I just got my 1980 FI manual trans Spider back from paint and I have several questions.

I want to remove, clean-up and adjust the door lock strikers on the frame (rather than the door). The inside nuts seem to be on a movable plate inside an enclosed area with no access. If I remove the striker screws, will the plate fall out of position? If yes, how would it be re-positioned?

Is there a body and interior parts catalog available somewhere similar to the mechanical parts catalog? This would aid in reassembly.

I want to clean-up my top frame. After removing the rust, what's a good paint to use to repaint. I want to avoid POR-15 thinking that it would gum-up the joints. Could powder coating be done without disassembly?

My windshield frame may have been replaced. Mine has the small pins on the visor latches. I know that the top frames are different, but is the windshield frame also different between say 1978 and 1980 cars?

Can someone in the SF Bay Area recommend an upholstery shop that could recover my dash with vinyl and french stitching? Saw this on Wheeler Dealer. What shop did they use?

Thanks in advance. Tony in Oakland, CA

Tony, a few answers for you:

greenspider wrote:I want to remove, clean-up and adjust the door lock strikers on the frame (rather than the door). The inside nuts seem to be on a movable plate inside an enclosed area with no access. If I remove the striker screws, will the plate fall out of position? If yes, how would it be re-positioned?

You should be able to remove the striker screws, and the plate that they screw into is held into position by a metal "basket" beneath the door jamb. In other words, no, the plate will not fall out of position (assuming someone hasn't mucked this up).

greenspider wrote:Is there a body and interior parts catalog available somewhere similar to the mechanical parts catalog? This would aid in reassembly.

I often go to https://www.middlebartongarage.com/ for exploded diagrams.

As far as an upholstery shop, I have used a place in Modesto for some leather work on my Jaguar. Excellent craftsmanship, and the prices were very reasonable. Let me know if you want me to get you some contact info for them. I know that they were willing to come out to Livermore and the Pleasanton area, but not sure about the East Bay area in general (or Oakland).

-Bryan

Thanks Bryan. Yes, I would be interested in the upholstery shop info. BTW, I’m a former Jagman, 74 XJ12/ 350 Chev. Loved it but went Italian. Tony

Tony, the name of the person I dealt with was Tom at (209) 765-2700. He responds quickly to text messages. Tell him that Bryan in Livermore with the Jaguar XJ6 seats sent you. I forget the name of his shop, but it was something like "Advanced Interior Restoration".

My Jag is a '93 XJ6, and it's been fairly reliable over the years. I bought it used in 1996 from a Jaguar dealer, and it was still under warranty so I had a few things fixed when I bought it. Still have it, and I just had it repainted (black) and the leather seats redone or reconditioned. Tom did a nice job on the interior back last April or so, and he works with (I believe) his son-in-law Chris. I can't say what he might do regarding your dashboard question, but it's worth giving him a text as he either could do the work or perhaps knows someone who could.

Hope this helps.

-Bryan

Would anyone know where to get the FMV Safety Standard Conformity Tag (VIN) door jamb tag replaced? AR sells blanks. Does anyone know where to get one stamped or better yet, replaced with metal? Also, is the EPA sticker on the cowl available anywhere for 1980 FI? Thanks, Tony in Oakland, CA

greenspider wrote:Would anyone know where to get the FMV Safety Standard Conformity Tag (VIN) door jamb tag replaced? AR sells blanks. Does anyone know where to get one stamped or better yet, replaced with metal? Also, is the EPA sticker on the cowl available anywhere for 1980 FI? Thanks, Tony in Oakland, CA

I can't help with your question on the EPA tag, but for the VIN plate, my suggestion would be to talk to a shop that makes custom trophies and award plaques and the like. If you take them a blank, I would think that they could stamp it (or engrave it) with an appropriate font, size, spacing, etc.

-Bryan