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Project started-switching dash

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M

mightymidget

Jedi Knight
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My current dash is a mess as you can see. Parts missing gauges broken and added, my wiring is a wonderful mess, I have actually cut all the wiring out from under the dash leaving existing wiring on the other side of firewall alone.

I have decided to install a very early Midget dash into my 1967 Midget
 


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I have removed the dash that came in the car. that part wasn't really as bad as I thought. You can see I have removed all of the wiring.

I have no idea if this is going to work. Lets hope it does cause I can not go back now.

?? in front of the passenger seat on the firewall is a relay resister? it has two wires going to it. what is that????
 


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not a real good photo but this shows where I took a air grinder and removed the ignition switch housing from steering colume (see phot first post)

the old dash I am installing has a small hole for sterring column only. wipers will be on a toggle
 


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Dash is just set into place now. looks like it doable. I just need to make brackets to tie to fiewall.

This dash has a surround pad top and bottom. the top pad will bolt to fiewall in the holes you see, themetal dash needs to slip under firewall lip slightly for all to fit.

I am in the thinking stage now but looking into maybe using the sterring column to help hold and support
 


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Thought I would post photo of the car with the dash I am installing into my $500.00 Midget. I figured since I was redoing the wiring it would be a good time to change dashes around. I am shadetree mechanic so it will all be done in this way sorry if you gringe when you see what I am doing.
 


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I am using
Summit oil pressure gauge
Summit water temp. gauge
MG Midget gas gauge
MG Midget headlight, wiper, turn signal toggle switches
Triumph Speedometer gauge. It has alot of the indicator lights I need plus it looks so good

Going to try the Triumph Tach, it is a gear driven device so I would need to install a Midget tach inside the triumph housing and face. I would like gauges to match
 
Your car may be titled as a '67 but it's a 68 or later. Starting in 68 you got a padded dash, lock on steering column which is collapsible, warning light for brake failure and a couple of other changes to satisfy the Feds.
 
Yea Jim I know what your saying, my little $500.00 Midget is a confused kid


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I am not helping by putting a early model grill and dash





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Then someone eles put these bumpers on, also had a very late 1098 motor
 
Seems to me that is going to work well. Keep the pics comming. Just may be you got one of the wonderful change over cars?
 


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Installed some bracing on the bottom of dash in three places ends and middle.
the dash is very solid. The top pad was very difficult to install and it is the only part of this swap not did not do as well as I hoped. but it looks fine
 


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This is pretty much what it looks like switched
Gas gauge on far left
Choke above steering wheel
Oil pressure gauge by speedo which is a 72 triumph
far left is water temp. ga.
ignition switch center
toggle switches are turn signals, headlights. wipers

waiting for Triumph tach.
going with a dash mount horn button in one hole
Need to figure out hoe to operate heater cable. Any suggestions
 
I've wanted to do this as my dash has major cracks. It's encouraging that you're able to cut off the column lock off of the steering column and I'm guessing retain the collapsible column. I've got a prototype fiberglass dash that has been sitting in my garage for the past 5-6 years I bought off of E-Bay. Seeing what you've done here I may work up the courage to go ahead and install it. All I can say is you must have some MoWogs livign in your neighborhood to get up there and remove those dash nuts. I pulled a '68 apart to get the steering column out of it and it was a b_tch to do even ewhen I don't have to save anything. Keep those pics coming.
 
My '63 (same as yours I think), since heater cable OEM is a pain and $$ and goofy, I have a generic pull cable to control the heater flap/duct and a separate pull on/push off switch to control heater blower. This vintage also has a pull cable to activate the starter solenoid, very cool.
 
I had to enlarge the hole in dash for steering column to pass through.I am going to find some PVC pipe to slide over exposed steeering shaft between the steering wheel and dash collar. Paint it so it looks finished

A dremel with grinder wheel, large tin snipes, and air grinder helped alot. also I have small hands and a lot of determination. I worked on one screw for atleast and hour to get the nut started
 
mightymidget said:


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Can someone ID what this part is? looks like a relay?
It is mounted to the firewall with the green wires coming from it.

I am going to rewire dash this week end and I am not sure what this part does
Click to expand...
 
Not sure if the 67 had them, could it be a voltage stabilizer? One end would be hot, and 12V and the other end would go to your fuel gauge and be 10V.

--Charlie
 
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