I just installed the dash itself without gauges, and it was a bit of a fiddle. I'm thinking that you don't gain much by adding the wiring harness to the gauges in advance, but not having btdt this is just a guess. Not sure how you would lay the harness in the car with it attached to the centre panel. Perhaps I'm missing something here in what you plan to do. I've installed the gauges and other bits (other than temp) in the centre panel as I like you wanted to see "progress". Here is a very good step by step someone was kind enough to offer on another list a couple of weeks ago when I was about to tackle the under-dash and dash installation. I'm only part-way through the steps. Perhaps others will find it useful a well. I certainly did.
"First step is steering column and loosely assemble the support brackets, then complete wiper set up, then the drain tube for the vent flap (If fitted) then the O/drive relay (again if fitted)
Next is the wiring loom just loosely laid in. then the main dash support brackets and the main heater unit then the oil pressure pipe. Next is main dash panel (Trimmed but nothing fitted to it .) and the demister pipes and tubes. Now you can finish bolting the column support brackets up.
Next thread the main wire for the vent flap through and fix to vent flap mechanism (Again if fitted) but do not attach the knob yet.
Feed the centre instrument part of the loom through the centre hole in the dash panel ready to wire the centre switch panel up. Fit the switches to the centre panel and the ammeter and fuel gauge then wire these to the loom along with the ignition light and indicator light and dash bulbs with the centre panel just sitting on the bottom of its aperture in the main panel but leaning out to allow access to the rear. (Fiddly job but there is never much length on the looms to allow you to have it very far out). Then carefully thread the water temp capillary through the centre panel and round the left side of the heater and then through the bulkhead into the engine bay, fit the gauge to the panel.
Fit the oil pressure gauge and choke cable into the centre panel and then bring the panel nearly up into place and fit the oil pressure pipe to the back of the gauge not forgetting the leather washer.
Feed the choke cable through the bulkhead Then fit the centre gauge panel into place with the 4 wing nuts not forgetting to attach the earth cables and being careful of the temperature gauge capillary and the choke cable fouling the heater matrix.
Now fit the cable to the fan rheostat and fit to dash panel and then fit the O/drive switch.
Next fit Speedo and Rev counter not forgetting the panel light bulbs and main beam warning light and the earth leads to the mounting screws.
Then fit the glove box buffer bracket and the stay bracket. Now fit the glove box lid and stay and lastly the glove box and support bracket. Lastly fit the dash top roll and the vent flap knob and lift the dot fasteners (later cars) or Tenax studs (early cars)
Thats a bit of a rough guide but always be careful wiring the early type screw connector switches especially repro ones as the screws are sometimes sharp enough to cut through the end of the cable if over tightened.
As an addendum to the above list, Tr2/3 weren't fitted with screen washer system when new so when fitting the wiper system its best to fit the washers at the same time as they are now required for MOT tests (in UK)."
Cheers, Mike
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