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How's that for a dashboard?

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MGBGT_noob

MGBGT_noob

Jedi Hopeful
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Surfing eBay UK, I came across the following:

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?V...E:X:AAQ:GB:1123

These guys refurbish steel dashes for the European market. The photo is not flipped.

Take a look at the nearest dash, in the photo. That's a '73-'74 LHD STEEL!!! dash. Only available on cars sold in continental Europe.

In another thread, someone said you'd have to modify a Pre-68 dash, if you wanted to use a steel dash with the later steering column. This dash says otherwise.

The downside, they mainly deal in exchange, so the "outright" price includes a whopping ÂŁ300.00 core charge, plus ÂŁ60.00 for shipping to the USA.

Too bad, the less curvy steel dash would have given me more room for my A/C unit, and allowed me to install the extra gauges I want.
 
Good catch! I need to redo the RHD dash from my '63 MGB so I've contacted them.

& I have several LHD & RHD dashes I'll be happy to sell them!
 
The car bodies never changed. Any of them will fit. US to UK or UK to US doesn't matter.
 
Difference is you'll have to get a radio console from one of their later metal dash cars also...the ones from the US metal dash are too short as are the ones from our later US padded dashes.
 
All UK market MGBs had steel dash panels. US-spec switched to the big padded dash to satisfy US federal safety standards. Soon after followed other mods that M.G. didn't want including smog gear, rubber bumpers, etc. I have extra LHD and RHD Mark I dash panels although I'm running out quickly as I sell them off. I can't wait for the day that I only have the spares I actually need.
 
Steve - I'm like you..I have a few LHD stel dashes & a couple of extra RHD's.

When I did the conversion in Jerri's '70 GT using a LHD steel dash, I had to zip over to the UK to pick up a radio console...grabbed 2 at the ame time in case I do nother conversion; though I've seen where some people have made a little 2" or so spacer to put between the later US radio console & the early steel dash.
 
The steel dashes sit further out from the firewall than the padded dashes.

If you want to convert, say, a US spec '74 MGB GT, from the stock padded dash to the Euro spec steel dash, you need to add an extension to the cowl panel, so that it fills the gap between the stock cowl and the dash.
 
Guys......Need your help!

Saw this post & had to jump in.

I've decided to convert my 69'C US spec pillow dash to the metal one.

I've got the pillow dash out of the car & am starting to figure out the best way to add the necessary metal to the cowl panel ?

Does anybody have a donor car they would be willing to part with this section ?


Tim
 
You'll also need an early steering column & cowl....& you'll have to modify your firewall where the steering column comes through...& you'll have to redo the square brace that runs from side-to-side under the dash....& you'll have to get a Euro radio console!
 
I've got a 64B column & cowl.......Need more detail on the modification of the firewall.......understand the modification of the brace.......still looking for a Euro radio console.

Any thoughts or leads on the cowl panel ?

Tim
 
Tim - did you go through my tech tip in an earlier post - to include opening the thumbnails?
 
Tony,

I did & it was very helpful.

What's the difference between the early firewall & later firewall ? I have tried to find close up pictures, but have been unsuccessful.

None of the manuals or catalogs I have show the sheetmetal details only the steering column bits & pieces.

Tim
 
Early firewall was designed to accept the tiny steering column (non-collapsible) with a recessed hole for its smaller gasket...it also allowed the tiny column to be bolted to the flat portion of the firewall directly above the recessed opening.

Putting a tiny column in a later car causes it to not align in the proper location re the dash & driver's arms.

Collapsible column with its cowl & mounting/support brackets won't fit under the steel dash.
 
The bottom cross bar, as illustrated in one of Tony's photos, has varying mounting tab positions for the different dash designs. These tabs have to be repositioned or new tabs welded in. Such as, a late model dash will not mount to the bottom tabs in an earlier car or visa versa..
64dash002.jpg
 
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