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TR2/3/3A TR3a Center Dash

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apbos

apbos

Jedi Knight
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All the sanding I have been doing has got me a little board, so I moved over for an easier project (quick results). Repainting my center dash. I've got black wrinkle powder coat and was going to blast and coat the center dash. I removed the center piece today and much to my surprise no residual paint. Only what looks like a galvanized coating and some residual red vinyl! everthing I've read says a TR3a center guage cluster is wrinkle black (I have 2 other centers (from ebay) and they have residual paint). Question:

Could this car had been origally been covered with vinyl like the early TR2 & Tr3'S?


Anything different between a TR3a dash and a TR2/3 dash?


Paul
 
Paul-

I think later cars had that center section covered in vinyl just like the dash - for sure at least some 3B's, there is one in my club. Was your center dash set up for a later panel rheostat, or the simple push pull on off switch?

Randy
 
Randy

Unknown, only two switches (no knobs and they were loose) were still present and they were push-pull. I have one ebay dash with a rheostat and one without. I'll do some more reading in Piggot tonight. Thanks, I hope Don reads this thread, his car is very close in # to mine.

Paul
 
To tell if the panel had a rheostat or push/pull switch for the dash lights, look at the relative sizes of the top-most center hole, and the hole just below it. If they are the same size, it had a push/pull switch (same switch as the wipers). If the second center hole is larger, it's for a rheostat.

However, the change between switch and rheostat happened later than the vinyl/crinkle black change. All the sources I know of say the change to crinkle black for the instrument panel happened at TS22014 (introduction of the TR3A). There may have been some cars close to that point that got fitted with the 'wrong' panel, but I would expect things to have been sorted out by TS28115.

Still, there were a lot of odd things that happened, so I don't think anyone could say with absolute authority that your car wasn't delivered with a vinyl-covered instrument panel.

OTOH, I found that the factory crinkle black chipped away fairly easily, leaving behind that galvanized appearance. Might be some previous owner cleaned it off so the vinyl would stick ...
 
Well, I didn't have all my facts straight. According to Piggott, the center dash changed from vinyl covered to black crinkle paint at TS22014. Piggott doesn't say, but I think it is true that very late cars, maybe only the 3B's went back to vinyl covering. At least that is my story for now!

Randy
 
My friend has a TR3B he's had since the car was a year old. It has, and always had the center dash painted in black crinkle.
 
I forgot about the TRA handbook, pretty handy reference:

"Dash (fascia) Covering (Including Center Instrument Panel) - The dash on all cars was covered in a thinly backed vinyl to match the trim, including the glovebox door, and on cars up to TS 22014, the center instrument panel. After TS 22014, the center instrument panel was finished in black wrinkle finish paint. Some TR3Bs may have had their centre instument panels covered with vynide that matches the trim or possibly with black vynide."

So that vinyl covering on 3Bs may not be very common.

Randy
 
3936061190_fdc9b2615e.jpg


Moved on to the rest of the dash after the center dash and painted and put vinyl on the dash. Now on to the glove box (cubby box):

Question what is the thickness of the plywood that goes over the glovebox door? If anyone knows the size of the screws that attach it that would be great.


Thanks
Paul
 
Hey Paul
Great work!! The consol looks nice and the dash does too. I have a spare cubby door that you could use for a sample or if you want I can send you the measurements.
 
Dan
Thanks! I have made a template from the AL door and need the plywood - more specifically trhe thickness. I could even plan a piece of wood down to size. It really like the vinyl it has a great feel. How goes the rebuild?

Paul
 
Going a little slow. Raditor is in doors are on the trunk lid is on all four wing are on . I just rewired all the gauges in the center consol toady and going to do the wiring tomorrow.
 
Paul-

You get any feedback yet on the door thickness? I have several in various states - I can caliper one for you today. Should be able to look at the screws too. I know they are tiny!

Randy
 
I just measured the thickness of my door assembled...0.407"
If you subtract the thickness of my leather covering (0.047")...doubled, and the thickness of the aluminum hinge (0.080") that equals about 0.233" (probably 1/4") for the plywood thickness.

The screws are #2 slotted flat head, length about 0.275".

Hope this helps.
 
Thanks guys! I'll head out to the garage this afternoon and get to work! Looks like I'll have to make a visit to Fastenal on monday (those are really small screws).

Paul
 
Also, one other observation since you don't have the original wood for the door. The edges of the wood are slightly rounded and dimensionally is slightly bigger then the hinge around the sides and top.

It might be best to kind of pre-fit it to the opening with the hinge attached allowing for the thickness of the vinyl or leather that you are using to cover it with.
 
Thanks Art! That would have been a problem. I will make it a little larger and then prefit it with the vinyl. The $16 + shipping for a replacement with screws is kind of looking cheap now! However, I will carry on!

Paul
 
Almost done

3943192934_efc63ae204.jpg


Before:
3942433897_1b8962d694.jpg

I'm pleased :banana:

Paul

P.S.
I plan on making a reproduction Temp gauge using this method Australian TR reg
 
Beautiful Paul! That was quick work with the door!

Randy
 
TR3driver said:
To tell if the panel had a rheostat or push/pull switch for the dash lights, look at the relative sizes of the top-most center hole, and the hole just below it. If they are the same size, it had a push/pull switch (same switch as the wipers). If the second center hole is larger, it's for a rheostat.

However, the change between switch and rheostat happened later than the vinyl/crinkle black change. All the sources I know of say the change to crinkle black for the instrument panel happened at TS22014 (introduction of the TR3A).
Click to expand...

I'm trying to figure out when the rheostat was introduced. I have more than one "dash pod" and am not sure which one to reinstall. How can I find a date or approximate TS # for the change?
 
Bill Piggott says the rheostat became <span style="font-weight: bold">available</span> at around TS43000. This <span style="font-weight: bold">may mean </span>that they were produced both ways until TS60001, when all of the TR3As had them. Also, they weren't seen in the UK until after TS60000.
 
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