Chimaera dash top - tips.

[tahiti450]

Mainly for TVR + bubblecar, but may be of use generally. I recently had the dash top off my '99 450 in order to check out the instrument lighting. The bible is excellent in its description of the process (and there would be no way of sussing it out by yourself it's just too arcane !) Pages 284 to 289 incl. My advice however is this, 1) if you find it difficult to work blind with your hands in tight spaces with a spanner (10mm AF), nuts and washers, without dropping things and completely by sense of touch alone, then this job may be better left to others ! (bit like gynaecology really - no not the spanners...)You also really need to be able to work with either hand. 2) once fixings removed the dash is still difficult to remove, mainly (at least in my case) due to the excessive length of the locating "studs" (actually just bolts with lock nuts) located in the dash top moulding. Removal needs to be done slowly inch by inch otherwise the long studs may snag and scuff / tear the leather on the roll at the base of the screen, or you may crack the instrument panel veneer due to the moderate twisting that seems unavoidable to clear the long studs. The point here is that after I removed mine (without doing any damage - so it is possible,but a real swine ) I shortened the studs (removed them and cut down in the vice, then filed the ends rounded and smooth to reduce any chance of damaging the surrounding leather in future). NOTE: when you locate the fixing nuts initially it will be obvious how much xs length there is in the studs, and this will give a feel for the amount you can shorten them, BUT... You need to leave some xs length, because the fibre glass panel it bolts to flexes, and sure, once the nuts are tight, there is loads of xs length but as the tension is released this is less extreme - and you still need enough length to get the washer on and engage the thread on the nut when you replace the top.(blimey could really do with some diagrams) .Nevertheless shortening the studs, in particular the one immediately behind the instruments, (going into the screen base) makes subsequent removal and refitment very much easier and quicker (as does gettting used to where the nuts are. 3) YOur hands will get scratched and sore due to the rough back of the glass fibre panels and be esp' careful when reaching in through the glove pocket aperture to the front nut (near the centre of the car below the heater controls) because there a number of sharp ends of various self tapping screws protruding through the horizontal panel (where the alarm sits etc) just waiting to slice your fingers, so take it slow. 4) the nut on the far right, just above the pipe to the R hand air vent in the dash, is a pig to get to, try removing the ventilation feed pipe (under the steering column) to improve access and lie on your back with your head in the footwell, bum on the seat, and legs in the air (!) and reach in with your left arm with the 10mm AF combmination spanner and feel around for the nut (patience)(this is where, if you are R handed, you ned to be a bit ambidextrous). My god if this hasn't put you off !! I was amazed how much easier te job was once the studs were a sensible length, and once you knew what you were feeling for . Try not to drop the nuts / washers, wastes a lot of time . I think thats about it really, but whilst youve got it off check everything you can , like all the bulbs etc. Let5 me know if you've any more queries, i'm sure i could manage a few more paragraphs...

>>> Edited by tahiti450 on Saturday 24th July 23:21

>>> Edited by tahiti450 on Saturday 24th July 23:22

[WooHoo]

Thanks very much for that!

I've got a bulb out on my speedo, and have been trying to pluck up the courage to take on the daunting task of replacing it... From that description it looks like it'll be as bad as I feared!

Still, next time I've got a day to waste maybe I should waste it upside down in my TVR's footwells. Try anything once...

[Corin Denton]

WooHoo said:

Thanks very much for that! I've got a bulb out on my speedo, and have been trying to pluck up the courage to take on the daunting task of replacing it... From that description it looks like it'll be as bad as I feared! Still, next time I've got a day to waste maybe I should waste it upside down in my TVR's footwells. Try anything once...

Are you sure you hace a bulb out? Does your speedo light up at all? If so it is fine and save yourself hours of grief, the rev counter is twice as bright as the speedo from factory. TVR reckon you shuld only be watching the rev counter!

[WooHoo]

Really? Thanks! You learn something new every day!

It looked like there was a darker area at the bottom of the speedo compared to the top, so I thought perhaps there were 2 bulbs and one had blown. It was just comparing it to the tacho that made me think there was a problem at all though. Should probably have checked bible etc...

That's saved me a day of dicking around, and ultimately a whole load of when I found nothing wrong!

[shadowninja]

Corin Denton said:

WooHoo said: Thanks very much for that! I've got a bulb out on my speedo, and have been trying to pluck up the courage to take on the daunting task of replacing it... From that description it looks like it'll be as bad as I feared! Still, next time I've got a day to waste maybe I should waste it upside down in my TVR's footwells. Try anything once... Are you sure you hace a bulb out? Does your speedo light up at all? If so it is fine and save yourself hours of grief, the rev counter is twice as bright as the speedo from factory. TVR reckon you shuld only be watching the rev counter!

once you start seeing flash-flash in your rear view mirror you know you're going too fast

[tahiti450]

Corin Denton said:

Are you sure you hace a bulb out? Does your speedo light up at all? If so it is fine and save yourself hours of grief, the rev counter is twice as bright as the speedo from factory. TVR reckon you shuld only be watching the rev counter!

CONFESSION: FAO: WooHoo especially, The only reason i can write so much on Dash top removal was that I, like you thought "there must be one bulb gone in the speedo" DUUUH... and yes, the speedo and all the other instruments EXCEPT the rev counter (which has 2) have only ONE bulb. Was going to put coloured bulbs (blue) in too actually, but that's work in-progress.

[Targarama]

You can put a brighter bulb in the one slot on the speedo, makes the speedo the same brightness as the other dials then - std bulbs, std swap. Made a huge difference for me.

There are some dash removal pics on my site (it's not been updated in a while, sorry)

http://trefor_jones1.users.btopenworld.com/HintsTips.htm

[WooHoo]

Nice to know I'm not the only one then!

Blue lights, eh? Now you're giving me ideas...

[harrow_chim]

I replaced the right hand stud with a captive nut which makes life a whole lot easier - now it's almost a pleasure to remove my dash top (must get out more mustn't I?)
Nick

[tahiti450]

[quote=harrow_chim]I replaced the right hand stud with a captive nut

Hmmm captive nut eh... Coool.

We all REALLY need to get out more !

PS: Coloured bulbs: "Ring" - "Prism" range; I'm still tryin to see if I can get the appropriate wattages / types through Demon Tweeks, havent had time to chase it recently. And yes increasing the wattage in the speedo bulb does improve things.

>> Edited by tahiti450 on Monday 26th July 10:08

[icb]

I replaced nuts with wing nuts, then just tighten hand tight and no need for spanners.

[harrow_chim]

Yes I have made a mental note to get wingnuts as well but I keep forgetting.
I also use a bit of blu-tak to hold the washer in place while I fiddle around with the nut.
Nick

[TVR+Bubblecar]

Thanks Tahiti450 - job for one night this week if I can get home at a reasonable time !

[tahiti450]

No probs mate. Be prepared for a bit of frustration etc. (these jobs are a lot easier to cope with mentally if you are prepared for complications). Some really good ideas from the other lads too, captive / wing nuts / blu-tack etc. Good luck.

[tahiti450]

For the benefit of kennyhep et al. I have resurrected this thread as i cant remember how to paste the link....

[kennyhep]

thanks for re posting the thread, it has been a great help. i can tackle ther job with a bit more confidence now, until the inevitable, and something goes wrong!!!

[tpo]

Biggest help for me was an inverted plastic crate with cushion to lie on while my head was in the footwell.

[razorman]

Another little tip.

I have never had the dash off myself, but soon after ownership the famous Carl did some work on my alarm and he had to. I noticed that he had some rubber bushes that he pushed onto the bolts as soon as they were exposed so that they could not damage any of the leather. Experience is a wonderful thing.