13 replies to this topic

[Swizzy]

Hi folks,

 

I’m Fabian, turning 32.

 

A lot of cars have inspired me and let me enjoy a lot of emotions, but there was only one love (besides my wife and kids) and that’s the rover mini. Last fall I finally made my decision to buy one of these. Unfortunately here in Switzerland, those car’s are very expensive and mostly even then in a bad condition, or let me say it in other words: it’s not worth the money. Mostly it says, that they are completely restored, but if you take a closer look, you will find your biggest enemy, rust.

 

So I expanded my search to Germany and found what I was looking for. A 1993 SPi with a Lamm Bodykit (wheel case and side panel). Because it was so far away, I decided to buy it without having a look at it, no test-drive, nothing. I only got a video clip from the seller. His reputation was so-so, there were people liking him, and people who said, they’d never deal with him again.

 

It went all in and bought it for 4000 Euros including shipping to my home. It finally arrived in december. Unfortunately the seller didn’t send me the door leaf as we agreed on. But hey, I’d rather get my car and no door leaf, than getting the door leaf only.

 

My father in law started the restoration in spring 2022. At ACC I bought a new dashboard (carbon) and some other carbon interior parts.

 

I will send some pictures in order to show you what we’ve done, mostly my father in law, cause he’s a car painter and mechanic specialized in restoration of bullys and beetles.

 

But now I need your help, because we’re struggling fitting the new ACC Carbon dashboard in my mini.:

 

https://www.anglocla...ut-3-clock-dash

 

Therefore I need to say, that my lovely little guy was equipped with a 3 part dash and centre clock. Unfortunately ACC can’t produce them, so they sent me an 1 piece carbon dash, which should fit as well, at least they’ve told me that.

 

Last weekend we wanted to fit but we didn’t need more than 3 minutes to see, that there are some issues:

 

- the old 3 piece dash was kinda concave and the middle part is shifted to the back. The new one piece dash is straight.

- the center clock is far behind the new dash, I didn’t measure it, but I guess its around 10 to 15 cm.

- the new lower dash pad rail doesn’t really match with my dash, in the middle part there’s a vertical gap between the dash boarder an the new rail —> didn’t try out the old one, will do it next week

- because there’s no upper dash pad rail, there’s a big gap between the 1 piece dash and the upper rail —> could probably be solved with a dash pad rail (e.g. https://www.ebay.co....:Bk9SR6SR35vsYA or sth. similar)

 

So my questions here are:

 

1. Will I be able to fit this dashboard into my mini or is it the wrong one?

2. Will I be able to move the center clock more to the front, in order to fit into the cutted holes of my 1 piece dash? I am afraid, that the cables wont be long enough

3. How can I make sure, that there won’t be a gap between the lower dash rail and the dash?

4. Will the big gap between my upper dash rail and the dash be eliminated by ordering an upper dash pad rail?

 

Here are some pictures including the original dash: https://postimg.cc/gallery/4yhQxVG & https://postimg.cc/gallery/9rTdYq1

 

 

Thank you very much in advance for your help.

 

Fabian

Edited by Swizzy, 24 September 2022 - 08:51 AM.

[cal844]

The after market dash is the wrong one, your mini will have the speedo guage cluster in front of the driver from factory (there are wiring kits available to convert a late car to a centre speedo) but it's expensive for the centre speedo etc

[Swizzy]

The after market dash is the wrong one, your mini will have the speedo guage cluster in front of the driver from factory (there are wiring kits available to convert a late car to a centre speedo) but it's expensive for the centre speedo etc

 

Hi Cal,

 

so it would me possible to fit it, if I buy a wiring kit? Did't find it on minispares.

 

I would like to make it fit, even if i have to buy a new centre clock, because restoring the original dash with carbon will be a lot more expensive than fitting the new one.

 

It's just about knowing if there's a possibility to make it fit properly. So I will need a wiring kit, a upper dash pad rail AND probaby a new centre clock? Or will I be able to pull the centre clock more to the front? If yes, I probably need some brackets or sth similar, because it's fixed to the shell.

 

Thank you

 

Fabian

[gazza82]

Surely this is the one you want?

https://www.anglocla...ut-3-clock-dash

[Swizzy]

Surely this is the one you want?

https://www.anglocla...ut-3-clock-dash

 

Hi, originally I have a 3 piece dash with centre clock:

 

 

I wanted to have this in carbon, but ACC could only manage to produce a one piece dash with centre clock.

Edited by Swizzy, 24 September 2022 - 08:49 AM.

[gazza82]

Surely this is the one you want?

https://www.anglocla...ut-3-clock-dash

 
Hi, originally I have a 3 piece dash with centre clock:
 
 
I wanted to have this in carbon, but ACC could only manage to produce a one piece dash with centre clock.

My bad .. read that as a 3 clock dash .. ie later model

[cal844]

Surely this is the one you want?

https://www.anglocla...ut-3-clock-dash

Hi, originally I have a 3 piece dash with centre clock:


I wanted to have this in carbon, but ACC could only manage to produce a one piece dash with centre clock.

My bad .. read that as a 3 clock dash .. ie later model

Me too! The dash originally linked in the OP would fit but would need a top and bottom dash rail fitted first

[Swizzy]

And what about the wiring? Will it work or do I need longer wires?

[Lplus]

 

Surely this is the one you want?

https://www.anglocla...ut-3-clock-dash

 

Hi, originally I have a 3 piece dash with centre clock:

 

 

I wanted to have this in carbon, but ACC could only manage to produce a one piece dash with centre clock.

 

Your picture link doesn't work, but from what I gather you had the equivalent of a Riley Elf dash fitted with the top and bottom crash rails removed.

[Swizzy]

Your picture link doesn't work, but from what I gather you had the equivalent of a Riley Elf dash fitted with the top and bottom crash rails remove

 

Sorry, here are all of the pictures including the ones with the initial installed dash (pic. #6):

 

https://postimg.cc/gallery/4yhQxVG & https://postimg.cc/gallery/9rTdYq1

 

But yes, it's an equivalent of the dash you mentioned

Edited by Swizzy, 24 September 2022 - 09:18 AM.

[Lplus]

 

Your picture link doesn't work, but from what I gather you had the equivalent of a Riley Elf dash fitted with the top and bottom crash rails remove

 

Sorry, here are all of the pictures including the ones with the initial installed dash (pic. #6):

 

https://postimg.cc/gallery/4yhQxVG & https://postimg.cc/gallery/9rTdYq1

 

But yes, it's an equivalent of the dash you mentioned

 

No wonder you're having problems getting a replacement.  I suspect every replacement is designed for the later crash pad top and bottom rails, so it's either fit the crash pad rails and probably extend the wiring, or refurbish/carbon fibre veneer the one you have.  That said, searching for replacement dashes for the Mk1/mk2 mini might yield results.

Edited by Lplus, 24 September 2022 - 10:19 AM.

[Swizzy]

No wonder you're having problems getting a replacement.  I suspect every replacement is designed for the later crash pad top and bottom rails, so it's either fit the crash pad rails and probably extend the wiring, or refurbish/carbon fibre veneer the one you have.  That said, searching for replacement dashes for the Mk1/mk2 mini might yield results.

 

 

I will have to go for the first way, because we tried to find someone who can do it. It's possible, but it will cost a real fortune to make it work.

 

I already have a lower crash pad, as you can see in the picture. That should work, right?

 

So I will only need a upper crash pad, right?

[Lplus]

 

No wonder you're having problems getting a replacement.  I suspect every replacement is designed for the later crash pad top and bottom rails, so it's either fit the crash pad rails and probably extend the wiring, or refurbish/carbon fibre veneer the one you have.  That said, searching for replacement dashes for the Mk1/mk2 mini might yield results.

 

 

I will have to go for the first way, because we tried to find someone who can do it. It's possible, but it will cost a real fortune to make it work.

 

I already have a lower crash pad, as you can see in the picture. That should work, right?

 

So I will only need a upper crash pad, right?

 

It looks like it. The lower pad is pretty thin but appears to have the small step in it that the dash sits in, just like the upper crash pad would have

[Swizzy]

Just, FYI: We solved the problem just the easy way: I've sent it back, got a refund and ordered at the same company a 3 piece dash. Problem solved.