, i want to add either wire wheels or pepperpots, rework trunk lock so it also.unlocks with drivers door. The list goes on and on!

Darren
P.S. i saw my own pics and remembered thatbi put new.door cards in with the wood fillets on too.. :)

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...36adcb3d4c.jpg

Darren, I love that wheel!!! I'm not heavily into mods at all, but this I would like! Your interior looks great.

I'm always curious about minor trim differences and notice that your new door cards with the wood fillets are different to mine. Do you know what model/year yours are from? On my stock '84 Sovereign the door pull is shaped a little differently and the door pocket on mine is set further forward incorporating the speaker and mirror buttons (mine being RHD). Trivial I guess, but I'm always fascinated with these detail differences!


Cheers,

I honestly have no idea. I did this back in 06. I want to say the6 came from an 86 but i would be lying if i were to say its a certainty! Thanks for the compliments. I love my baby! :)

The '86-87 base level XJ6 got the door card with the wood fillets. Other than the wood, the door cards were the same as the earlier plain-Jane version. This was part of the trim upgrade that also included the polished sill plates, chrome seat adjuster handles, chrome door latch plates, wood 'ski slope' panel, and chrome speaker grilles.

The door cards used on the upper-line cars (Sovs and VDPs) were quite a bit different. The Handle/armrest was different, as was the cubby box. And the wood fillets had an inlayed (inlaid?) band. In some markets/applications these door cards were leather, other times vinyl.

Trivia: The very earliest Series IIIs actually had a two piece door trim. The uppermost section....above the door handle....was a separate piece entirely.


Cheers
DD

Lots of cosmetic mods have been mentioned. How about more functional stuff?

Front and rear anti-roll bars from and XJS make a world of difference in the cornering.

Cheers
DD

I deleted my side lights. Does.that count?? :)
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...2918ffcdfb.jpg

Of course.

Looks good.

A halfway step is to replace the rear marker lenses with MGB pieces. They're much flatter....not so clunky. A very subtle mod :)


Cheers
DD

I like the idea of upgrading the anti roll / sway bars to something a bit beefier to help it feel a bit more planted and a little less wallowy


Am thinking about changing the stereo too to a CD player, upgrading the speakers a bit and fitting a Moto Lita wooden steering wheel.


I wonder if the time / fuel computer thing would swap places easily enough with the stereo...................?

LED interior bulbs for the dials are well worth the effort. I've got them in my Series 1 and they transform the dash at night.

Attachment 153669

Attachment 153670

I've also fitted Polyurethane Steering Rack Bushes. There are two benefits to this, they sharpen up the steering feel brilliantly and they don't degrade with engine oil leaks.

That would be a no, there is no depth behind trip computer. Im.sure it could be done but it wouldnt be a.simple swap

Bugger :(

Now if you dont need a cd player it may be a bit easier. Im on my phone so i dont onow how to find my old posts. But i did installed a media player instead of a cd player stereo, if you go back through my threads started by me you will see it. Its no deeper than the hardware ring that you would use.to mount the standard sized cd player. Still has radio, aux in, usb, and bluetooth!
Might be worth looking into

Found it and bumped it for you

Jose:


Modern Catalyctic converters do little or no harm to engine performance.
Except for the added cost of their eventual failure, I have no quarrel, I like clean air as well as anybody. I lived and worked in the infamous LA basin!!!


Swapping out the ignition switch in my car for a David Boger unit solved a lot. Including far brighter warning symbols on the dash.


Swapping the 6" Kents for 7" XJS lattice wheels look better, handle better and ride better.


I've no desire to swap the Outboard 51/4" lamps for 7's!!! They light the road and look just fine, they match !!!! Symetrical vs asymmetrical???


Wax and polish in progress, panel by panel. So far much better. Bonnett better, but not quite as shiny.


The Grosvenor Brown Thermoplastic still very decent after 32 years!!!


The LT1 cranks right up and purrs......


Carl.

Cheers Darren but i was going to fit an old Alpine 7969R i had in my last car so it sounds like it'll have to in its original place.


Thanks for the info and link though :D