Getting your top off
Discussion
Apart from a twisted back, minor abrasions and being stung by a wasp(!) I've got the two nuts holding the passenger side of the dashboard top off their studs. but I can't see the third nut - the one on the driver's side. Any guidance as to where the little b****r is hiding will be appreciated. Now, I must go and spray my garage with an insect spray!
There's some pictures at The Chimaera Pages. The one with the red & blue bolts depicted should help you.
I particularly enjoyed the self taping screws from the relay box left poking though into the void where you fish about for the 2 nuts on the passenger side. The top of my hand has just about healed up.
I did try replacing the hex nuts with wing nuts as recommended by some but found it harder to get those on. In the end I bought a 10mm ratcheting ring spanner which makes the whole job alot easier.
Never got as far as taking the drivers side nut off, I could not find it either.
I did try replacing the hex nuts with wing nuts as recommended by some but found it harder to get those on. In the end I bought a 10mm ratcheting ring spanner which makes the whole job alot easier.
Never got as far as taking the drivers side nut off, I could not find it either.
HI there
Never mind the third, I'm still struggling to find the second one on the passenger side.Read the Bible and all sorts, still can't find it!!
I've removed the little push button thingy (don't know what it is either!!) to aid access, but still not finding it. I must be in the wrong place completely. The first one is on a really long bolt, are the second and third the same?
Looked with a torch but can't see anything remotely resembling what I'm looking for.
There is a large wiring loom up there, am I right or left of that?
Frustrated, any help appreciated.
Rgds
Phil
Never mind the third, I'm still struggling to find the second one on the passenger side.Read the Bible and all sorts, still can't find it!!
I've removed the little push button thingy (don't know what it is either!!) to aid access, but still not finding it. I must be in the wrong place completely. The first one is on a really long bolt, are the second and third the same?
Looked with a torch but can't see anything remotely resembling what I'm looking for.
There is a large wiring loom up there, am I right or left of that?
Frustrated, any help appreciated.
Rgds
Phil
You remove the 2 self tappers and hinge down the flap under the passenger side dash to gain access.
First nut is on a vertical bolt front middle, second one is on a horizontal bolt back middle. Imagine a bolt sticking towards the windscreen from the top removal section of the dash and the nut is on the back of it. So it is hidden behind a lip in the void where your hand is.
Fish around, but worth putting gloves on!
EDIT nevermind you found it.
First nut is on a vertical bolt front middle, second one is on a horizontal bolt back middle. Imagine a bolt sticking towards the windscreen from the top removal section of the dash and the nut is on the back of it. So it is hidden behind a lip in the void where your hand is.
Fish around, but worth putting gloves on!
EDIT nevermind you found it.
Edited by dogbucket on Sunday 11th November 13:20
Depending on what you are looking to do under the dash you many not have to find the 3rd one. Once the 2 on the passenger side are undone you can gently lift that side of the dash about 6-8 inches which is plenty to get at the alarm modules and relays etc. You may find that the front edge of the dash top has become stuck to the trim below the screen, just ease it off with a small ruler or the like. Just be gentle with it!
PurpleV8 said:
Depending on what you are looking to do under the dash you many not have to find the 3rd one.
You are always going to stress the dash more if you don't at least loosen the 3rd fixing, as well as run greater risk of scratches from the other bolts. There is also the possibility of loosening the captive fixing fixing of the 3rd one so that it will never come off.It is better to go get it off you can.
Dave
Yes, haven't seen the third one yet but no.1 seems far too long. No.2 is ok. But will take your advice. I'm all for the easy life (and I bought a TVR???) just in case I have to get in again.
Have just removed the radio panel and what a mess in there. Looks to have had the radio nicked at some time, and by that I mean ripped out, so a bit of repair work required in there as well. Bits of three alarm systems that I can see. The original META system, it has Clifford stickers on the windows and the present COBRA alarm.
Will all be tidied as I go. But before I get to any of this I need that B****Y thord bolt out!!!
Thx for all the help
Phil
Have just removed the radio panel and what a mess in there. Looks to have had the radio nicked at some time, and by that I mean ripped out, so a bit of repair work required in there as well. Bits of three alarm systems that I can see. The original META system, it has Clifford stickers on the windows and the present COBRA alarm.
Will all be tidied as I go. But before I get to any of this I need that B****Y thord bolt out!!!
Thx for all the help
Phil
To get at the third bolt I start by taking the roof off.
Then if you lay upside down in the drivers seat with your head on the pedals and you feet sticking out of the roof.
You can see the nut and washer from this position. Once you know where it is it's not so bad to get at.
Now I know where the nut is, I can reach it by lying half in and half out of the car. Much easier.
Don't forget to take a torch and the 10mm spanner in with you when you start as it's a real pain getting in and out.
I am not that thin (100Kg) and a couple of times I have managed to get to the "panic i'm stuck point".
An old cushion on the pedals saves a bit of a scrape on the head as well.
Best of luck!!
Then if you lay upside down in the drivers seat with your head on the pedals and you feet sticking out of the roof.
You can see the nut and washer from this position. Once you know where it is it's not so bad to get at.
Now I know where the nut is, I can reach it by lying half in and half out of the car. Much easier.
Don't forget to take a torch and the 10mm spanner in with you when you start as it's a real pain getting in and out.
I am not that thin (100Kg) and a couple of times I have managed to get to the "panic i'm stuck point".
An old cushion on the pedals saves a bit of a scrape on the head as well.
Best of luck!!
The easy way to do the job is to pay someone else to do it. 
But that looses the satisfaction of doing the job yourself.
To be honest removing and replacing the nuts once you know where they are (and where the points of the self tapper screws are) is not the worst part of the job.
I am much more frightened at the prospect of ripping the leather with the ends of the bolts as you take the dash out.
I like the suggestion of Spend to trim down the length of the studs.
I will consider that next time I take the dash off. The ends of the bolts would have to be smoothed off very carefully to avoid sharp edges cutting the leather.
But that looses the satisfaction of doing the job yourself.
To be honest removing and replacing the nuts once you know where they are (and where the points of the self tapper screws are) is not the worst part of the job.
I am much more frightened at the prospect of ripping the leather with the ends of the bolts as you take the dash out.
I like the suggestion of Spend to trim down the length of the studs.
I will consider that next time I take the dash off. The ends of the bolts would have to be smoothed off very carefully to avoid sharp edges cutting the leather.
Some tips from when I did this a few months ago.
1) The bolts are really excessively long, cheers TVR however they are all the same type so just look for ones that match the bolt/nut/washer above the 'glovebox'.
2) The pics on Chimaera pages are a good indication.
3) Even when all three nuts are off, the dash feels solid as it is held in by the opposing studs. It needs bending a fair bit with a little violence to get off.
4) Run a credit card (carefully!) in between the dash top and windscreen surround (bit with heater vents in) as mine was also glued here by the factory. This separated the glue without splitting the leather/PVC.
5) Before you take the dash top off push some washer tube pipe over the studs to stop you damaging the leather as you wrestle with it.
6) Cut a cm or two off the studs before refitting and get some wingnuts, you will be laughing if you have to do this again!
7) Marvel at the way the alarm ecu and other ancillaries are 'fitted' behind the dash.
8) The LED's and warning lights are the worst bits, get your soldering iron out!
1) The bolts are really excessively long, cheers TVR however they are all the same type so just look for ones that match the bolt/nut/washer above the 'glovebox'.
2) The pics on Chimaera pages are a good indication.
3) Even when all three nuts are off, the dash feels solid as it is held in by the opposing studs. It needs bending a fair bit with a little violence to get off.
4) Run a credit card (carefully!) in between the dash top and windscreen surround (bit with heater vents in) as mine was also glued here by the factory. This separated the glue without splitting the leather/PVC.
5) Before you take the dash top off push some washer tube pipe over the studs to stop you damaging the leather as you wrestle with it.
6) Cut a cm or two off the studs before refitting and get some wingnuts, you will be laughing if you have to do this again!
7) Marvel at the way the alarm ecu and other ancillaries are 'fitted' behind the dash.
8) The LED's and warning lights are the worst bits, get your soldering iron out!
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