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Late model dashboard

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middie

middie

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I've got the 1500 motor out of my 1979 US Midget and onto an engine stand, and given it a good clean down. More questions to come on this, but I am now starting to get working on the body and interior.

I have stripped the US dashboard down to the "raw metal" and I'm starting to get a bit fearful about how to go about cutting and welding it up to make it a RHD. Looks like one 'bad' job.

My other option is to install a late model dash from a RHD car. What I am after is a photo of a late model dash, and an opinion on whether the metal in the dash is strong enough to allow me to bend the top flange of the dash back the other way so I can fit it into the US model car.

LHD dash has flanges going towards the back, and RHD cars have the flanges facing forwards.

Any and all suggestions welcome.

Warren
 
I'd be tempted to do a custom rhd piece out of wood or aluminum like this first one, but flipped over
(I have an aluminum one similar to this in my race car).

Or, you could check out eBay Motors UK, in the parts section, if you can't find one Down Under.
Probably easy to get a rhd dash there.
Did not know about the flange direction.

DSCN0056%20(Custom).JPG


This is a 1500 rhd

3853010826_0b3fdccfb7.jpg



Another view-- rhd

2007-10-10_MidgetMkIVDashWeb-Large.jpg


This is the older rhd Midget dash (my favourite....I have a a lhd version of this I'm saving for a future project)

DSCN1403.jpg
 
Thanks for those pics Nial. I do like the older dash myself (in fact I have one from my Mark III), but the switches I have from the 1500 require the rectangular ones like the newer dashes.

I've been checking eBay here in Oz, but nothing is around. I will try your idea of UK eBay, but the postage costs are quite dramatic.

The flanges on the UK and US dashes are opposite to each other. Wouldn't have a clue why the engineers would make the fixtures different between them, unless it has to do with the crash padding that US regulations required????

Warren
 
middie said:
The flanges on the UK and US dashes are opposite to each other. Wouldn't have a clue why the engineers would make the fixtures different between them, unless it has to do with the crash padding that US regulations required????

Warren
Click to expand...

That's your answer. UK models retained the '67 style (non-padded) dash
 
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