The ongoing saga of SB1415 part 5

[7 plus 2]

So my latest venture while doing the re-wiring was to re-make the dash. The "original", I don't think was original. It was made of galvanized steel (can any S2 owners verify this?) As you can see (pic #1) nothing really lined up: the gauges; the switches or the idiot lights. Because I'm not running a generator I didn't need the plate on the backside between the speedo and the switches for the regulator. That left room for the (added) gas gauge and amp meter to be either side the speedo. I made up a template (pic#2) and trial fit it on the frame. I laid it up on a new piece of ali, cut the holes and fitted everything (pic #3). I then trimmed it to about the size (pic #4) and will bend and trim it to the new cowl. I have a piece of black leather to cover it. The choke is now on the drivers (right) side as I'm running a crossflow head and it is straight out to the carbs. The last picture is from the manual. Notice on the "left hand drive (America model) there is no choke indicated. Guess they forgot it.

[cs3tcr]

The dash that i had on my replica was a genuine Lotus item from a friends 7 S3 (he replaced it because of an extra hole). It appeared to be galvanized on the back side, the face was a textured black surface. I think the material used was called lamiplate, but I could be wrong.

[7 plus 2]

cs3tcr

Thanx for this. Looks like the old one I have IS the original. The ali one should work just as well as long as I don't hit and dent it, when something goes wrong. Everything on the dash is grounded to the chassis to 2 points on either side of the dash. Wonder why when every other body panel is ali they would use galvanized. What did your friend use to replace it on his S3?

[cs3tcr]

Honestly I cant recall what he used to replace it, the car was restored almost two decades ago. I think he found either a NOS one or someone was selling the correct dash for his car.

 

Also, don't quote me on this, but the lamiplate only came in steel, hence the use of a steel dash on an aluminium panelled car.

 

~Rod

[7 plus 2]

Ah... that could explain it. Colin was always looking for a deal, and with the lamiplate on steel that would save the labour of covering it. The colour (red) under the colour on top (black) was the red that S2 sevens had for the side panels and the seats. (check out episode #6 "Many

Happy Returns" of The Prisoner, dash, side panels and seats are all red)

I know from a reliable source that the chassis colour was whatever was on sale. The light blue was (supposedly) got by the barrel full because a customer ordered it and then canceled. I think it was floor paint.

Edited August 30, 2013 by 7 plus 2