S1 2+2 Centre Console

[S12+2]

I have an S1 2+2 which has had an interior retrim some time in the past. I needed to access the fuses recently and discovered that when I tried to fold it down the plonker who fitted the centre console had made it so tight that the panel wouldn't fold out and eventually through the usual dose of brute strength, the plastic dash strip shattered.

I wonder if anyone has any experience with this area and if so, how do I remove the console and how do I set it up so that it clears the dash strip?

[andyp]

I think each car is a little different when it comes to the centre console. The radio console should be fairly consistant as it is retained by a bolt either side in the footwell but there is room to move it about by bending the mounting lugs/arms.

Whip it out and then see if you can bend the arms to move it back a bit but be warned if you go too far you'll expose the front of the centre console.

Andy

[Heuer]

Very few S1 E-Types seem to have a centre console that will drop down without first removing the legend strip. Most people just leave the two outer screws in place and on the rare occurrence when you need to open the dash simply remove the screws. Some have fitted thumb screws to make the job easier.

If you want to try and get it to work as intended you will need to first remove the radio console and central console and check to see that there is nothing (carpet or felts) obstructing the console and preventing it from fitting as tightly as possible to the transmission tunnel. Then refit everything and try and get the radio console as lows as possible - you will need a 1/2" gap between dash and console to allow it to rotate with the legend strip in place. If you achieve this you will notice a large gap when the dash is closed so you will need to fit a piece of rubber strip (as per the original) to the legend strip so it falls into place as the dash is closed - looks terrible by the way.

I spent half a day trying to get mine correct and missed it by 1/8" - only able to get it to work when no carpets were fitted. Gave up in the end and resorted to the thumb screw approach!

David

[S12+2]

Thanks for the tips. I will have a try at removing the console and see what I find!

[vikla]

I have a 66 4.2 FHC and have the usual problem that the switch panel will not drop down because the legend strip fouls on the top of the radio console.

My question is what do I need to remove to get to the bottom of the legend strip to do the mod that just secures it by a screw at either end.
Is it the radio console that has to come off and if so what is involved?

[Heuer]

You should be able to see four screws that hold the legend strip in place. Remove those with a small screwdriver - no need to remove the radio console to do it.

[vikla]

Unfortunately I cannot see any screws.

I have a replacement strip and I can see a countersunk hole at either end without any screws in them. The strip seems to be very firmly attached in the middle part but any screw heads are obscured by the rubber strip underneath.

[Heuer]

Odd. There is a rubber strip to make things tidy but it should be retained by the same screws:



Rubber strip #43:


You need to pull the rubber strip forward over the radio console I guess. You can remove the console itself by undoing the two lower chrome thumb screws and the upper two screws to the rear of the housing.

[vikla]

Thanks for the advice on removing the radio console, it was easy.

Regarding the diagrams I have chrome strip (4) on top of legend strip (5). Not sure what 3 is.

Underneath that I have the rubber strip and under that a metal strip. Two centre screws went from underneath up through the metal, rubber, legend and chrome to fix into the bottom of the switch/instrument panel. I have now removed these screws and replaced them by one at each end so whole lot can be removed without disturbing the radio console.

The rubber is much wider than the metal strip and curves backwards underneath it, so very neatly filling the gap above the radio console. All looks to me as it was probably intended.

What I didn't understand on the second diagram was it not showing the metal strip, the rubber being above the legend strip instead of under it and also the screws going downwards (into what?)

[Heuer]

In answer to your questions:

1. The part #3 is a green or blue piece of celluloid, aka light filter, to colour code the strip to the instrument lights.

2. The rubber strip, aka light shield, was factory fitted (although now missing from many cars) to fill the gap between the instrument and radio consoles. Because there has to be a 1/2" gap between the two when it is not fitted you can see the wires behind. Jaguar fitted it to tidy things up.

3. I took the second diagram from the (excellent) SC Parts catalogue as the rubber strip is not pictured in the Jaguar spares manual. SC Parts have used a bit of 'artistic licence' with their drawing so don't expect it to reflect the actual assembly sequence.