32 replies to this topic

[Dan16v]

Hi all,

I’m just in the process of fitting a KA dash to my Mini, I am trying to overcome the usual problem of this conversion which is that the gear stick sits very close to the dash (you can’t get it into first), my seats are quite far back and I struggle to reach first when I have the harnesses on, so I am thinking of bending the gearstick backwards slightly.

Does anyone know if there is a way of bending it without cracking the plating? (it’s a minispares quick shift kit with a plated stick)

Cheers

Dan

[attachment=97720:KA_dash_small.jpg]

[maggies_minder]

contact h4wx1e on here, i no hes recently finished and awesome custom KA dash,
its in the dash thread on her aswell.

[h4wx1e]

you have to watch the clearence behind the wheel aswell plus the i personaly found that i couldnt see the dials that good either so had them sitting at a slight angle. the heater also gets in the way to.

[mini-geek]

why not move the gear linkage inside the car?

[Dan16v]

you have to watch the clearence behind the wheel aswell plus the i personaly found that i couldnt see the dials that good either so had them sitting at a slight angle. the heater also gets in the way to.

The wheel clearance is 'ok' at the minute, but hopefuly with the 3 inch dished wheel im getting it should be good, it seems to fit around the heater ok, I was more concerned about cuting anymore out of the glovebox part to get it further back as I think I would struggle to get it to look tidy afterwards, so was thinking of leaving it kind of the position its in.

Dials seem ok, but then im sat quite low in the seat.

I need to work out how to fit it to the car now.

[Dan16v]

why not move the gear linkage inside the car?

how difficult is that to do? seems like a good idea as I could bring it up closer to where I need it!

[h4wx1e]

you have to watch the clearence behind the wheel aswell plus the i personaly found that i couldnt see the dials that good either so had them sitting at a slight angle. the heater also gets in the way to.

The wheel clearance is 'ok' at the minute, but hopefuly with the 3 inch dished wheel im getting it should be good, it seems to fit around the heater ok, I was more concerned about cuting anymore out of the glovebox part to get it further back as I think I would struggle to get it to look tidy afterwards, so was thinking of leaving it kind of the position its in.

Dials seem ok, but then im sat quite low in the seat.

I need to work out how to fit it to the car now.

mines fitted to the bottom dash rail in the centre where the stereo goes and at either end on the top dash rail. i fibreglassed two bolts to the underside of the dash and drilled the holes to slot them in. i forgot about your dished wheel.

[Dan16v]

why not move the gear linkage inside the car?

KAD do an internal linkage, but its £200

Any other ideas on how to bend the stick, just apply some heat and bend in a vice?

seems like another KA conversion which had to bend the stick

[attachment=97724:P1011290.jpg]

[Dan16v]

you have to watch the clearence behind the wheel aswell plus the i personaly found that i couldnt see the dials that good either so had them sitting at a slight angle. the heater also gets in the way to.

The wheel clearance is 'ok' at the minute, but hopefuly with the 3 inch dished wheel im getting it should be good, it seems to fit around the heater ok, I was more concerned about cuting anymore out of the glovebox part to get it further back as I think I would struggle to get it to look tidy afterwards, so was thinking of leaving it kind of the position its in.

Dials seem ok, but then im sat quite low in the seat.

I need to work out how to fit it to the car now.

mines fitted to the bottom dash rail in the centre where the stereo goes and at either end on the top dash rail. i fibreglassed two bolts to the underside of the dash and drilled the holes to slot them in. i forgot about your dished wheel.

cheers h4wx1e, what kind of prep did you do to the plastic to get the fibreglass to stick?

Did you manage to incorporate the orginal de-misting vents?

[h4wx1e]

it was just a case of sanding it so it had something to grip to. i did keep the original demisters but basically made a mistake and i had to cut a gap along the top edge so the air can rise freely, will be sorting it out properly for himley because i would like to enter the interior show thing. thinking of it becuase you havent cut the back out as much as me you can probably incorprate some proper vents in their. lol

[mighty mini jack]

Really do like the look of these Dashes painted up.

Personally if i were to fit one i'd move the whole linkage back - extending everything underneath.

Bit extreme maybe.

[h4wx1e]

if you do that you wouldnt have to cut as much out the dash and you could keep more of the shapes the ka dash offers.

[mighty mini jack]

Dont suppose it would be that hard difficult really.

Choppy choppy, weldy weldy..

Thats if its possible anyway!

[h4wx1e]

dont see it been impossible lol

[mini danny]

nothing is impossible