Dashboard

17th Jan 2010 - Change of plan with the dashboard lay out. When I trial fitted the dashboard support bar which attaches to the steering column support bar and supports the bottom of the dash, it became apparent that my layout for the 50mm dials wouldn't work. The second row of 50mm dials would be exactly in the place where the dashboard support bar came across. So, I have reverted back to the GD standard layout (which to be honest I have no problem with).

I also had to cut out the opening for the glove box and attaché the box to the dash. I used dome headed M5 bolts (and one rivet). I am sure the dome heads will be fine when the padding and leather gets on top, but I ground them down a bit anyway just to be safe.

I cut the holes for the gauges using my trusty Dremel and radius cutter attachment. I took the bulk out but left the holes to small so I could fine tune the opening with a flap wheel, just to make sure they where not over enlarged.

I then glued on the foam that fits under the leather. I used a spray adhesive bought from Halfords. Tested it first, it did the job, nuff said!!

As per the GD video, I cut the foam with a 20mm overlap which I could glue over the edge of the dash.

All I have to do now is fit the leather!!! I'm a little bit worried about this, considering the cost of the leather, but lots of people have done it, so how hard can it be?!! Watch this space.........

29 Mar 2010 - I had to take the leather off yesterday, I just wasn't happy.........so........I put it on again tonight and am much happier. Its straighter and was easier to pull the creases out. I know being leather it won't be 100% smooth, but I had to get it as near as possible. I have just glued the main bulk in place, and haven't done the ends yet. I will wait until tomorrow to do those, when everything else is dry and won't move. I then have the traumatic job of cutting holes for gauges, lights and the glove box!!

One thing I forgot to mention are the retaining bolts. before fitting the foam and leather, I drilled 3.2mm holes (6 along the top and three for the glove box) and then screwed M4 20mm button head bolts in. The dashboard retaining bolts go through pre drilled holes under the roll of scuttle. Before tightening the bolts up in the dash, I added some Araldite to the top of the thread just underneath the head. These bolts will hold the dashboard in place using penny washers and spring washers finished with M4 wing nuts. The bolts for the glove box also had to be put in place before the leather and foam, so I could bolt that to the back of the dash. Not sure yet how I am going to cover that!! The plan at the moment is not to cover it with leather but put some similar coloured suede in place which will stop things sliding about. Still not sure, and things may develop as they go along!! As always..................watch this space!!!

18th April 2010 - I commenced fitting the aluminium dash under trays today. These will probably need to come out again when I fit the carpet, but I wanted to get the heater ducting sorted and get all the wiring in place ready for the dash fitting. The centre plate bolts to the provided brackets welded to the windscreen brace bar and the dash support bar. The left and right hand trays are held in place at the back by some self tappers into the windscreen brace bar and will be held in place at the front by being wedged between the dash and the dash support bar. This is how GD do it so I will see how it works when I get to that stage. If I'm not happy with that solution I will put some self tappers in.

4th April 2010 - Got to thinking about the glove box and a conversation I had with Andy Burrows. He told me there was no point in upholstering the glove box which is why they gel coated it. So.......Looked at it again. My final plan was to glue a piece of leather in the bottom (or back) of the glove box from the off cuts I had from the seats etc. Then bolted the thing in place, and to be honest, and in my (and my wife's) opinion, it looks fine, so that how it will stay!! ....................Moving on to something else now!!

2nd April 2010 - Started cutting out the holes for the gauges this afternoon. I got them cut out and decided to try fitting the instruments! By the time I had finished I had all six gauges and the speedo and Tacho fitted!! I just need to sort the warning lamps and the Lucas switches.

The leather work isn't as perfect as I would like. Because of the shape of the dash (down to the tunnel rather than the standard straight across) it was a real sod to get all the wrinkles and bumps out. I am relatively happy now, and my wife says I am being to fussy and it looks fine!! Certainly in the daylight it looks fine, just under artificial light I see the bad bits!! I guess its only me that will worry about them..................and it really ain't that bad I guess!!!

31st Mar 2010 - Started to cut out holes in the leather for the glove box and gauges this evening. First was the glove box. Not to difficult once I got going! Bit uneasy cutting the lovely leather though! Doesn't look to bad. There is a bit more tensioning of the leather to come as I cut other holes out and also when I fit the glove box to the back of the dash.

28th Mar 2010 - Spent 2 hours this afternoon stretching, gluing, groaning and generally getting annoyed. eventually I had the leather on the dashboard...........................two hours later, after a glass of wine, I looked at it, wasn't happy, an took it all off again!!! try again tomorrow evening.

20th Mar 2010 - After making my mind up about all the required switches, I cut out the final holes in the dash ready for covering and fitting of gauges and switches. As you can see by the second picture below, getting all the holes in the correct place, both symetrically and what look right from my view was a nightmare. I cut holes, tried warning lights, filled them, re-cut them..........eventually I was happy!!

6th Feb 2010 - I opened the holes out in the dash today and did a temporary fit of the gauges, just to see what they looked like!! I'm quite please with the look of the ETB gauges. The missing one is the fuel gauge. I have just got it back, with the correct sender this time (!), but haven't unpacked it yet.

I want to get the dash wired but I can't do much until I get the dash leather and permanently fit the gauges in. Going to be a six week wait for that according to Andy at GD! (I have ordered the seats and all other leather bits and pieces as well).

21st Nov 2009 - Not a lot of time this weekend but now I have sorted the difficult Roll hoops out, I am starting to think about the dash wiring and dash lay out. I prefer the full type dash that comes down to the tunnel, rather that the more traditional straight across design. I never set out to make a "Replica", more a Cobra "Look Alike" with some personal touches. Because there is more room with this type of dash I have moved away from the traditional GD gauge layout and am contemplating something like this......(see below). The 5 gauges will be Water Temp, Oil Temp, Oil Pressure, Fuel Gauge, Voltmeter. The sixth gauge at the bottom (havn't made my mind up to include or not) will be a clock.