TR4/4A TR4 Wooden Dash Facia vents

[eyesie]

Hi
I am installing a replacement wooden dash on my TR4. The dash is from The Roadster Factory. I was trying to install the original plastic facia vents, which appear to just be a push in, however, they are extremely tight, to the point of them bending as I am trying to push them in, & I am afraid of cracking them. Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks
Alan

 

[Darrell_Walker]

It may be different on the TR4, but on the 4A the vents go into the metal part behind the dash, and the wood overlays them.

 

[eyesie]

After doing a Google images search , I believe you are correct. It is the same for the turn signal indicator & the Ignition warning light. It looks like they forgot about these items when they added the wood.
Thanks for the response.

 

[Geo Hahn]

You got it. How the dash looks when ready for the wood:

 

[rnpennington]

I'm doin the same thing this weekend - I'll let you know how it turns out for me.

 

[eyesie]

Did you put Silicone or a sealant under that dash top? prior to installing windshield?

 

[Geo Hahn]

I used no sealant -- but then I live in a mostly dry climate. Once the windscreen is in place everything gets clamped down by the frame really tight.

 

[eyesie]

OK thanks. I am in San Diego, so no real rain issues here either. I am searching for a rheostat for the panel. Apparently the unit available is only suitable for metal dash cars, too short for wood dash. Have you come across this issue?

 

[rnpennington]

The rheostat is a very simple mechanism. What I did was to get a new rheostat, spread the tabs on the back on both and then change the shaft from the old one to the new one. Works great!

 

[rnpennington]

BTW,
Once you installed your dash - were the holes for the ignition and turn signal lights off? After test fitted mine, it looks like this:

This picture was taken straight on. Also, I had the original crash pads recovered, but this dash wouldn't fit with them installed. Fortunately, I had a replacement set from TRF and with those it fit fine??????

I'd be happy if the holes for the lights weren't so far off.

Any recommendations for other wood dashes?

 

[Geo Hahn]

Mine are nearly perfect so I never examined whether there is any wiggle room in how the light fixtures are attached.

If you add adding wood to an original metal dash - perhaps that is the cause of the mismatch (I was replacing a wood dash).

 

[rnpennington]

As there was a wood dash on it before and the paint doesn't look like it was setup as a metal dash, I am assuming it was a installed either at the dealer or early on. If it was installed at the dealer though, he had crappy woodworkers :emmersed:

 

[HerronScott]

I would check to see if there's any wiggle room on installing those lamps. How's the alignment on the rest of the dash and do you have a full picture? The amount that they are off to the right seems a bit odd since that would put the lamp hole awfully close to the gauge hole on the right and an unequal distance from the gauge hole on the left.

Scott

 

[eyesie]

Bob
That sounds like a good fix, unfortunately, I don't have the old rheostat.
My dash is a TRF unit, I bought off a guy. I hope the lights line up.