Diving into the dash

[drooartz]

Due to rains (thus no skiing) I found myself with a free day today. Decided to tackle removing the steering wheel and dash so I could get to the captive nut for the center rearview mirror. Was pleasantly surprised that the wheel came off in seconds. A PO must have greased the splines in a former life. Took a moment to pull all the gauges and wires, but it all came out in a basically easy fashion.

With all that out, I grabbed a hacksaw blade and went to work on the nut. A PO had broken off a screw in the nut, and then I broke off a drill bit in the screw in the nut. 20 minutes or so of sawing (just a blade snaked up in there) and a few taps with a awl and hammer from the top, and it was all out.

Now I need to get the proper screws, and a bolt to put up underneath for the side I removed. The hole is a bit big (mostly drilled by a PO) but the mirror covers it well.

Bolt, screw, drill bit

All in all, a successful day. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[jlaird]

Darn Drew I remember no captive nuts up there. I had to feed lockwashers and bolts in. But with dash out of course.

Use stainless screws from the hardware. Take the mirror along so you get the right size.

 

[drooartz]

Captives were definitely there, can't see how they could have been welded in by anyone else but the factory. That brace in the way makes things a bit tricky. I'll need to get a tap/die set as well so I can chase the threads of the remaining nut. At least I'll have a mirror now, that would be nice.

 

[jlaird]

Hehe, yep.

 

[fmichaels]

not sure i understand what you have there, but are you talking about where the center rod attaches to the top of the dash? if so there should be two captured nuts (loose but captured). i'm looking at 5 holes there. was something else attached there? modified?

 

[DrEntropy]

Frogeye cars had a dash mounted rear view mirror.

Just tossin' this out as a "non standard" alternative, Drew: Have you considered using threaded inserts (Zerts or Marson's inserts) to replace the captive nuts? It looks as if the hole on the right may be a bit oversize but you could put in a flush insert, then reduce the thread size with a Heli-Coil in the Zert. As I said, just a thought.

...and a good excuse for MORE toolage. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[fmichaels]

zerts are good!

 

[DrEntropy]

I used 'em for all the interior trim panels in Herself's MGB, along with stainless #6 machine screws. NO more rusty wallowed out sheet-metal holes/screws for me. Takes a bit more work initially but the panels will come off in seconds if need be, and they look as good as original... now if I could just get Her to sew up the upholstery... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[drooartz]

Doc's right, no center rod on a Bugeye. Mirror mounts directly to the dash.

Hadn't thought about using an insert, Doc. There is just enough room to finagle a nut and washer under there on the right side. The captive nut is still present on the left side, just need to clean out the threads and that is good to go. It's an interesting thought, though. I'll have to look into it.

 

[ncbugeye]

Can you post a link to these Zerts, or some pictures, I'd like to know what they look like... I looked for them via Google but could not be sure I was finding the stuff you are referring to.

 

[DrEntropy]

These are the same basic part, just what I found bookmarked:

https://www.huck.com/marsoncorp/threadsert.htm


EDIT: This is where I get mine:

https://www.nutty.com/threatsert.shtml