Dashboard Removal for vaneer replacement..
Discussion
Hi Isaac
I have a 1998 model Chimaera and replaced my metal dashboard with a walnut veneered one at the beginning of this year. When I was undoing the hidden nuts for the top dash cover thing I found that there are a lot of self tapping screws holding things down where the pointy end of the screw is waiting to ambush your hand / arm, blood was spilled more than once!
On mine there was also no way that the heater control leds were coming out in one piece and ditto for the array of warning leds between the speedo and the rev counter.
While it was all in pieces I took the opportunity to wire up the spare warning light at the bottom of the rev counter, I now use it to tell me if my radiator fans are 'on' (strictly speaking it tells me when the otter switch has closed with me then assuming that the fans will be on). Might be worth wiring this bulb up and leading the wires out to somewhere more accessible in case you want to use the warning light for something later on.
If you dismantle the heater controls (I did as it was the only way to get the dashboard out) then take photos, tag the control cables so you know which one is which and make a note of how many washers go where if you unbolt the heater control wheels (you will see what I mean if you do).
I ended up using what seemed to me to be a lot of brute force at times to get things apart, off or on (the top cover - how on earth did they do that at the factory?) and also the veneer dash is completely flat when it is made and yet you have to persuade it to curve when fitting it, scary stuff at the price they are!
Best of luck and when you have finished it you will feel awesome!
I have a 1998 model Chimaera and replaced my metal dashboard with a walnut veneered one at the beginning of this year. When I was undoing the hidden nuts for the top dash cover thing I found that there are a lot of self tapping screws holding things down where the pointy end of the screw is waiting to ambush your hand / arm, blood was spilled more than once!
On mine there was also no way that the heater control leds were coming out in one piece and ditto for the array of warning leds between the speedo and the rev counter.
While it was all in pieces I took the opportunity to wire up the spare warning light at the bottom of the rev counter, I now use it to tell me if my radiator fans are 'on' (strictly speaking it tells me when the otter switch has closed with me then assuming that the fans will be on). Might be worth wiring this bulb up and leading the wires out to somewhere more accessible in case you want to use the warning light for something later on.
If you dismantle the heater controls (I did as it was the only way to get the dashboard out) then take photos, tag the control cables so you know which one is which and make a note of how many washers go where if you unbolt the heater control wheels (you will see what I mean if you do).
I ended up using what seemed to me to be a lot of brute force at times to get things apart, off or on (the top cover - how on earth did they do that at the factory?) and also the veneer dash is completely flat when it is made and yet you have to persuade it to curve when fitting it, scary stuff at the price they are!
Best of luck and when you have finished it you will feel awesome!
10mm spanner, ratchet ring type, with a flexy end if possible, is your friend for the three nuts. The one driver's side is the worst.
Be careful not to rip the "leather" on the bolt ends.
Are you doing the refurb yourself, or getting a straight swap done by someone like Central TVR?
The little heater LEDs usually break, but you can get a set of them for about £16 on Ebay.
Mine is a later car - you need to remove the radio to reveal the little screws to release the lower dash.
If you are doing it all yourself, you cannot take too many photographs as you dissemble, as you won't remember all the wiring later when you come to reassemble.
Don't assume that veneer is the only choice - steel or carbon fibre can look good too. Both were standard factory fit on certain cars.
Also do think whether you might want additional dials while you have the dash out and available for CNC drilling - 52mm is the hole size.
I am thinking AFR gauge or oil temperature. Both available from Caerbont Automotive Instruments.
And I cheated - a friend gave me a spare dash set, which I prepared and wrapped, and had two extra holes cut. I then spent weeks not getting around to it, so gave the whole job to my TVR expert in the end, as I wanted the bloody things to work!!
Be careful not to rip the "leather" on the bolt ends.
Are you doing the refurb yourself, or getting a straight swap done by someone like Central TVR?
The little heater LEDs usually break, but you can get a set of them for about £16 on Ebay.
Mine is a later car - you need to remove the radio to reveal the little screws to release the lower dash.
If you are doing it all yourself, you cannot take too many photographs as you dissemble, as you won't remember all the wiring later when you come to reassemble.
Don't assume that veneer is the only choice - steel or carbon fibre can look good too. Both were standard factory fit on certain cars.
Also do think whether you might want additional dials while you have the dash out and available for CNC drilling - 52mm is the hole size.
I am thinking AFR gauge or oil temperature. Both available from Caerbont Automotive Instruments.
And I cheated - a friend gave me a spare dash set, which I prepared and wrapped, and had two extra holes cut. I then spent weeks not getting around to it, so gave the whole job to my TVR expert in the end, as I wanted the bloody things to work!!
Sorry to jump in on this but has anyone found an easier way for undoing and redoing the awkward nuts holding the top dash?
Just spent last weekend doing mine, 3hrs trying to get one nut on, in refixing top cover and found today a gauge bulb is gone... Could turn air blue at this...
Maybe wing nuts might make it easier...
Just spent last weekend doing mine, 3hrs trying to get one nut on, in refixing top cover and found today a gauge bulb is gone... Could turn air blue at this...
Maybe wing nuts might make it easier...
You'll also want replacement spring clips to hold the warning light fittings in as you'll have to damage the old ones to get them out too. I found the rubber gaskets behind some of the gauges had perished; caerbont for those. Led illumination?
Label everything, take notes and photos. Wing nuts for the 3 bolts when you reassemble. I had the seats out, which made the inverted access that bit easier.
Label everything, take notes and photos. Wing nuts for the 3 bolts when you reassemble. I had the seats out, which made the inverted access that bit easier.
Sorry, but I do not believe that is likely to happen, I’m not a small guy but I very much doubt that I could round these off, you would need to be gorilla sized and trying very hard, how tight do you want to clamp the dash down?
I have had these on now for 2.5 years and have the dash off several times and I find it very easy, the 2 passenger ones will be off in about a minute and no tools required
I have had these on now for 2.5 years and have the dash off several times and I find it very easy, the 2 passenger ones will be off in about a minute and no tools required
I found some on eBay and going to try them:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Lawnmowers-Ha...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wing-knob-open-top-M5-M...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Lawnmowers-Ha...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wing-knob-open-top-M5-M...
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