I’m thinking if restoring a 1983 XJ-S HE, but am concerned that the paint might contain lead in it. Does anyone know if Jaguar used lead based paint on the XJ-S? Or any further information that might help?

 

No lead paint anywhere on any Jaguar post-war!

 

Thanks Greg, even in the primer?

 

Even in the primer!

 

I imagine that lead was used in the body to blend in major panels. American cars used it up through the 1970s. If you sand down to bare metal you would expose the lead and create lead borne dust. Even if you don't expose the lead any paint dust is bad for your lungs.

 

Protect your lungs no matter what, and buy disposable jumpsuits for the job

 

The joins between the roof corners and the flying buttress tops were "lead loaded", over an area of about 3 square inches or so. If anyone buy Rivers Fletcher's book on the XJS (fascinating factory pics throughout, highly recommended) there is a photo of a guy lead loading this area on an XJS.
This is a process whereby the joins between the panels are made continuous and smooth by a craftsman melting lead sticks into the area then smoothing it off with a wooden paddle. The point as far as repaint is concerned, is that there would be no need to smooth this area as it is already shaped, merely a key into the undercoat.

 

Don't worry about the paint with lead on the car. Be really really ans seriously worried about ASBESTOS. Jaguar did really nasty thing. They've put asbestos in the car in various places (engine bay paint, brake callipers) and officially denied it: https://www.xjsbanger.co.uk/xjs-buying-guide
For England, James...
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Wow Greg, such great knowledge of how they used to make the XJS. I’m fascinated, did they continue the lead loading right through to the end of the series 3‘s, or did they work out another way of making the join. I would have thought by the 90’s things like the use of lead in car body manufacture would have been unpalatable from an environmental perspective.

 

Not sure about the facelifts, but the series IIIs and pre facelift XJSs, yes right through. Do yourself a favour and pick up this marvellous book:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-XJ...8AAOSwJHheh5Sy

Greg

 

Got last non-Cat version of 3.6 (Dec 1989). All seems to be brazed, no tace of lead...

 

The lead loading is only on the join between the rear corners of the roof pressing and the top of the buttress pressing, where the two join.

 

and a small amount where the front lower valance meets the bottom of the wings to blend as 'one panel' ,

as for denying that they used ' asbestos ' , as all manufacturers did back then, why did they put an asbestos warning sticker in the engine bay , and the owners manual ? my 1989 XJS has these warnings


but as already advised, wear respiratory PPE to protect against all particulates including heavy metals and disposable overalls to limit contamination of other areas when stopping your work on the car,
however ,the small amount and duration of exposure that you 'may ' be exposed to is minimal, only daily workers for years tend to have issues with exposure to such items ( this does not include exposure to unconfined asbestos )
BB

 

BB, I am pretty sure that panel between the front wing in front of the wheel arch and the lower 3/4 panel is braised, not lead loaded. At least is is on my car. Unless it was braised and then loaded of course!