Anyone got a dash?

[Dave Meredith]

Anyone got a dash going spare? Condition is unimportant but it must be metal backed and fit a 1985 350i

My current dash is veneer on ply but the ply must be 10mm thick! Despite my best efforts with veneer it still looks like a joist with holes in it and it has never fitted snugly around the dials

I want to remove the veneer and rub down to the metal backing and do a nice paint job on it. Hopefully, being a lot thinner it will fit more snugly around the dials

Will swap for new door hinge bushes that I no longer need . Failing that some crinkly green folding stuff could change hands :

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

Just make one out of a sheet of ali. as its a lot easier to cut than steel also lighter. 2mm ali should be ok for a dash.

[Wedg1e]

The first dashes were a sheet of ply with real walnut veneer on. The instruments were mounted straight into it and the whole lot was held to the GRP moulding by captive studs - the nuts were a pain in the parts to get at.
Later dashes had the instruments mounted in a sheet of steel that was secured to the GRP moulding, with another steel sheet in front covered in fake walnut veneer (probably Formica). This sheet usually pulls off.
If yours is ply and you replace it with a metal sheet, how will you mount the instruments? Or are you saying the instruments are mounted in a steel sheet and there's a thick panel in front? If so that sounds like an addition by a previous owner. I can't see how it would look right, the instruments would be too deeply recessed...

[Dave Meredith]

Wedgie

I think you've identified what I've got as a 'later Wedge' set up

I've got a metal plate which is screwed to the fibreglass fascia. This mounts the gauges. I've then got a thick slab of veneered ply on top of that which just rests against the gauges. The holes in the veneered ply fit around the gauges ok but because of the thickness of the ply the gauges don't poke through.

This is why I'd like an old veneered metal dash which I could rub down and paint.

I could make one out of aluminium like Leigh suggests but I haven't the tools to make large holes in thin plate or any method of marking out their positions accurately.

[Dave Meredith]

Wedgie

I've just read your post again!

I now think I've got an early ply veneered dash in a later car intended for a veneered metal dash.
My ply backed dash is counterbored at the rear to allow the gauges to sit into it. Mystery solved!
I've got the wrong dash!

I need a metal backed veneeered dash in order to get it looking as TVR intended. Veneer can be flaky or non-existant. Anyone out there got one?

[adam quantrill]

I would stick with the original, for originalities sake ;^)

Plus if you ever get involved in a road rage incident, it makes a handy weapon to defend yourself!!!