Change dash/switches?

Change dash/switches?

Author
Discussion

MikeyT

Original Poster:

16,599 posts

272 months

Friday 5th April 2002
quotequote all
Right guys, now up late as I always am, I've thought of a couple of things:

My chim has a break in the wood veneer where the light switches are (the three black round ones) on the lower piece of wood by the radio as it gets very thin there. Also there are a few chips on this lower section (the top piece is OK) where the radio/CD has been in/out etc.

Now my question: as i have the older dash, the three black light switches etc, is it feasible to change this 'arrangement' and update it so I can get the 'newer' double (I think) silver/brushed ali buttons. Ideally, I would like to change all the buttons on the bottom bit and then get a Leven blower cover for the only black piece on the top (I have the later ali heater wheels).

Is this feasible? I ask because in this month's Sprint, aluminium dashes are being advertised but only later 97-on ones. So if I want the ali dash (which I've thought of), I'd have to have the later switches. Presumably the wiring behind is the same (don't think anything moved around too much on the layout)

Thanks and sorry to waffle on.

Mike

MikeyT

Original Poster:

16,599 posts

272 months

Sunday 7th April 2002
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Blimey, I know it's been sunny all weekend but there must be someone out there ...

MikeyT

Original Poster:

16,599 posts

272 months

Wednesday 10th April 2002
quotequote all
OK then, I'm Mikey No Mates ...

Chim/Griff Bible. Page 143. I've got a mixture of dashes – top bit of the dash where the speedo etc is – I've got the silver rimmed dials – that's fine.

Bottom bit where the radio is – I seem to have the earlier one. I want the later one – is it possible to change the switche? Please help ... ANYBODYYYYYYYY!!!

Come on please Mr Heath, a one word answer will do

>> Edited by MikeyT on Wednesday 10th April 14:13

.mark

11,104 posts

277 months

Wednesday 10th April 2002
quotequote all
I can't help Mikey but thought I'd reply just so you didn't get lonely.
Has the veneer actually cracked? Don't get an ally dash it's luverly with the wood dash don't spoil it.

markh

2,781 posts

276 months

Wednesday 10th April 2002
quotequote all
My wooden dash had cracked , so I made my own from a sheet of carbon fibre (this gives the interior a much more updated appearance,)this allows you to postion things in the right place for yourself (eg indicator lights where you can see them!)

Mark

manek

2,972 posts

285 months

Wednesday 10th April 2002
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My wood veneer's all cracked too (1995 Chimaera). The first couple of cracks I fixed but it's getting like a map of the Queen Mother's face now

Must do something (not sure what) about it...

shpub

8,507 posts

273 months

Wednesday 10th April 2002
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quote:

Come on please Mr Heath, a one word answer will do



Maybe.......

The first thing is I have been suffering 520 overload. Spent Thursday preping the 520. Spent Friday testing the car at Lydden. Spent Saturday sprinting the car and watching the Tazzie racing. Spent Sunday wondering how I had spent £300 on fuel. Looked at data logs and saw the acceleration curves and immediately understood why.

The reason why I say maybe is that:

1. You cannot assume that the wiring is similar as it may or may not. I've seen the back of several chimaeras and Griffs recently and the wiring only has the the fact that they use copper wire as the common point...

2. Tower View did do a post 97 conversion for someone's earlier car using a factory supplied ally dash but the dials and switches were different sizes and did not match the dash... So they had to get an engineering company to mill out the holes and then transfer the whole dash as a single unit. I have seen it and if you like ally dash (I don't but that is simply personal taste) it was excellent. However the wiring did look very different from the other dash that they had out.... which coupled with the fact that I do not believe that there is a standard wiring layout causes the "Danger Danger" warning a la Robbie the Robot.

3. Given enough money and time you can do anything with these cars.

Steve

MikeyT

Original Poster:

16,599 posts

272 months

Wednesday 10th April 2002
quotequote all
Thanks Steve,

Maybe not the one word answer I was hoping to hear but your third point means anything is possible. I do like the wood dash, but the amount of Leven stuff in my car (thanks to the Moles) means there's very little black switchgear (in fact only the stuff I want to replace really) and so the wood is a little, how do you put it 'in the minority'. After all, it's the only thing in there that's wood, no door cappings, none on the tranny tunnel etc. I just think with the advrnt of the ali dash, everything will 'knit together' a bit more.

All personal taste of course.

Mike

>> Edited by MikeyT on Wednesday 10th April 22:07

ATG

20,697 posts

273 months

Sunday 14th April 2002
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Mike ... I've sent you an e-mail about a dash I've seen. Might be of use to you. Give us a shout if the e-mail doesn't arrive.

paulu

203 posts

265 months

Monday 15th April 2002
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I am looking to do the same any news?

regards Paul.