MGB: Dashboard Replacement

I am going to go way out on a limb and say that after 8 years of effort my MGB is, for the most part, from a mechanical point of view is in fairly good shape. I'm ready to start on the interior. The first step is to replace the dashboard (Moss Motors part # 453-720). Since I have no mechanical skills to speak of, I am wondering if anyone knows of someone in the Schaumburg/Naperville/Elgin Illinois area that can perform this service for me?

As ever, you guys have always been enormously helpful and I appreciate it


TomT

I feel your pain Tom. I'm going to be doing the dash on my 74B and I am NOT looking forward to it.
Anyone with advice or a link to a good tutorial would be worshiped from a far.

You might want to check with any MG or related clubs in your area.

I feel your pain Tom. I'm going to be doing the dash on my 74B and I am NOT looking forward to it.
Anyone with advice or a link to a good tutorial would be worshiped from a far.

You might also want to check with any MG or related clubs in your area.

Changing out the dash is pretty painful, but nothing like replacing the windshield or heater assembly. If you decide to do it on your own, you can definitely get some good advice here. That was one of the first projects I tackled on my '73, using advice and info from here, and I'm very happy with the results.

I wouldn't say that mechanical skill is required for this project.

If you can:

use a wrench
label wiring with masking tape
spray 3m adhesive
clamp edges with hundreds of clothespins
cut new gauge holes with an exacto knife

then you can do a masterful job of replacing your dash and it will dress up your interior like nothing else.

Go for it, brother!

I agree with Steven. It's not really a mechanical job. The dash is very simple to remove and replace. It's more of an artistic job. I was skeptical about doing mine, but with a few pointers from this forum, I finally just dove into it. What scared me the most was the possibility of ruining a $150 dash pad and having to buy another one!!

Tom - what year is your car? I did my '71 GT in about 2002 - isn't hard, but set yourself up with the proper tools Steve recommends. I used 3M spray contact adhesive - pretty forgiving for about 10 - 15 minutes.
Give it a shot.

Found this online a while back - thought it might help.

http://www.flyingcircuscars.com/TECH/mg%20tech/dash/dash_mgb.htm

ssbryant Wrote:

I was going through the same dilema a couple of months ago, then I decided to do something a bit more customized...

That's pretty sweet. Did you do that yourself or have an upholstery shop do it?

To make it easier to get at the nuts that secure the dash in place, 6 of them i think, get yourself one of those flexible extensions for a 1/4" ratchet your hands will thank you for it.

Thanks for all of the responses. My MGB is a 1969, the dashboard does not have a glovebox. I was really hoping for the name of a mechanic that does this type of thing for a living. There is no way I can possibly describe how badly I can screw up this kind of project.

Maybe you should check around at some upholstery shops to see if they can do the job for you.