8 replies to this topic

[TheJack]

Just wondered how to take the top dash rail vinyl off? I have heard about 3 screws somewhere? Wanting to get a mk1 looking but a bit confused on how to remove the vinyl stuff 

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

The best way is to remove the windscreen and give it a firm whack to be honest. It's a metal panel covered in vinyl, not just vinyl on top of the panel, you need to whack the entire dash padding out. There are 3 studs, one at either end and one in the middle. You'll more than likely snap one.  

[Chance]

I have recently done this with windscreen in...its pretty hard though and feels like it will break

As above 3 nuts/studs...one at each end and one in the middle...look right underneath the top dash rail and you will see them..

take the ashtray out and it will become clear as you can see the middle one behind there

To get it off I used a spanner around the middle stud and levered it up and away from the windscreen

Came out okay with some persistence

Edited by Chance, 01 September 2014 - 10:19 PM.

[splintercat]

This comes out without the need of taking the windscreen out or beating it with a hammer.
Your making hard work of a simple,task.
It's,simply held in by three simple nuts. Oh e in the middle by the ashtray and one at either end.
It may need a LITTLE persuasion as the centre stud can be a little bent or caught by the ashtray but it's a simplest job.

[MrElliott]

i must say it wasnt that easy. i did it without removing the windscreen the first time but it made it soo difficult

[TheJack]

Just did it and here are the results, the bolt got stuck on the ashtray hole which has bent it outwards, also worried about the clocks have the big gap behind it!

 

 

 

 

 

[splintercat]

Wow you did struggle didn.t you. Should never have been that difficult still it's out now and the damage to the two sides look easily repaired. The damage to the ash tray area looks a bit more difficult but I managed to source an Innocenti ashtray for mine so as it's slightly larger and will cover that..... I had to make mine bigger anyway.

The gap made by your 2 clock binnacle is fixed either by going the whole hog and going for a centre speedo conversion, or you could look at some works-mini set ups as they use a dash insert that stands proud of the metal dash rails they are usuallly bespoke made but easily knocked up out of alley or thin meatal, there are plenty to choose from just google works mini images or look on here as there are a few threads that show them. Good luck on what ever you choose.

[TheJack]

Wow you did struggle didn.t you. Should never have been that difficult still it's out now and the damage to the two sides look easily repaired. The damage to the ash tray area looks a bit more difficult but I managed to source an Innocenti ashtray for mine so as it's slightly larger and will cover that..... I had to make mine bigger anyway.

The gap made by your 2 clock binnacle is fixed either by going the whole hog and going for a centre speedo conversion, or you could look at some works-mini set ups as they use a dash insert that stands proud of the metal dash rails they are usuallly bespoke made but easily knocked up out of alley or thin meatal, there are plenty to choose from just google works mini images or look on here as there are a few threads that show them. Good luck on what ever you choose.

Just bought myself a centre clock so going with the whole mk1 look, thanks for your help though! 

[splintercat]

thats ok mate if you have any problems wiring it in there is a thread here if you can't find it give me a buzz and i ll dig my diagram out for ya.......