11 replies to this topic

[orangeteg]

i want to paint my lower dash rail the same colour as my car, it used to have that leather rail on it which i removed. My problem is the center switch panel. With the leather rail on it used to be 1-2cm away from the rail kept with brackets so it could fit, now that i removed the leather rail i want to put the panel directly on the dash rail without those brackets. How can i do this? Anyone done it before?

[MiniBonkerz]

not sure i understand you the switch panel is meant to be sunk into the lower dash rail

[orangeteg]

not sure i understand you the switch panel is meant to be sunk into the lower dash rail

Its suposed to be sunk into the dash rail if i keep the leather dash rail on...I have removed it and i want to put it like the Mk1's. Thats how i want it but i am not sure how can i fix the panel to stay there clicky

[MiniBonkerz]

oh right i see well you will need to keep the dash rail in you could remove the leather and clean it up repaint and refit to gain that look

[orangeteg]

this is how i want it. but this guy kept the brackets so i guess the panel looks way too out of the dash...

[roofless]

this is how i want it. but this guy kept the brackets so i guess the panel looks way too out of the dash...

remove the existing spacer brackets and make some new ones up shorter ??

[RobG295]

Thats what i've just done...made up some small plates with a a hole either end that bolted to the choke/heater cables and the original holes for the mounting brackets. I think the holes were about 1" apart...but i'd check it first as i'm not 100% on it!!

[davejf]

Thats what i've just done...made up some small plates with a a hole either end that bolted to the choke/heater cables and the original holes for the mounting brackets. I think the holes were about 1" apart...but i'd check it first as i'm not 100% on it!!

Thats what I did on my old car. The switch panel then sits over the hole. It's the easiest way.
If you want it to be more like a MK1 where the panel comes through from the back, then you can make up a new plate that bolts to the two original mounting holes, then modify the chrome surround to fit the smaller hole and it will stick through from behind.

Dave

[Dan]

Have you not noticed that the hole in the dash rail on cars built with the vinyl crash pad is much, much larger than the switch panel? Mk1 Minis had a smaller hole there. The panel you have now won't cover it. Apparently the panel from a pickup or van will fit, you might have to drill new holes and the switch arrangement will be wrong though.

[davejf]

The standard switch panel should "just" cover the hole, or at least mine did.
Also attached how mine is now, poking through from the back.

Dave

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•  169.jpg   57.4K   259 downloads

[WillMini]

I had that problem so I just went to a sheet metal store and bought and offcut of aluminum and cut it to fit. You can cut squares to fit the original switches, i did toggle switches because the real ones were broken and I liked the look.

[evansisgreat]

Just as an alternative, I thought I'd post this picture. I think it looks really good. Hope whoevers it is, they don't mind me posting.

Attached Files

•  IMG_1644.jpg   77.66K   108 downloads