Greg,

Did not uncover the XJ-S today, hospital instead, ticker has developed a "mis-fire" every 30 odd beats, so I suggested a new set of points, and clean the spark plugs, the Quack was NOT impressed. He kept me there all day and the nurses were NOT good looking, damn waste of a day.

I will do the measurements in teh next day or 2.

Being LHD, you will have the fuel return pipe, and an emission pipe or 2 in that area. The fuel supply and brake pipe go down the RH side.

The exhaust has stainless heat shields all down that area, and they do not come off without lowering the exhaust pipe.

Talk at you soon as get those measurements.

 

Thank you Grant, but no rush--take car of yourself first, the car can wait.

 

greg,

Got ot it, sort of.

Width of the seat track is 17 1/2" centre to centre.

Could not get the fore and aft measurement as I could not bend over that far long enough, and getting on the ground to get some Kodaks is just not happening at the moment.

Must be nice to the tooth fairy so I MAY get a hoist HAHAHAHAHA.

 

17 1/2" is consistent with what I'd read elsewhere, and it's 16 1/2 in the later cars.

I have now seen floorpan pics of the XJ-S and they're the same as in my XJS. I don't believe replacing my driver's seat with any other seat will be an improvement. Gaining headroom requires changing the configuration of the seat's rear mounts.

First I will consult body people to make sure that cutting and welding the exhaust/transmission tunnel won't compromise the car's strength.

 

OK, back in the land of the living, sort of.

Waaaaaaaay back, when I got the XJ-S, I do remember (scary this memory thing) I had head room issues. nearly sold it the next day, BUT, I decided to look at the mounts as you are doing, and found 2 spacers under the rear seat runners, where they bolt to the pods, and they were about 10mm thick, and those 2 torx bolts were as per the front 2 only longer, so I took that to indicate that these spacers were in fact factory ??????, no idea, never did find out, AND washers (about 2mm thick) at each bolt where the runners bolted to the seat frame, betweeen the runner and the seat frame.

Removed all that, and head room to burn, simple as. Now mine is an '85, and yours is way later, and different seats as well, so you need to look at your car to see what is actaully in there, IF anything. Maybe the cutting and welding is the only way.

 

Contact Images Auto Body, ask for Dave. 1-408-371-1493 ImagesAutoBody.com - San Jose CA Auto Body Repair, Campbell CA Vehicle Damage, Collision & Restoration He made up some adapters for my '94 XJS's that let me sit in comfort even with my 6"5" (1.97m) and 295# (134k) height and weight. He may be able to make up another set and ship them to you. Tell Dave that you want the seat adapters that he made up for Paul's Red '94 XJS.

XJSPaul

 

Thanks again Grant. There's nothing like that in my '92. Maybe your rear lifters were a mod?? Check out what XJSPaul came up with...I KNEW I wasn't the only one with this problem!!

Greg

 

This is so encouraging...thanks! I called Dave but he's out of the shop until Wednesday. I'll let you know what happens.

 

huh, im 6'1 230lbs and my 85 xjs is enough headroom for me! (barely) but the seats are so low its no problem at all. then again the seats are as close to the ground one could make them haha

 

I phoned Images, was told Dave's prolly too busy to come to the phone. Sent email as advised by same lady...over a week and nuthin' yet

 

No response. My cut+weld idea will work on LHD cars like mine. The exhaust tunnel that is in the way is empty on 6-Cyl cars.

I'll post pics if/when it gets done.

 

Being 6'4 myself, and also looking for a XJS, this thread was of great interest to me. Sat in a 92 yesterday, and aside from occasionally brushing my hair against the headliner, it wasn't too bad. Then again, a little extra wouldn't hurt either. Did you have any luck?

 

Had the Jag on a hoist recently at the good Hanford Tire, London Ont., where Mike kindly explained to me what a daft idea it was. There's a structural member right where I need space (the roughly 3"x3" channel where the floor meets the trans tunnel). I'd have to chop out a good chunk then try to reinforce the frame somehow...yikes and would I be able to sell such a monster?? I'm not doing it.

Anyway, I have now adopted the "XJS slouch" and am more comfortable in the car. I have driven it 2500 miles in four months and learned to fit it.

Tell you what--if you really want an inch or so, have a good upholsterer make the centre section of the seat thinner. I have not done that yet.

I'd never driven an XJS prior to the test drive when I bought mine in April, but I have to tell you...this is a fine car. A GT in its day, it really is a superb-handling sports car now. I'm dreaming of AJ6 Engineering's Plus Flow and Plus Torque enhancements.

 

Followed this thread with interest.

Seat squab sounds like a plan, other than that, cutting a hole in the roof might be easier, if a little odd looking.

 

Greg,
It's been four months since your last post and I just came across this thread. I believe that the "XJS slouch" is the best answer. My '94 is a convertible, but with the top up my hair would rub the headliner and I'm only 5'10", but with a long torso (and, obviously, short legs...). True that I drive mostly with the top down, but it's still annoying when you must keep the top up for some reason. I increased the angle of the seat back and that worked perfect and with it I found that I like this angle on any car, whether it is necessary or not. In fact, I have my XJR seat at a similar angle, as well, even though it doesn't present the XJS' problem. I just got so used to driving around "slouch" that when somebody returns my seat to "normal" (the shop, car wash, etc.), it feels weird anymore. In fact, when I drive the wife's Z3, I must readjust the seat back every time.

Is this what you wound up doing?

The question that I have is, didn't the design engineers realize that something was wrong when there was no room left as to need (and to provide) an up-and-down adjustment like all the other cars?

Reinaldo
'94 XJS Conv., '02 XJR

 

maybe a but late on this thread, but I am 6'6" and 230 pounds.... have no issues fitting, in fact, one of the most comfy cars i have driven.

 

MKii250, are you sure that your car actually has the correct seats in it? It is possible that they have been changed in the past (maybe someone couldn't see over the steering wheel).
I'm 6' 1", somewhat more than 200 lbs and have never had a height problem in any of the 4 that I have owned.

 

the floors flat..idk what yall are talking about

 

im 6'4" and fit nicely in my 85 with my ebay racing seats.

 

Lots of good replies here, thanks everyone. Sorry I've been away for a bit. Loving those photos, sidescrollin.

So early in the summer I removed the headlining shell to replace the fuzzy fabric that was sagging. It's ready to go back in but I kept putting it off because I fit so well in the car. Maybe I'm long in the body or sit up straighter than average, dunno but I just found it cramped before. Looks like hell in there without the headliner so I'll stick it back in in the spring.

Unfortunately for the car, I love driving it and am now up to nearly 73,000km (45,600 miles).