Tvr Chimaera Dash upgrade

[cheekyboo]

Hi, anyone know if its possible to upgrade the dash to the later style radio/heater panel. i have a '96 chimaera but just missed out on the later style dash which in my opinion does look a lot better.
I have searched for this on the forum but cant seem to find anything on the subject.
Thanks for your help.

[Jonny cobra]

I have a late dash not needed . No radio panel though ..


JC

[Bassfiend]

Anything's possible but having just been there I'd say it's not practical...

Firstly the main dash (where the heater controls are) has different sized gauges which are about 8mm smaller than the old dash and cutting out the later dash holes to fit is a complete pain in the arse as you can't cut them, you'll just have to slowly grind them out and that steel backing is damn tough!

The blower fan switch is different too ... the early one is a physical switch that controls the blower fan whereas the later one is an input to a separate fan controller.

Similarly, the radio panel wiring seems quite different too.

I just moved a load of the radio panel telltales / warning lights up to the main dash when I recovered mine the other week. I think it's turned out nicely (even if I have managed to break the two little spars that the radio panel screws to!) - There's pics on the thread "Is it in yet" from last weekend.

Phil

[CraigAuk]

Is it possible to replace the 3 buttons on the lower dash with proper metal buttons that have a symbol on them?
The leven stick on fronts look cheap IMHO...

[cheekyboo]

Thanks for the response guys.
Think the plan of action is to keep the top instument panel and move some of the warning lights/indicators to this top panel (like Bassfiend).
Then i'll see if i can fit the later style radio panel to upgrade the hazard/lights switches.
Car is currently in workshop but when i get it back i'll start work on this and keep the thread posted incase anyone else is interested in this upgrade.

[Bassfiend]

CraigAuk said:

Is it possible to replace the 3 buttons on the lower dash with proper metal buttons that have a symbol on them?
The leven stick on fronts look cheap IMHO...

cheekyboo said:

Then i'll see if i can fit the later style radio panel to upgrade the hazard/lights switches.

As I said before, anything is possible - it's just whether it's practical.

The new warning lights that I used on the dash are from Car Builder Solutions and were about £9.00 each but they do seem to work very well and show up nicely.

CBS *ALSO* do some billet aluminium switches that could be used to replace all the switches in the radio panel but that will mean the holes in the existing panel would need enlarging which is not easy ... might be easier to get a new panel cut from blank steel?

Phil

[estutjaweh]

I have been thinking about changing the 3 lower buttons for a while now but... I can't for the life of me work out what type of switches I need. They are 4 terminal switches but is that 1:1 or 2:2 or 1:2 split or??? I just get confused. What are the replacement switches you used? Could I just use a standard 1in-1out 2 terminal switch and have 3 wires off the one exit terminal where necessary? Any tips?

[Bassfiend]

estutjaweh said:

I have been thinking about changing the 3 lower buttons for a while now but... I can't for the life of me work out what type of switches I need. They are 4 terminal switches but is that 1:1 or 2:2 or 1:2 split or??? I just get confused. What are the replacement switches you used? Could I just use a standard 1in-1out 2 terminal switch and have 3 wires off the one exit terminal where necessary? Any tips?

They're all double pole single throw as far as I can tell from how they're wired ... I haven't metered them through to check but I'd be willing to put money on it as the wiring only makes sense if they are.

I wish I had easy access to getting new dash blanks cut as I would love to get my AFR meter into the main dash (I'm thinking of replacing the clock with it for now) and I'm kinda tempted to replace all the gauges for more modern units at some point but I'm also tempted to completely remove the stereo and blank over the hole for it and replace it with a holder for the phone.

Phil

[cheekyboo]

Work has now started to upgrade the lower 3 buttons and move the warning lights/panel to the top part off the dash ( as the mark 2 dash). i have seen the warning lights on CBS which look fine but does anyone know if it is possible to source the original warning lights that tvr used in the later style chimaera (brake/indicator/oil ect).
thanks for your help

[ChimpofDarkness]

cheekyboo said:

Hi, anyone know if its possible to upgrade the dash to the later style radio/heater panel. i have a '96 chimaera but just missed out on the later style dash which in my opinion does look a lot better.
I have searched for this on the forum but cant seem to find anything on the subject.
Thanks for your help.

Interesting post cheekyboo, I also have a late 96 car.

With a late 96 car you get the prettier (IMHO) facelift bodywork, the last of the earlier & far superior silver/grey chassis finish, 5 litre type bigger brakes ect ect.

It is in many ways the best of both worlds, however I must admit (like you) I do far prefer the later radio panel we just missed out on.

I always thought the three light buttons on the earlier radio panel look a bit kit car, and generally not quite to the standard of the rest of the dash which has a quality & classy look to it.

I was fortunate in that the previous owner of my car fitted the Leven ally covers on the three buttons, in fact he must have spent a bit of money with Leven as I have virtually every ally accessory they did.



I'd simply planned to finish off the nice ally theme by ditching the nasty red plastic (Rudolf's nose) hazard warning switch with one of these:



I figured it's a simple & inexpensive way to finish off the good work of the previous owner, however, ultimately if I could get the later radio panel in there it would be a far nicer job.

You can buy a new later type radio panel from SC Power, but you'll need the TVR switch gear too, so it probably makes more sense just to buy the complete panel with switches from a TVR breaker.

Keep us updated on your efforts, I'd love to see some before, during & after the panel change photos on here.

Good luck with it, Dave.

[MADMAX2]

got a link for this or site where i can buy one??? it looks the dogs

[trumpet1608]

http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/product/Billet_Aluminiu...

[Bassfiend]

MADMAX2 said:

got a link for this or site where i can buy one??? it looks the dogs

If you are going to use those then please do take the effort to drill the larger mounting hole option which will enable you to mount the switches reasonably flush - otherwise they stand out like an erection in a convent and look quite pants!

Phil

[macdeb]

Bassfiend said:

otherwise they stand out like an erection in a convent

[ChimpofDarkness]

Bassfiend said:

If you are going to use those then please do take the effort to drill the larger mounting hole option which will enable you to mount the switches reasonably flush - otherwise they stand out like an erection in a convent and look quite pants!

Phil

I did look at this a while back Phil, & I'm pretty sure it will fit flush in the hole left by the current nasty TVR plastic "Rudolph's Nose" hazard button.

Sticking with your sophisticated analogy.....

15mm hole = 10mm erection

22mm hole = Perfect flush fitting (erectile dysfunction)

Never thought I'd be happy about erectile dysfunction

[MADMAX2]

Bassfiend said:

MADMAX2 said:

got a link for this or site where i can buy one??? it looks the dogs

If you are going to use those then please do take the effort to drill the larger mounting hole option which will enable you to mount the switches reasonably flush - otherwise they stand out like an erection in a convent and look quite pants!

Phil

yep ill order one and do the necessary modification

[brett84]

i've used those switches, a bit of findling with wiring the LEDS so that they are on with headlights dim (using resitors to dim) then brighter when flashing
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[L40JRC]

They do look good (in my opinion)...........

[Bassfiend]

L40JRC said:

They do look good (in my opinion)...........

As switches - assuming you mount them flush rather than proud - I think they look fine and I was considering using them in my radio panel but I'd want to make a complete new panel in that case.

The matching tell tales though just strike me as being too big ...

Phil

[brett84]

I think the warning lights are a little big as well, so went for these
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/dash-war...