dash refinish

[floyd]

Well my TR winter projects went just like my house winter projects. Not a one of them done. So.....being that TR season is coming around the corner. If I would decide to remove my dash to refinish it. How much time can I figure that the car would be out of commission if I didn't get around to it till Tr season was here. Excluding refinishing time how long generally does it take to remove it and reinstall it. Thank you much

 

[Brosky]

You may want to put this project back on hold for the late fall. Doing refinishing with clear coat materials in a closed house is not what makes wives happy when it starts to smell for days on end.

Also, nothing worse than a dash in pieces when it's 75 and sunny outside.

 

[poolboy]

When you say refinishing, did you mean trying to actually refinish, as in sand and apply a finish coat or two to the existing veneer or strip off the old veneer and apply a new veneer?

 

[Tinster]

My car was on jackstands for 5 months, upon removing the dash.
A few DPO wiring problems and broken gauges needed fixing.
The car also required a new dash be fabricated.

d

 

[2wrench]

Tough to give an estimate because every guy's
time and abilities are different.

Suffice it to say, though, that this is not a project
that you want to rush in any way. Be psychologically
prepared to have her down till it is done right.

Mark every single wire as it is removed; take the time
to make notes; draw diagrams and most valuable to me
-- take digital photos of every move you make.
All of the above in culmination saved my behind.

This is not a weekend project, by any stretch, in my
opinion. Patience and perseverance on 'ya.

 

[kodanja]

Patience is the Key!

Make sure you clearly mark all wires prior to installtion.
tape works well!

Be prepared to crawl under the dash on your back, if you've been under there before you know what I mean!

alot yourself more than a weekend for this installation,
but then again maybe you'll get lucky

Good Luck

 

[Tinster]

Well, FWIW- I say this should be a project to tackle
over the winter months in Ohio. It truly is a nightmare
of a project. Even though I prewired all the dash lights
and installed a dash ground wire harness, it took me five
months from the time I pulled the old dash out until the
new dash was finally installed. I worked on the dash project
almost every day for those 5 months.

Just truly one of the most difficult TR6 projects I attempted,
as a non-mechanic car owner.

best of luck! Take yer seats out if ya try this project.

dale

 

[vagt6]

BUT . . .

If your behind-the-dash wiring is, 1)original, or worse; 2) it's been attacked and defeated by a DPO (most likely), it is in desperate need of rewiring.

Under dash rewiring is a tremendous safety upgrade, IMHO. Many, many electrical fires have their origin under the dash area.

Hard to accomplish? Umm, well, maybe so. Depends on the condition of your car, and your skill level, as always.

Label everything as you remove it; get the right tools for the job (a good wire splicer/cutter, etc); solder what you can; use modern connectors (unless you're concerned with originality, then the bullet types are okay); use appropriate wiring gauge for the job and NEW wire; use dielectric grease on connectors. Folks like British Wiring Specialists can provide the correct stuff, if you're interested. It's not terribly expensive and well worth the price.

While you're at it, install (and hide) a modern, blade-type fuse box and use modern fuses. You can keep the old box for the sake of originality, if needed. I suggest to put relays on both headlamp circuits, and on auxillary lamps as well. Very big safety issue, IMHO. Use Bosch relays, they're cheap as dirt and easy to hide.

Under dash rewiring is the second thing I do to an old car, right after rehabbing the brake system. Both are critically important for safety and peace of mind as we howl around those twisties at 60 MPH!

It's not a terribly difficult project. Just accept the fact that it's intricate work, and set aside plenty of time to accomplish it (this reduces stress, I've found).

Then plan ahead and block out the appropriate time required; buy and get all your stuff organized, and don't get in a hurry.

Good luck!

 

[TR4nut]

Ignoring the complexity of the wiring for the moment, if you were at a junkyard and found a donor car I'd bet the dash would come off in about an hour. Unplug lots of wires, pull the speedo and tach gauges, disconnect the vents, take off a couple of front screws and you are done..

As has been said, though, the pain is in the details of the wiring and making sure you know how to put it back together. Labeling can be the most time consuming part.

Randy

 

[vagt6]

Dale, where did you purchase the "rain forest teak"? It looks pretty close to original.

Is it a bit lighter shade than the OEM??

 

[sail]

wondering if the original finish is shellac? thanks

 

[Tinster]

Dale, where did you purchase the "rain forest teak"? It looks pretty close to original.

Is it a bit lighter shade than the OEM??

Not being a smart a$$ Mark-

I purchased it locally. It grows in our rain forests,
here on the island. Yes, quite pricey $$.

dale

 

[hondo402000]

if you sand and re finish, I would say a day per coat, if you take off the old veneer and re apply new veneer at least a week, I used a 2 part clear for the finish, applied 4 coats, wet sand between coats and spray again I think it took me about 1 week for the whole process

 

[Popeye]

if you sand and re finish, I would say a day per coat, if you take off the old veneer and re apply new veneer at least a week, I used a 2 part clear for the finish, applied 4 coats, wet sand between coats and spray again I think it took me about 1 week for the whole process

Nice!!

What type of finish did you use? ("two part clear... spray[ed on]")

I'm using good old polyeurethane (spelling?) mixed with tung oil. I'm up to many many coats (wetsanding inbetween), and once complete I will let it dry for two or three weeks, then wetsand with 2000 grit paper and polish and wax to get a good shine/sheen.

 

[vagt6]

GT6/Spit wood dash facia was originally made of "French Walnut" and may be reproduced with several types of wood. These dashes were not shiny but had a "satin" finish.

I sanded mine with very fine sandpaper and fine steel wool, then rubbed and rubbed and rubbed and rubbed with "Swedish oil" or something similar and a soft cloth.

Did I say I rubbed a lot? Looked great, BTW.

Refinished a worn dash really sets these cars off, nothing like it IMHO.

 

[jjbunn]

I don't think I am as exacting as others. Removing the dash, stripping off the old cracked coating on top of the veneer, then sanding lightly, staining, and several coats of poly. gloss clearcoat took me a couple of days. Then the refitting of the gauges, switches and wires was about an afternoon.

The thing is about this project that it's extremely satisfying, so that tends to be good motivation to finish

Before:

After:

 

[Tinster]

Wow!! Looking great Julian.

I wuz wunderin' what you were up to!

D

 

[eejay56]

I was driving mine while I did it so I did one section at a time. It took about 4 weeks to relaminate and refinish. Since these were taken I cleaned the paint off the gauge rims and they are nice pretty chrome.

 

[PeterK]

Mark, Maybe it was (Watco brand) Danish Tung Oil? It soaks in and allows multiple coats to build up a real nice finish. I use it on hand made furniture and refinishing antiques. Probably not the best for UV protection but easy to touch up. When it starts to look a little bad, just polish on another layer, and rub rub rub!

English Walnut is also listed as original dash material for TR4As. Just a little different color and grain from American Walnut.

* * * * *

Dale, I made a set of custom gunwales from teak for a friends island hopper. I loved the smell when I milled it, just like frest cut leather.

 

[BobbyD]

Floyd,
Removing the dash itself is no big deal. Just label every wire and I even mark the back of the gauges showing what wire hooks up where. It might be easier with the driver seat removed as you spend a lot on time on your back in the driver foot well. I did it in a day when I replaced my dash https://tr6.danielsonfamily.org/Restoration_May_1999.htm. As to actually refinishing a dash.......well that depends on your woodworking and refinishing skills.