1996 Chimaera Dashboard Change
Discussion
I'm just about to start work changing my cracked dash and was wondering about a couple of things...
1) How do you remove the lower section that holds the radio? I have seen a few guides that show you how to remove the top, but not the bottom.
2) Will I need to buy new dash warning light strips for the lower section? If not how do I remove them from the old dash to put on the new one?
3) Is there anything else I need to keep an eye on or something that people always miss when doing this job?
Thanks in advance.
1) How do you remove the lower section that holds the radio? I have seen a few guides that show you how to remove the top, but not the bottom.
2) Will I need to buy new dash warning light strips for the lower section? If not how do I remove them from the old dash to put on the new one?
3) Is there anything else I need to keep an eye on or something that people always miss when doing this job?
Thanks in advance.
there's a good Gide on the chimaera pages I did mine recently got a stainless steel one from tvr mads good value but the heater lights didn't quite match up so had to make a few adjustments the radio panel was a pain you have to take the fixing brackets off of the old and transfer to the new one if you are anywhere near Essex happy to go through it
I pulled off the bottom dash - wow - what a state! Someone has obviously changed the dash in the past, broken the radio surround, used a mixture of expanding foam, polly filler and superglue to fill and patch up the crap job they did! It looks as though I might need to re-upholster the bottom dash section as most of this gunk wont come off without damaging the leather. There are a few things I now need to decide and some questions that have sprung up on my venture...
1) Where can I find the black rubber 'O' rings that go between the gauges and the dash?
2) What is the warning light on the REV counter? - Mine is disconnected.
3) I am thinking of replacing the buttons with the Aluminium billet switches found here: http://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/electrical-b... Will they fit in the dash without any modification - my dash is the wood one from TVR-Mads.
4) Where can I buy goof quality warning switch panel replacements? Mine are a bit scratched up.
5) Where is it possible to buy the rubber spacers from behind the warning light panels?
6) Is it possible to get a ISO adapter for the radio leads or has anyone done a good guide into changing the radios on the earlier models?
7) If I do decide to re-upholster the bottom section of the dash, how easy is it to remove and is there a guide anywhere?
Here is a picture of the lower dash:
Many thanks for all your help again guys - it's much appreciated!
1) Where can I find the black rubber 'O' rings that go between the gauges and the dash?
2) What is the warning light on the REV counter? - Mine is disconnected.
3) I am thinking of replacing the buttons with the Aluminium billet switches found here: http://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/electrical-b... Will they fit in the dash without any modification - my dash is the wood one from TVR-Mads.
4) Where can I buy goof quality warning switch panel replacements? Mine are a bit scratched up.
5) Where is it possible to buy the rubber spacers from behind the warning light panels?
6) Is it possible to get a ISO adapter for the radio leads or has anyone done a good guide into changing the radios on the earlier models?
7) If I do decide to re-upholster the bottom section of the dash, how easy is it to remove and is there a guide anywhere?
Here is a picture of the lower dash:
Many thanks for all your help again guys - it's much appreciated!
Good luck to you Luke, its quite a big job and fidly and will take quite sometime to put just how you want it. I looked at a bill when my dash was replaced and all dials with Ali billet ones, Labour and parts was £1000 !!!!!, and it was done 12 years ago!! but with the manhours involved stripping cleaning refitting it takes time.
lukerogers said:
I pulled off the bottom dash - wow - what a state! Someone has obviously changed the dash in the past, broken the radio surround, used a mixture of expanding foam, polly filler and superglue to fill and patch up the crap job they did! It looks as though I might need to re-upholster the bottom dash section as most of this gunk wont come off without damaging the leather. There are a few things I now need to decide and some questions that have sprung up on my venture...
1) Where can I find the black rubber 'O' rings that go between the gauges and the dash?
2) What is the warning light on the REV counter? - Mine is disconnected.
3) I am thinking of replacing the buttons with the Aluminium billet switches found here: http://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/electrical-b... Will they fit in the dash without any modification - my dash is the wood one from TVR-Mads.
4) Where can I buy goof quality warning switch panel replacements? Mine are a bit scratched up.
5) Where is it possible to buy the rubber spacers from behind the warning light panels?
6) Is it possible to get a ISO adapter for the radio leads or has anyone done a good guide into changing the radios on the earlier models?
7) If I do decide to re-upholster the bottom section of the dash, how easy is it to remove and is there a guide anywhere?
Here is a picture of the lower dash:
Many thanks for all your help again guys - it's much appreciated!
I fitted a stainless one to my 96' a few months ago. Time consuming job that's for sure.1) Where can I find the black rubber 'O' rings that go between the gauges and the dash?
2) What is the warning light on the REV counter? - Mine is disconnected.
3) I am thinking of replacing the buttons with the Aluminium billet switches found here: http://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/electrical-b... Will they fit in the dash without any modification - my dash is the wood one from TVR-Mads.
4) Where can I buy goof quality warning switch panel replacements? Mine are a bit scratched up.
5) Where is it possible to buy the rubber spacers from behind the warning light panels?
6) Is it possible to get a ISO adapter for the radio leads or has anyone done a good guide into changing the radios on the earlier models?
7) If I do decide to re-upholster the bottom section of the dash, how easy is it to remove and is there a guide anywhere?
Here is a picture of the lower dash:
Many thanks for all your help again guys - it's much appreciated!
The little black seal rings behind the gauges are hard to get off without breaking. I broke one of mine so ended up fitting without and to be honest, you cant even notice so I wouldn't get hung up on it.
As for warning light, mine was disconnected also so left it like that
Changed my stereo at same time, couldn't find any ISO adaptors however its only like 5 or 6 wires needing cut and soldered. Dead easy to do yourself.
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