Dash panels mounting and positioning

[Roo4]

I have the 3 pice dashe set nad no instructions, what is the best way to position the parts and what structure do I neet to create.

I have started to aprocach it fro set the top on so the middle front is level with the botton of the screen as are the rear outer edges.

I have supported the on a temp basis.

I think I want to make a permanent support from the centre of the chassis rail which mounts the steering column.

But am unsure about the front edge and ends.


regards
Iain

[stylussprinter]

It's a very long time since I made mine but I started by fixing the front piece that hold the dials. I made alloy brackets from 2 or 3 mm alloy , fibre glassed them into place at left and right on the pillars from floor to screen. Drilled them to take rivnuts then fixed alloy angle right across the car from one to the other.(about 1 inch angle) This then was drilled/rivnuted and front dash attached with stainless mushroom headed bolts. Bottom section was drilled and fixed to bottom square tube with same bolts(bottom tube drilled/rivnutted to take same)
Top of dash ----- I made alloy brackets (2 or 3 mm gauge) five in all and fibre glassed them around the screen edge. All were drilled / rivnutted and the top drilled to take these same bolts. The top was fixed to the front dash with velcro glued on. It's been there since 1999 plus been in and out for numerous electrical adjustments and seems to do the job very well. My only complaint is I wish I'd found a better glue for the velcro !

[alecmartin19]

I've just fitted the 3 piece dash to my stylus. I did mine a slightly different way and started with the top part.

I started by getting the front most edge of the top part level with the fibreglass of the windscreen opening. I then used fibreglass to resin this piece permanently in position.

The face with the dials on it has been fixed by holding it temporarily in position and drilling equally spaced holes along the top edge to accomodate some button head fasteners. Then i've used rivnuts so that its easy to fasten it all together and take apart if needed.

The bottom part of the dash has been fitted to the chassis rail by drilling 6 holes along its length and using rivnuts again to secure it with button head screws.

The join between the face of the dash and the bottom part has been made by using velcro along its entire length and once its all put together the dash board is solid.

I think everyone has a different way of doing this though and you may be able to think of another way yourself.

It doesn't really matter how its done as long as its solid and you are happy with it.

Hope thats helped a bit. if you've got any questions don't hesitate to ask.

Alec

[alecmartin19]

The thing i forgot to mention was that when i fibreglassed the top of my dash in place this provided a way of supporting the 2 ends of the dash and made it easier to fill in the gaps between the ends of the dash and the A pillars.

Just make sure you key and de-grease the bottom of the dash very well or the glass cloth will not bond to it at all.

[MattD]

Hi All

Having removed heater & associated duct work I was left with a large hole behind the dash, so designed & made a self supporting frame in aluminium.
Just bolts in place on the transverse steerring support. Dash top just velcro'd in place along front edge & top of upright dash panel like Rob's. The dash face is bolted to the return edges shown long in the pic, which were cut off to suit.
I also ended up triangulating it with some bits of flat to get the rigidity I wanted.
Waiting to see if vibration plays its part & it ends up like a heap of meccano !

Matt

[stylussprinter]

The most important bit is to imagine the car with screen in place then ask yourself '' will the top come out easily --- elec' & wiper & heater possible prob's '' ???
I've been very pleased that I didn't overlook that little detail in the last 5 years !

[Roo4]

Thanks all for your thoughts.

The top section of the dash is a bit of a pain to ger in place with only vertical movement.

I think I will try the meccano method as you never know whne you will need extra access.

Matt like the cad image.

Iain