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anonymous-user

55 months

Sunday 31st July 2016
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Astacus said:
so which cars used the AC gauges?
Vixen S2, and I believe some Capris, Vauxhalls and Bedfords but you have to watch for 24V on Bedfords.

Matt

136 posts

285 months

Sunday 31st July 2016
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The engine bay looks very original even down to the correct S3 filler neck on the radiator. The only difference I can see is on my old S3 the windscreen washer bottle sat behind the battery and was made by tudor. Mine also had the corded material on seat backs and squabs. The seats in mine were metal framed rather than made of fibreglass as fitted to the early 'M' series.

Agree with previous comments re the dashboard.

It's great there are so many being saved. Best of luck with the restoration.

Matt

vixen

332 posts

284 months

Sunday 31st July 2016
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Steering wheel is correct. It is a Astrali steering wheel. Mine S3 also had this one. Probably only used on late S3's mine is 2117/4 . I also don,t have the lvx prefix.







Astacus

3,384 posts

235 months

Sunday 31st July 2016
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tomtrout said:
The steering wheel is correct with the motolita also available as an option. Your dash is an approximate copy of an earlier S2 layout but obviously without a glove box. Also the corner cutouts are very sharp and should ideally a have a small radius to take an edge trim. Also the later S2 and S3 dash would normally have a small switch (wiper, headlamp) insert similar on the right to take the two arrow switches. Your speedo and rev counter are correct even though you can get a speedo from the GT cortina to match the font on the rev counter, albeit not 120mph rated. They do look a little odd together but if originality is your thing then yours are the right ones.

You could use your existing dash as a template, fill the holes and cover, or probably best just to use the external shape as a template for a new piece of ply. Mine had several superfluous holes which I simply filled and then re-veneered.
Nice bit of veneering Andy, which did you use? I am going to have to redo mine as the damp has got at it.

tomtrout

595 posts

164 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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Its walnut but I stained it with a red cedar stain because for me it was too brown. Although it looks OK from a distance it doesn't stand up to close scrutiny (bit like the rest of the car!). My biggest problem was finding a dust free environment during the varnishing. The tiniest speck of dust will promote a tiny bubble flaw.

I really like the padded dash. IMO the inserted arrow rocker switches in the later cars suit the padded dash layout. I don't think I've ever seen a padded dash with the early style fluted switches.

Moto

1,238 posts

254 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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I know it's all personal taste and I too prefer the padded dash but I don't like the rocker switches. I think they look very cheap and tacky. The switches on the wood dash are nicer but as Andy says probably not in keeping. Decisions decisions!

Moto

Astacus

3,384 posts

235 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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I know what you mean re dust. Its impossible to keep it out, especially in my garage!

Dollyman1850

6,318 posts

251 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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The answer is to build the dash you like rather than the one you think might not upset the purist??



N.

tomtrout

595 posts

164 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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Where would I put my packet of Worthers Originals? Very smart by the way.

ATE399J

729 posts

238 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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Dollyman1850 said:
The answer is to build the dash you like rather than the one you think might not upset the purist??



N.
Very nice, only change I would make would be to move the ignition to the middle, where it is now my key fob would obscure the fuel (?) gauge!

Moto

1,238 posts

254 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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Very nice looking dash Neil. I like that. Although is that an LCD in the speedo?

Moto

Dollyman1850

6,318 posts

251 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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Moto said:
Very nice looking dash Neil. I like that. Although is that an LCD in the speedo?

Moto
Yes. Electronic speedo. The exhaust was in the way of the speedo drive on the box.
Ignition key is on RHS because the other switches are much shallower and don't foul the heater matrix.
Trial fitted dash this evening.. Few more jobs to do then screens in Next week followed by MOT.

N.

plasticpig72

1,647 posts

150 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2016
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What rubber seal are you going to use for the screen. Is it the one with the wider lip to seal better. On a 1975 1600M i fitted both screens front and back using the seal with the wider lip. Bought them from DG's but i must say for me it wasn't an easy job. The result was very nice though and the seals were nice and squeezy.
Alan

Dollyman1850

6,318 posts

251 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2016
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Adrian venn supplied the correct Rubbers with the extra lip on them.
Dash now in car..





N.

mosstrooper

317 posts

232 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2016
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Neil, where did you source the gear-lever gaiter and chrome ring, please ?

Dollyman1850

6,318 posts

251 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2016
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mosstrooper said:
Neil, where did you source the gear-lever gaiter and chrome ring, please ?
E-bay. Its an MGB one from ANG

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281771745108?_trksid=p20...

N

mosstrooper

317 posts

232 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2016
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Thanks Neil. Bought........

Re. earlier comments about AC gauges; I have an S3 Vixen with a full set of AC's.

Petrol always reads full despite having it supposedly repaired by a Welsh company and even putting in a new sender unit.




plasticpig72

1,647 posts

150 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2016
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hi Neil,
very tasty and coming along nicely.
Alan

GTRene

16,587 posts

225 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2016
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wow, love that dash, great work.

mosstrooper

317 posts

232 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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Dollyman1850 said:
Finally have got around to fitting this gear-lever surround but, unfortunately, the throw on my gear-stick fouls the chrome surround both in the fore and aft motion and also side-to-side. Have you got a Ford Mk3 gearbox or something else ?