Somehow with the XJS, like potato chips, one is never enough. I now have two '93 4 liter convertibles: a dog-eared example (Jag A) with a clean top that's only a couple of years old, and a much nicer low-mileage car with a torn top (Jag B). Neither headliner is desirable; B's is ruined from exposure and A's is brittle and faded with small rips.

Jag B is clearly the target car for Jag A donations, in this case the convertible top. Any advice on how to proceed? My DIY capacity is diminished due to lack of garage space and time, but a weekend project is not totally out of consideration. However, I'll likely end up taking this to someone, once I know what to ask for.

Does the good canvas have to be removed from A's frame or can the frames simply be swapped out en toto? Does anyone have a good source for convertible headliners, and how does the need for a new headliner complicate the canvas transplant?

Thanks heaps!

 

Not a easy task at all, if even possible. Even if the canvas is good, the cables will have to be replaced, and most likely the pad. The rear cable is bad as soon as you take it out. The side ones, well most likely shot too. If you had a good headliner, in the top that is good, then maybe. But unlike most convertibles, the headliner actually goes in first, then the pad, then the top. I did the job not long ago on my 89. I would do it again, but it is a big job to say the least. Lots of patience, and certainly not something to start with the car outside.

 

Btw, you can just swap frames. But a bad headliner is still the problem. And that rear cable is a must. If you had a hand, and were willing to live with the headliner, I could see it taking just a few hours to swap frames, top and all. After all, as I understand it, the convertible tops were on the frames as the car was assembled, and the assembly line folks only had to mount it, install rear cable. When they were available, that is the way you got a replacement top from Jag....frame and all.

 

Thanks, that's really good info, and just what I was needing.

So it looks like option 3 is to sell Jag A for whatever I can get for it as it sits and hope that pays for the cost of a completely new top for Jag B. If I can't make that work, then worst-case is I can transfer the frame and just deal with the tired existing headliner from Jag A, which is at least functional.

It's pretty annoying that the previous owner replaced the canvas but cheaped-out on the headliner.

It looks like I can source a high-quality canvas for about $480 from a vendor I have successfully used before. I still need to price the headliner; if anyone has a suggestion for that or another canvas source you'd like to recommend, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

Headliners on Ebay

 

I bought my top and headliner from Rock Auto. I'm happy with both.