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TR4/4A TR4 switch plinth

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Alan_Myers

Alan_Myers

Luke Skywalker
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Hi all,

Several years ago I bought a set of interior trim pieces for my '62 TR4. This included one of the more difficult to find pieces... a replacement switch plinth, which is quite different from the one used on TR4A and later.

When it arrived, I packed it all away after a quick inspection, since I was some ways from that part of the project. I did note that the repro plinth was made of hard plastic, rather than the cardboard of the original, and that the finish was a good match for the other padding and trim (windshield frame trim, dash top & crash pads).

Rigid plastic is fine, as far as I'm concerned. But, just yesterday I finally got around to some trial fitting of the various parts. There ain't no way this plinth is gonna work! It's half inch too shallow, doesn't cover the full depth to the dash face! I thought maybe it was a TR4A> plinth. But, no, it's not.

It's simply not right. I suspect this plinth is intended to be used with a wood dash overlay. But, my car's dash will definitely be kept painted, as original. The only way to make this plinth work would be to shorten/reshape it's mounting brackets on the dash!

So, I'm wondering if anyone knows of a source for a plinth that fits TR4 w/painted dash? TRF? Moss (whom I think this repro came from)? I'm also concerned that the matte black finish/texture of a plinth bought from another source still be a good match for the rest of the dash padding and trim.

I hope I can find one! Still have the original (thanks to soaking the cardboard with fiberglass resin), but it's pretty ratty looking and would need a lot of work, with the same concerns about making the finish/texture a good match to the other repro pieces.

Has anyone recently bought the TR4 plinth from TRF, Moss, or whoever? Good fit? How are they finished?

Thanks in advance!
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
FWIW, the plinth on my '64 is certainly original and appears to be plastic. Perhaps there was a change at some point from cardboard to plastic that also changed the dimension or fit?

Mine is a wood-dash car but looking at the plinth it appears it would also work if the dash did not have the wood overlay.

The finish on mine is not a particularly good match to the look of the dash pads... deeper grain and maybe a bit shinier, but then it is hard plastic and the pads vinyl soft vinyl. So maybe a slight mismatch was original.
 
Hi Geo and thanks for your quick response.

[ QUOTE ]
FWIW, the plinth on my '64 is certainly original and appears to be plastic. Perhaps there was a change at some point from cardboard to plastic that also changed the dimension or fit?

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case. Perhaps original painted-dash cars used the "carboard" type and wood-dash cars use plastic. Possibly related to this, I just checked and see there is a change point in the plinth part number, at CT25935. But, of course, there is no explanation and only one is illustrated in the factory spare parts catalog.

(BTW, just for TR4 there are listed 5 different LH-steering and 5 different RH-steering dash panels! These include two different in each hand noted as "special order" for use with wood veneer fascia. One change seems to be the paint color, which was Spa White early on and just plain White from CT21268, even on the wood-finished versions! But, again, there is no illustration and precious little explanation of the differences.)

[ QUOTE ]
Mine is a wood-dash car but looking at the plinth it appears it would also work if the dash did not have the wood overlay.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm afraid not, in my case. At least not without also modifying the plinth mounting brackets. Unless that's done, there will be a big gap between the dash and the plinth, about equal to the thickness of a wood overlay. Looks like roughly a 3/8"-1/2" gap, from trial fitting the plinth I've got.

[ QUOTE ]
The finish on mine is not a particularly good match to the look of the dash pads... deeper grain and maybe a bit shinier, but then it is hard plastic and the pads vinyl soft vinyl. So maybe a slight mismatch was original.

[/ QUOTE ]

Quite true and not unlike various other trim on these old cars! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

The repro has a finish that's quite close to the other new trim pieces I've got. But, maybe it won't stay that way after some time in the car, since there are two different base materials.

So, it sounds like there were at least two separate plinths for TR4 (not to mention one or more "upside-down" versions used on TR4A and later). There must have been painted-dash and wood-dash versions, to allow for the the wood's thickness. Or, perhaps the "special order" dash panels have different length plinth mounting brackets. I just need to find a repro that will work with my dash's particular mounting brackets!

BTW, I see on the "other" Triumph discussion group that the VTR is finally going to relent and again make their repair/maintenance archive accessible to all, not just dues-paying members, and in a Wikipedia-type format, along with an archive of Triumph concours/originality points. That should be helpful (on questions like this) and hopefully will earn them back some friends!

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
...One change seems to be the paint color, which was Spa White early on and just plain White from CT21268, even on the wood-finished versions! But, again, there is no illustration and precious little explanation of the differences.)...

[/ QUOTE ]

Mine was a sort of dark primer... but this is probably an area of several undocumented variations. Here you can see the plinth mount on 36536:

metal-dash.JPG
 
I dont know if your old plinth is too far gone, but have you considered having a "Dr Vinyl" service give it a re-do??
Since you have hit it with resin it should no last for many years ......
MD(mad dog)
 
Hi MD,

That's a good idea, but I think the plinth I've got is too far gone. I'm thinking I'll just have to shorten the dash brackets to make the replacement work.

Cheers!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Here you can see the plinth mount on 36536:

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Geo,

There are no noticible differences, as far as I can see. It probably has to do with the fine dimensions, where the support brackets are welded on, etc.

Thanks!
 
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