MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
Can this be done?,I hate the 77 dash,its tacky and much prefer the early metal dash and since I've got one it won't cost me anything.I can move the switches no problem but I'm unsure on the speedo and tacho being compatable,has anyone done it and advise of any problems I'm likely to encounter.
Ta
Les
Les,
everything can be done but there are some differences in detail:
The 77 B's came with a collapsable colume and therefore were fitted with samller instruments due to limited space.
The cut out for the colume was changed too as was on early RBB's that shared the GTV8 dash styling for some time.
Earlier RHD cars fitted with large instruments had a very much smaller cut out for the colume and this style of dash is a challange to modify for fitting it o a late RHD B.
You can modify the old dash to keep the new colume, but have to use the smaller tach and speedo then. The easiest way is to cut out a template that fits under the tubus that covers the main instruments on the early type dash, using the late 'clocks'
An other small difference is in the wiring of the tach and the speedo must match to the OD transmission of your 1977 car.
There is still a other way you can go... Take the new (1977) dash apart and have it powder coated or painted the way the old one was finished. Leave away the 'stylish' plastic moldings and put everything back together.
Ralph
thanks Ralph,lot to think about there.I do have the column as well,but it would mean rewiring the wipers and headlights ,also not sure on the way the newer column bolts to the bulkhead to what changes are there as well.
I just hate that dash,I could put up with rubber bumpers (which are being changed) before that dash:S
Ralph's idea of just removing the covering and repainting/refreshing the existing dash is a good one. One example below....
Just get a 74-76 RHD dash. It will go right in and the gauges will work also.
Not sure what would work as the UK 77 & 71 dash were different from the USA dash's. Measure from the windscreen to the edge of the dash on both your 77 and a UK 71. If that is the same then you can assume the crowl is the same and the change over may work. In looking at the Moss UK site it appears that you could change out the two dash's.
Thanks lloyd,I noticed on the 74 dash its still poss to keep the colapsable column,and keeping safety features is always a good idea.
has anyone got a picture of the 74 metal dash with centre consol in car as a referance for me?
Les....you will have to use the 74-76 radio portion of the console as well (the tunnel portion is the same). The '77 and later style is shorter and won't fit up to the dash.
I did this swap. It's a V8 so I wanted the V8 dash. If it wasn't a V8 I'd have gone for an earlier dash, with its larger instrument faces and ignition key on the dash.
In my case the swap was complicated by my car being American with the cut back dash cowl (bit under the windscreen). I believe that you will not have to do that on an English car. Kilmartins can sell you a conversion piece if that is not the case.
http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?1,1172895,1172895#msg-1172895
Actually I believe that the earlier dash will in fact fit if you change to the earlier steering column cowl. That plastic bit back of the steering wheel. I think that would be a good move as the earlier cowl looks better, is still being manufactured and the rubber bumper one is very difficult to get. Plus I always seem to be knocking my knee on the key surround. Measure the actual diameter of the column and compare it to the gap it has to go into in the earlier dash you have. I'm not certain but I'm fairly sure that it will fit. The ealier and the later colmns were not all that different in diameter.
Could you let me/us know if it will fit? I'd like to confirm that it does.
They are not all that much different and because of the slightly different steering rack changing columns is difficult. This would mean relocating the ignition key and the windscreen wipers to the dash (which I prefer) and anyway all the holes for the requisite switches are already there.
With the later smaller instruments you can put a blanking plate and hide the edges/join under the instrument cowl (another variety cowl!). Or , much better, get a pair of the earlier tacho and speedo. Those much bigger faced instruments and with their delicate chrome needles and surround look vastly better and are an essential part of the look of the dash. The very late unchromed instruments look awful. Cheap leyland rubbish. The tacho etc needs to be a smiths, not a very early Jager.
I am not very familiar with the later english rubber bumper dashes, But I believe that they still had metal underneath the horrible plastic bits. There was a big glue on bit in the middle. I believe that you may find a very workable metal dash similar to the one I've got. Look at the back of it, that will tell you.
thanks peter,I'll have a look at the columns tomorow sometime but it looks like I have lots of options ,I've looked on ebay for the v8 dash and found one (also found a LHD),havn't bought it bu they are out there.
I'll let you know.
Wow! so this whole issue of putting an older dash in a newer car can be solved by Kilmartins rather than having to cut up a donor car? or am I missing something...
(I recognize all the other problems with gauges, console, wiring, collapsable column, but the difference in the cowls was always what held me up from going this way.)
Bob....you can buy the cowl top at Moss...they cost about $200....I guess you can pop rivet it on like in the pictures ( I wouldn't, but that's just me).
Les....you don't need to do this on your car.....just buy the V8 style dash and bolt it in.
Les.....just remember that the switches will also be different from the 74-76 dash and you also need that plastic cowl that goes around the gauges as well. As far as the steering cowl covers, here's what works: all crash column covers will interchange and fit in the dash opening that was designed for a crash column. A non-crash column (ie all English MGBs from 73 on back, except V8s) dash will not go on a crash column car without welding on the dash.
this is the one I was looking at......
dash
Switches will have to be bought but I have the 71 centre consol and fittings still
Bargain, go for it! Moss have got them reconditioned for 150 pounds. Bare, no instruments, no cowl and no glovebox chrome strip. That strip is hard to get hold of. No longer made.
I had my dash stripped and powder coated with wrinkle finish for $70. Powder coat is tougher than the wrinkle paint, lasts longer and looks better. Don't even think about applying new wrinkly paint yourself unless you have an oven big enough to put the entire dash in. I think (correct me if wrong) 220 degrees is required. read the fine print on the can.
Or you are skilled enough to apply a heat gun so the entire dash reaches the requisite temperature, and no more , and can keep it there for for an extended period of time AND be prepared to have at least two attempts. I tried it once and ended up with coarse wrinkles. You need high temperature to get the fine winkles.
I'd suggest that you also buy and get a radio blanking plate powder coated at the same time in case you ever want to fit one. That way it will match perfectly. With mine, the blanking plate chrome surround fits closely around the detachable face of the radio (as though it were made for it, pioneer brand) so that I can clip the radio blanking plate in place when the radio face is removed, Two very thin magnets (2mm, about $5) hold it in place securely. I like the look of the chrome surround and art deco MG emblem and I don't always want to listen to music. There is also an anti-theft deal where the fact that you have a radio/ipod player is hidden.
