Cracked dashboard

[meridian]

Hello there,

I've got a 1998/S Chimaera 4.0 and unfortunately the walnut dash veneer aroung the clocks / instruments is quite badly cracked and unsightly.

Does anyone know of a company who can repair/re-veneer the existing part or will it need to be replaced. If so, any idea of cost of parts ? Also, assuming the part needs to be removed is this particularly tricky and labour intensive. I am told it is not a totally uncommon problem and so I'm hoping someone else here has seen it all before !

Thanks in advance

[Pies]

For removal this might help see here

You can get it by reveneered London carriage craft amongst others
You can get a stainless steel one many suppliers, carbon one (you just use the old one for a template for this)

[jigs]

LCC will reveneer your dash for £160 + VAT.

[MOD500]

Picking mine up today from the dealer after the service / repairs, I have had the two dash panels done by LCC. I will post pics of the wood when I get the car back.

[meridian]

Thanks for the replies. LCC would appear to be the people for this ! Pie's link is quite helpful in getting a start on pulling the thing apart although it all looks rather tricky to actually get the panel out, particularly with regard to the instruments. Should keep me busy !!!

Thanks once again, Meridian

[Pies]

Search out "Tonyrec as he recently took his out

Might be a thread on here he started

[PeterC]

If you have a veneered dash in perfect condition, how do you keep it that way? Do you wax polish it or what? During anyones discussions with the repairers has this ever come up?

>> Edited by PeterC on Tuesday 9th March 14:00

[TravelsVeryRapid]

I polish my dash ocationaly and it is still in perfect condition. It is a 93 model, perhaps it is the luck of the draw.

Steve.

[Richard Deakin]

I had to get my veneer changed after being t-boned by a deer (long story). The TVR dealer got the pack from TVR to replace both sections. When I went to pick it up, the two panels were clearly different colours and the grain was completely different ("But they are hand carved from the same tree, sir, they must be the same") and there were glue marks on the vinyl and a couple of big scratches that weren't there before.

It was the comment from the Service Manager as we walked to the car that killed me "the lads have done a great job, it's a good as new". To add insult to injury, he showed me the job sheet which had "large scratch below console" clearly written in different ink from the original comments claiming it was there to start with (they had noted an existing scratch when I took it in).

Had to leave it with them for another week so they could match the panels, clean off the glue and fix the scratches in the vinyl.

Moral? Check you are happy with the replacement veneer before they fit it and if a service manager says they've done a great job, be very suspicious!