280i Center Console

[m2500tvr]

I took apart the center arm rest pad and instrument binnacle today to address some issues the car had had prior to my ownership. Apparently the center silencers/resonators, which had been removed before I bought the car, had gotten very hot and melted things.

The instrument binnacle/console is a real - uh, interesting, yeah, interesting - piece of work. We're all used to this right now, and it's part of why we love, and sometimes perhaps why we don't love, our TVRs so much; maybe it's that love/hate thing that I love. Call it character.

Does anyone have pictures of this arrangment? It's a flimsy plastic, 3-sided frame that houses everything. It's affixed/secured how? Glued/plastic welded to the heater core
housing? Screwed through and to the lower part of the plastic frame and into the GRP center tunnel?

It looks like someone removed the metal faceplate that the instruments are mounted to/in, and is veneered. If I had another kingdom I'd give it for this plate.

And the air distribution control. I've got the pull/push rod glued to the dial/semi-wheel. ???

Found out why my parking brake switch isn't working - it fried from the center silencer heat. I think I can fix it.

Any help with this assembly would be appreciated.

Cheers,

- SJ
'67 Lotus Elan S3 dhc
'76 TVR 2500M
'85 TVR 280i S1.5 dhc

[wedg1e]

I think you're saying that the 'veneered' plate which covers all the switches on the centre (radio) console is missing? If so I think I have a template that I made from my Tasmin (1980 model), could scan and email (though it'd be a cut and paste job as it'll be too large for the scanner). May differ from the layout on your car though.
Yes, the mounting frame is one of the shoddiest piles of crap I think I've ever encountered in any car, TVR or otherwise.
I think they got a sheet of plastic, scored it, snapped along the scores and plastic welded the joins. Or some of them at any rate. I have no idea what holds it into the car: it's fixed somewhere under the dash on my 390. Probably attached to (or even part of!) the heater box.

[grahamw48]

I think they got that daft shoebox idea from the Rover SD1 instrument binnacle - another styling horror.

"Yep, we'll just fit all the switches and things into this box, and then screw it to the top of the transmission tunnel".

I reckon someone came up with this revolution in design, after seeing a box of tissues on the back shelf of a car.


>> Edited by grahamw48 on Thursday 18th May 21:07

[m2500tvr]

wedg1e said:

I think you're saying that the 'veneered' plate which covers all the switches on the centre (radio) console is missing? If so I think I have a template that I made from my Tasmin (1980 model), could scan and email (though it'd be a cut and paste job as it'll be too large for the scanner). May differ from the layout on your car though. Yes, the mounting frame is one of the shoddiest piles of crap I think I've ever encountered in any car, TVR or otherwise. I think they got a sheet of plastic, scored it, snapped along the scores and plastic welded the joins. Or some of them at any rate. I have no idea what holds it into the car: it's fixed somewhere under the dash on my 390. Probably attached to (or even part of!) the heater box.

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I think you're stated method of console fabrication is right on. From my inspection, I think you're right. It does appear that the top plastic sheet of the console frame was plastic welded to the plastic heater box. Well, one of the nice things about TVRs is that rather than having to chase down some unobtainable, expensive part, you can often fabricate something that's as good, or better even, than the original part.

I would appreciate a copy of the center console metal faceplate trace. I suspect it will be different from mine. I will also trace the wooden part that's there now. I'm sure that whoever fabricated it probably started by tracing the original plate.

Is your veneered instrument cluster surround a metal or wooden frame? Mine is wooden, and it appears to be stock. I've seen that some are metal.

Regards,

- Steven

[m2500tvr]

Oh! Quick question about the way the air distribution control is connected There's the rod with its elliptical end. These are joined with screw set into the end. Okay. I'm good to go here. BUT, how is the elliptical end joined to the semi-circular control finger wheel?! Mine have parted ways, but I've divined the original configuration. It appears that the elliptical end was joined to the wheel by plastic welding, with an assist of a little hot melt glue, to the left (as you face the control) side of the wheel.

Sound right? Is that what you've got?

Cheers,

- SJ

[leorest]

m2500tvr said:

...It appears that the elliptical end was joined to the wheel by plastic welding, with an assist of a little hot melt glue, to the left (as you face the control) side of the wheel...

Sounds about right. hot melt glue would be well up the the task considering the BTU output of the heater Sorry no help at all.