How to fit a Speedwell Dash

[MiniMark1]

Hi all

Ive now spent hours on my Speedwell Dashboard, veneering, cutting holes for gauges & switches, too many coats of varnish to remember and finally endless polishing!

I did test fit in the car before the final stages but that was before fitting the speedo and dash vents and ashtray.

I have come to test fit prior to fitting gauges etc and I just don't seem to be able to get it under the dashboard rails!

Any tips? I really don't want to break it now!

Many thanks in advance

Mark

[timmy201]

Does anyone have a template for this style of dash? I saw one in an old mini magazine the other day and have been thinking about one since

[swifty]

I sold a replica speedwell dash that I didn't use to a mate of mine a few months back . I purchased this dash from a bloke in Portugal and it was the best replica I had seen because the dash had been made with a curve in it . ... I would imagine if your dash is to stiff to bend in then this is what you need to do . You can use 3 bits of 3x2 wood with a point on them hammered into your garden lawn . ... Over a couple of days moving the centre bit in it will achieve a curve . Wrap it in plastic to protect from the rain ...... Ken

[mk1]

A lot of the repro speedwell dashes are far to think to bend. The originals were about 1/4" thick & pretty crummy really. I have seen repros up to about 8mm that I simply don't believe will fit regardless of what you do with them. Original Speedwell dashes pop into place with very little effort at all.

M

[evonaut]

you really want to soak it then bend it in a former, or with a weight in the middle supported at each end, or pegs in the garden or however best suits, then let it dry. shame you have spent so long finishing it as the water may not penetrate, or damage the finish.....not great!

bending it dry, gradually, over a few days in a warm humid room (bathroom with shower) would be my first port of call.

raise each end and then wight the middle. gradually increase the weight or height of supports at each end and just leave it in the bath room. run the shower really hot until the room steams up then shut the door and repeat every couple of hours....

I am more familiar with joinery and structural laminating, rather than car dashes but as i said, that is how i would proceed.

not too much weight at once though. you don't want it to snap on the weak points near the dial holes.

A slightly more drastic approach if the above fails would be to use a saw with a depth gauge on it, like a festool, and cut grooves in the back at say 25mm centres which will will make it more pliable. be very careful not to cut to deep or you could end up with a faceted dash!

[MiniMark1]

Many thanks for the responses chaps - I will try and get it fitted over the weekend and will let you know how I get on. Cheers Mark

[MiniMark1]

Hi All Dashboard fitted - As Mark said its a tight fit. The only thing I did to make the fitment a little easier was to take off the chrome horizontal trim that runs the full width of the bottom dashboard rail. It was then just a case of making sure it was up behind the top rail as much as it could go and not caught up on the dash cards etc and the bottom section went in with a little persuasion!

Next job is to wire up all the gauges and switches

Thanks again for the advice

Cheers

M

[mk1]

That looks excellent!

Well worth the heart ache fitting it.

M

[MiniMark1]

Thanks again for the advice Mark

[JC T ONE]

That looks very nice well done.

[minimans]

Does it not fit up against the Speedo? I've not seen an original so don't know but it looks a little "funny" with the gap around the bezel?

[rich@minispares.com]

they all have that gap


it looks great, car looks like it has some serious i.c.e fitted as well...........

[MiniMark1]

The gap around the speedo doesn't look too bad - I may try and fill the space up somehow. Ha - like the radio comment Rich - just need to get it converted to neg earth and FM now and the tunes will be thumping!

[mk1]

The gap was originally filled by a sorbo rubber gasket that stuck to the back of the dash 7 went around the speedo.

M

[MiniMark1]

Thanks Mark - any idea where to get the material to replicate?

Cheers

Mark

[mk1coopers]

Maybe a trip to the local plumbing supplies company, perhaps something like this in the right size could be made to work ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GLOWWORM-18-3 ... 1130130457

[MiniMark1]

Good call Mark - off to Beaulieu Autojumble tomorrow - let me know if you are looking for anything - hopefully I will pick something up there. Cheers Mark