News from garage..

[mrzigazaga]

Hi peeps..just spoke to garage,Tanks in..petrol hose going on..Then hes got to do the tie arm bushes and the exhaust is leaking from several places..But i should have it back around lunch time..
Ive been considering changing the heater matrix as the control cables are really tight and are hard to move..You probably wont like this bit..If poss im thinking of removing the centre console (the square bit) and reshaping it at an angle(40-50deg) and fitting a veneer facia with a chrome rocker switch housing..recover in leather..unfortunately its the only bit i hate about the car.. a bit like this..excuse the rough drawing..

[Grady]

mrzigazaga said:

with a chrome rocker switch housing..recover in leather..unfortunately its the only bit i hate about the car.. a bit like this..excuse the rough drawing..

If you mean a chrome plate for the switches, I'd give some thought to other metal finishes: brushed, swirled or maybe carbon fiber. IIRC, chrome requires periodic polishing to stay shiny - I'm sure there are clear polishes now but I remember the white stuff under the edges of switches.

Also I think chrome is rather kit car-ish and I'd hate to get the wrong reflection but that's just me.

[mrzigazaga]

Yeah maybe..i was gonna put panels of carbon fibre inlaid in the veneer, for the backing for heater controls..Im not 100 percent on the metal finish and i spose a brushed effect would look cool..i dont want to bling it too much just make it nice.. something of a personal touch..gonna do a bit of research as i want modern dial heater controls, not sure if i can upgrade the old one?..Plus the metal finish will be minimal as to only accomadate three switches..I like the ones that have a tiny LED in the end (only cheap) and match what colour i need for what..Its not everyones cup o tea but i like..again i would never put flourescent tubes under me car or wiper LEDs or exhaust LEDs or any of that creap..I like to br subtle..

[wooly350i]

Reflective stuff can hinder ya vision with top down and sun at the right spot!

[mrzigazaga]

I know..im trying to get it so that when the sun hits it it shines on my teeth and will look like they are all gold..he he..Im not sure on that i might just go for veneer and inlaid carbon sheeting..I dont want it to look tacky..ill experiment a bit..at least it will be wedge shaped...and besides last time i saw my reflection it nearly ended in a fight..

Edited by mrzigazaga on Wednesday 13th October 22:55

[Wedg1e]

The heater slides on the early Tasmin were taken from the Mk 1 Escort van

[mrzigazaga]

Cheers man..can i replace it with dials without changing matrix..cheers..

[Wedg1e]

mrzigazaga said:

Cheers man..can i replace it with dials without changing matrix..cheers..

Don't know. The inner cables are stiff steel wire so they can work in both directions... but whether the rotary motion of the dials will translate into the push-pull of the levers is another matter.

[jeff m]

mrzigazaga said:

Cheers man..can i replace it with dials without changing matrix..cheers..

The two controls operate the water valve and the blend gate. The AC switch is also operated by moving the heat control to cold, (you will hear a click) if yours is different then changing to rotary might be too much of a job.
I would not reccomend changing the heater matrix unless you are some sort of masocist. (I assume it is not leaking of course)
You can can back flush the matrix for better heat. Move water valve to hot and flush with a garden hose.

With regard to "doing the consul"
If you want bright and shiney or dull and metalic, do whatever you like but you should consider doing the dash and the center consul, just doing one might not look so good. (one modern and one not so)
I did mine in (very) mock burl walnut, $27 (wholesale)for a big sheet, enough to do about six cars. I gave some to another 280 owner who thought mine was good.
Maybe he was just being polite !!!
Pic below

[mrzigazaga]

Cheers chaps..maybe i wont put dials on then... Hi jeff.. Yes i was looking at using walnut but the only wood i could find with the same pattern was a piece of yew wood..all the walnut,even the burr was a different colour and grain..i will keep looking as matching with the colour on me dash would look classy..no metal finish..I will have to get in there with some grease or WD as the cables are stiffer than a dead man and are really hard to operate..will av a look when..i say again..when i get her back..thanks..mark