17 replies to this topic

[Tremelune]

I converted my Mini to electric and am now in the process of making it look like less of a science project...

 

To that end, I'd like to build a custom dash that will retain the classic big speedo and little side gauges, but will likely need some custom touches for hideable screens and what not. I'm not a big fan of most of the plastic or modern dashes with the stepped/inlaid centers, but I do need to hide more stuff than the traditional three-gauge binnacle/pod will allow for (I need the hidden space, but a shallow shelf might work too)!

 

The plan is to just build one out of a piece of flat wood, and I need a sanity! Will that work? I found some templates online that I'll use to cut out some cardboard and check the real-world fit. Then I'll use that template to cut the shape out of a piece 1/4-1/2" thick hardwood that I'll stain and oil...and then I don't know what to do.

 

How do these things mount?? I'm willing to drill and use rivnuts, but I tend to shy away from just ramming sheetmetal screws in at odd angles everywhere...Beveled edges...? If anyone knows of any videos, diagrams, or writeups, let's compile 'em!

 

Some resources I stumbled on:

 

Custom Consoles doesn't seem to exist anymore...

 

Dashboard directory - https://www.theminif...oard-directory/

 

https://www.theminif...w-beta-version/

 

Some favorites that comes close:

 

 

 

 

[IronmanG]

If you end up using a single piece over the whole width you can kerf it. That means cut the back side half way through where you need to bend it which allows a little more bend than normal wood. Mine has about 20 cuts to allow it to bend enough

[Tremelune]

Oh wow, I didn't realize there was a bend at all! Do you happen to know the radius...? That seems like a tricky thing to figure out via cardboard...

 

None of y'all are making these, eh? Is there a place making custom dashes that's worth looking at? I sure do like the the wood idea, but I wouldn't mind something that fit well and didn't squeak, creak, and rattle over time...

[timmy850]

I made a "Speedwell" type dash out of plywood. This was my first attempt to get the size right, one day when I get time I'll make a new one with a nice veneer on the front. Mine pretty much just wedges in there with no fixings as the speedo is retained in the original pod. 

 

[mab01uk]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dulles Dash Kit

£365.00

Dulles Dash Kit.

Replica of the very rare William Dulles dash. Includes backplate, available in left and right hand drive.

https://nippycarsonl...ulles-dash-kit/

Edited by mab01uk, 19 November 2023 - 07:52 PM.

[stuart bowes]

None of y'all are making these, eh?..

 

the custom stuff seems to be fewer and further apart these days most people are just going standard for better value retention (or because that's the currently popular style choice, take your pick)

 

mine's definitely going to be something different otherwise where will the android auto touchscreen go :)  also I have something interesting in mind for storage with the rear bins and under-seat space

 

the only thing I've been banned from doing really is putting bass speakers in (my dad knows me too well...) so 6x9's will have to be the limit this time, shame because I was really temped to cut a 12" hole in the back seat

Edited by stuart bowes, 19 November 2023 - 08:18 PM.

[Tremelune]

The PDF at this link is the best template I've found so far:

 

http://classicmini.w...-dashboard.html

 

I'll prolly have to trace the egg and speedo myself...

 

More: http://classicmini.w...-dashboard.html

Edited by Tremelune, 22 November 2023 - 05:37 AM.

[Tremelune]

Ah sh:t. This looks good. I may need to go in a different direction...

 

 

https://www.baakmoto...ers-austin-mini

 

If I'm starting from an empty dashboard (plus gauges), what do I need to get this setup? How does this stuff attach?

 

My JDM car came with a strange/modern dash that disappeared long ago, so I have none of the mounting bits and no reference as to what should be there to support that center binnacle as well as the curved backing for the "shelf"...Like, if I buy this dash panel trim kit, what else might I need?

 

 

https://www.optimise.../trim/dash-trim

 

I'm not prepared to spend 320€ on some cut leather, but I can probably get pretty close to this with some work...

[timmy850]

This is the binnacle. It normally bolts on with 4 bolts into captive nuts on the firewall

http://www.minispare...do/24A2702.aspx

[alex-95]

This is mine below, I had the same binnacle linked above fitted before which I fitted 4 rivnuts to fix it, from memory 2 holes were the same as the blanking plate that covers the hole in the bulkhead. I designed and made the one below out of fibreglass which it fits in the same fixings as the original binnacle.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dulles Dash Kit

£365.00

Dulles Dash Kit.

Replica of the very rare William Dulles dash. Includes backplate, available in left and right hand drive.

https://nippycarsonl...ulles-dash-kit/

 

[Tremelune]

Progress? I found a binnacle and gauges I had pulled out of the car (the binnacle had a "wooden" facade screwed into it), so I'm gonna give that direction a whirl.

 

I removed the upper and lower dash pads and found that the metal behind mine were never really painted from the factory...and they have some holes drilled in them and what not. Looks like I'll need to weld these holes shut, sand them smooth, and figure out how to paint it all to match without getting it everywhere...

 

It is not clear what to do about the switches...My car has a rather large hole there. I can weld, but it doesn't usually come out pretty...and I can't be grinding metall all over the interior of this car...Bah!

 

[fokko]

You might want to take a look at the Savage Switch style dash switch kit of David Wilson: https://www.wiredbyw...oducts-prices/. Older Mini's used to have this: https://minispares.c...Back to search. But as far as I know, the hole in your lower rail is too big for that.

[Tremelune]

Oo, I like those switches a lot.

 

Someone embiggened my hole, but I think I'll be able to get a thin piece of metal in there and bang it into the correct contour to bolt in and sit flush. Then I'll just drill some holes?

[Tremelune]

Progress...I filled in all the holes with solder and a giant 300W iron. For the larger holes, I had to hold a little disk of steel behind with a magnet and just kind of fill the area in. Worked pretty well in the end, and welding was just making the holes bigger...

 

I now have a dash without holes, but it's still ugly...I need to find some matching paint from somewhere...

 

Current plan for the switches is just to cut something out of aluminum and bolt it over with the two existing holes.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Tremelune, 24 February 2024 - 10:01 PM.

[Tremelune]

Arright, well. The dash has been painted and I've deemed it "good enough". I used a bit of filler where the hole soldering was too shallow and sanded everything smooth.

 

The next phase involves sound deadening...I closed up so many holes that lead directly to the engine bay or tires, and there are still a bunch left!

 

I probably didn't need to remove the windshield, but I wanted to change the cracking seal and janky filet anyway. Didn't find any rust, which is lovely.

 

More info on the paint is here if anyone is interested.

 

 

Edited by Tremelune, 19 March 2024 - 12:57 AM.