Leather dash and fitting in car

[Ron Earp]

Hey,

you fellows (Robert, Hersh, and John) that fitted a leather dash in the car how did you do it? There is not enough room between the front of the door and the frame for the dash to go in there, when covered with leather. Also, it seems problematical for the windshield/spyder. Any tips?

Best,
Ron

[Mark Worthington]

Ron, mine fits easily. Something I did that may have helped was to slightly raise the fron of the spyder off the scuttle frame - this gives a little more room for the dash. My spider is attached to my scuttle frame with 8-32 screws and rivnuts. Since the heads of the Rivnuts are slightly raised, I installed a strip of 1/16" thick cork-neoprene gasket material, and I used a hole punch to relieve the gasket material around each Rivnut head.

I got the gasket material from McMaster Carr. I also used it to make gaskets between my fuel sender covers and the side sills.

[Ron Earp]

Might work, but I was just looking at the door fitment. If the dash is completely against the frame the door just barely closes. I'll check about pushing it up further.

R

[John Schneider]

Ron,
We had no problem with mine. My spider is raised a bit but that was for body fitting. Everything just seemed to line up better that way. I don't recall the doors being a problem and unfortumatly the body is back off the car or I could give you a better idea of how mine went together. One other thing, I'm sure you know, I didn't use RF's door hinges so that may have helped also.
Sorry this doesn't help but atleast you know it is possible.
John

[Ron Earp]

Thanks John, I'll try and but it up further. I did use the RF hinges but I don't think they'll be a problem. They are triple bolted and I am going to tack weld them as per Hershal so they do not slip. If the hinge ever need to be removed a tack weld can be broken relatively easily.

R

[Robert Logan]

Ron,

Use talc powder (raid your children's nappie drawer) to ease the dash into place. The talc is also used to make the rubber door seals easier to slide over. Try it first before you LAUGH !!!!!!!!!

As regards to dashes , we now use a vacuum formed dash and this is a lot cleaner, almost like a production car.

We are compelled by law here in Australia to have a "shock absorbing " material under the leather and this is the ONLY reason we cover them. I have seen many dashes in the UK that were just painted and this gives a great RACE look.

Best wishes,

Robert

[Robert Logan]

Ron,

As a secondary note, please consider the use of DOWELS on the door hinges instead of welding. The dowels can be removed easier and this could become useful.

Best wishes,

Robert