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Redoing dash question for 1958 Sprite

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Re: Redoing dash question

Thanks for picture. So how are the MK1 Midgets with the starter by the tach hooked up? I can put it wherever I want, my dash is far down the custom path it doesn't matter. I picked up a spare dash blank (hard to tell what it was from, BE or early Midget) but the one pull still clinging to it is in the starter position (for a BE) but is a light turquoise colour. This is starting to look like a thread hijack, sorry! My pulls are all nice chrome ones anyway so if I do revert to a pull start (which for some unknown reason I feel compelled to do) I'll have to hunt down a match for the others that are on there now. Looks like the location for the current push start might be a bit too far outboard for a pull cable. Wouldn't it be nice of the toggle switch labled "don't remember" would turn on your memory? (I think it's the washer motor)
dashlabled.jpg
 
Re: Redoing dash question

Keep in mind that with the choke way over in front of the passanger it will be hard to work it as needed in the mornings.
 
Re: Redoing dash question

I was going to leave the choke as is and install a pull starter as OEM, on a BE it'd be roughly were the PO put the fuel pump pull, I hoped to put it where the current push start button is though it may be too far ouboard for a nice line at the switch, not much more work to move the fuel pump switch and put the starter there. Still wonder how an MKI Midget can have a pull starter by the tach and still use a BE style switch? Or had they gone to solenoid style by then?
ammeter is not OEM to this vintage Spridget either, eh? Good to have I guess although the bezel is a different style.
 
Re: Redoing dash question

Chris:

It would be great to see another Bug Eye and a pleasure to meet a forum member. I am going to change out the master and slave cylinder hopefully this week. Waiting on some parts from Moss Motors.

Thanks,

Mike
 
Re: Redoing dash question

I wonder if the Moss diagram is a mistake. If you look at the RHD car dash in the original shop manual, it has the starter pull knob next to the tach and the choke pull in front of the passenger compartment. Given the relative location of the carbs and the starter, it makes perfect sense. It also makes perfect sense for them to be transposed for a LHD. That's how my 59 BE is arranged.
 
Re: Redoing dash question

Owners manual for the GAN1 and GAN 2 midget show the starter next to the tach and the choke in front of the passenger. Doesn't matter if it's right or left hand drive. Mine and all others I know of, have them arranged that way. The starter cable is plenty long enough to reach on a left hand drive car.

It looks as if they rearranged between the Frogeye and the square bodied cars.
 

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Re: Redoing dash question

Why isn't the ammeter (SP) shown in the wiring diagrams?
 
Re: Redoing dash question

Jeff,

The ammeter was dealer installed not original equipment.
 
Re: Redoing dash question

Okay, thanks. No wonder it doesn't really match. Maybe a vacuum gauge would be more useful there....
 
Re: Redoing dash question

Newer Smith's amp and volt gauges are also available and match better. An optional clock was also available, but it is a square one like in the Jag MKII sedans.
 
Re: Redoing dash question

Wrong, clock was round and matched the other insts.
 

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Re: Redoing dash question

Wasn't talking about the sprite Jack, was talking about the Jeff's later Midget.
 
Re: Redoing dash question

Ahhh
 
Re: Redoing dash question

Well I pulled the dash out. Got everything stripped off it. I can rearrange as I want (except I can't swap the tach and speedo back to their original places as the hole on the left is directly behind the bonnet hinge box, too sharp an angle to sneak the speedo cable there I believe. I must leave this thread alone I think, it belongs to someone else and about a BE so I'll start a new thread if I have issues questions....("if" should probably be "when")
 
Re: Redoing dash question

Yea, I guess we did sort of hijack it a time or two.. Sorry Mike.
 
Re: Redoing dash question

No problem guys. The great thing about these threads is that they open up additional discussions that help us all. I'm glad I could start these conversations with the thread.
Thanks,
Mike
 
Re: Redoing dash question

TexasSprite said:
I wonder if the Moss diagram is a mistake. If you look at the RHD car dash in the original shop manual, it has the starter pull knob next to the tach and the choke pull in front of the passenger compartment. Given the relative location of the carbs and the starter, it makes perfect sense. It also makes perfect sense for them to be transposed for a LHD. That's how my 59 BE is arranged.
Click to expand...

Transposing them for LHD does not really make perfect sense because the components in the engine compartment are still in the same place on either a LHD or RHD car and the cables are logically routed to the choke and starter!! :wink:
 
Re: Redoing dash question

right angle cable adapter might work there. I know that the 6's use them on their J type overdrive. Same thread coupling I believe. Might check a few speedo shops..
 
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