11 replies to this topic

[Its A Real Mini Adventure]

Hey,

Brought a carbon fibre effect dashboard with two binicles from hudersfield minispares, with the intention of fitting it into my mini city (1991 two dials no dash board). The instructions are vaige to say the least and ime having big trouble trying to get the air vents to bits and fit in the new dash.
Has anyone fitted a dash to a mini that originaly had just a large open parcel shelf, ive got a feeling like evreything on this mini its not going to be easy , so anyhelp much apprisiated.

Dave

[Guess-Works.com]

don't you just unscrew the front off the air vent and then put the dash over ??

Is it one of these with the three brackets which hold the dash in on wing nuts, or ( sorry to say ) the cheap tat ones which just have grippers which attempt to hold it in against the upper and lower dash rails..

[Its A Real Mini Adventure]

Yuppers its got the three wing nuts and brackets , cheers for that actuly i didint know it just held itself between the upper and lower dash rail . The air vents are the headache at the minite. The very front screw washer thing comes off no problem, and that lets the air vent cover slide off. The problem is ime not to shure what i do next.. lol..

[minipip]

the vent on the passenger side grab it and twist it clockwise till you hear a click then slide it towards the center of the car (or wiggel it) it will come off, and the one on the drives side same as that one but anti clock wise, warning they are stiff!!!

as GW said the dash should just slip around the vents then the 'front screw washer things' should help hold it in place bu screwing them back on.

Edited by minipip, 10 July 2006 - 09:49 PM.

[Volf]

When I got my £100 3 clock dash, I had to plane down (And then sand some more!) Down one edge of it so it would fit, been pretty good ever shine! Replaced the air vents with speakers!

[1984mini25]

Remove the air by unscrewing the retaining ring and removing the moulding (that’s the easy bit out the way). Turn the air vent anticlockwise and withdraw it, may take some force to remove. Release the portion of the door seal securing the fascia trim panel, withdraw the trim panel from behind the side panel and remove it as you wont be needing it.

[attachment=17956:attachment]

Next set about removing the clocks front the dash, the plastic surround is held on with a few clips and should just pull off (may need some force).
You will now find 2 8mm bolts at the front eater side and 2 more feather back (see pick)
[attachment=17957:attachment]

I know it’s of a 3clock but the bolts are in the same places.
Next remove the Speedo cable (should pull off) and main electrical connection from the back of the clocks and place to one side.
To allow for the clocks to fit back in with the new dash fitted you need to remove what’s left of the cage the clocks were bolted to this is no longer required.

If you have a radio fitted that’s on top of the lower dash rail that to will need disconnecting.

Now you can turn your attention the new dash, start by tuning it upside down and remove the clock hosing. This will enable you to bolt the clocks to the surround (with the clips removed) with some small self-taping screws.
Now fit the air vets to the dash, push in front the back and are secured with the rings.
You will find they no longer fit back so will need to use some ducking cut to length to fill the gap.

Now you should have 3 brackets that came with the dash, right? Well now figure out which of the 3 is the longer one, as this is the middle one.
Carefully offer up the dash in place, loosen off the upper dash rails 3 nuts 7/16”, one in each corner and one in the middle to help it slide in and fit better.

Now fit the brackets so that the ends fit under the dash rails and as you tighten the up, pull the dash into place.
Once happy retighten the upper dash rail nuts.

You can now fit the clock surround with clocks, connect the cables back up and side back in (refitting reverse of removal).

Job done.

[Clubby1275GT]

has anyone mentioned u have to cut half the air vent off??
on my £80 black dash i had to cut the angle off the vents then attatch the extension pipes and bobs ur uncle!
you'll see when u undo the vent pipe from the whole thats its got a bend in it, i cut that off to be replaced with the extension pipe (bit of vacuum clearner hose)

Edited by Clubby1275GT, 11 July 2006 - 12:12 PM.

[Steve@RetroDash]

has anyone mentioned u have to cut half the air vent off??
on my £80 black dash i had to cut the angle off the vents then attatch the extension pipes and bobs ur uncle!
you'll see when u undo the vent pipe from the whole thats its got a bend in it, i cut that off to be replaced with the extension pipe (bit of vacuum clearner hose)

the bend is on a twist fit mate

it has a bayonet type fitting

[Clubby1275GT]

well i had to cut mine!

[Its A Real Mini Adventure]

Cheers to evreyone whos helped, i think ive about got it sussed now .
Just one last question, the plastic surround for the clocks (i.e speedo).. does it deffently pull off? beacuse it feels like mines going to pull the firewall out before it comes off .
Dave

[1984mini25]

Just one last question, the plastic surround for the clocks (i.e speedo).. does it deffently pull off? beacuse it feels like mines going to pull the firewall out before it comes off .

Yes it does just pull off, although the more times their removed/replaced the loser they get.

[the_soon_to_be]

mine snapped when i pulled it

but it appears, the more anything is used the looser it gets