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MG MGF Technical - Dashtop

Hi all,

I had to remove the dashtop cover (not sure what you call it exactly but its the curved plastic cover over the instrument/speedo cluster.) so that I can fix it. Two of the plastic tabs at the back were broken and the 3rd was cracked.
After getting it off (now there are 3 broken tabs, which I have repaired), I cannot see how to access the 3 screws from behind the dash to attach the cover again.

The 3 screws held the tabs on via the metal clips. The screws appear only to be accessed from inside the air vent pipeing which is tool small even for small hands.
I have never seen anything like this in my 35 years of working with cars.

So does anyone know what is the correct way to put it all together again or how to access the 3 screws?




Branko

Branco, still leaning after 35 years ;-))
The MG dash cowl is attached to the dash before the vent ducts are bonded on!! Weird I know as the screws should have been from the outer face in, not the other way around. Even more weird is the fact that the cowl is not available as a separate part. There are two ways you can repair the damage, remove the dash and establish where the 3 screws are and drill access holes to remove and refit the screws and then patch up the holes afterwards, ok if you are taking the dash out for some reason, about 2 hours to do. OR you can remove the 3 screws by using some pliers to loosen and let them drop into the ducting and retrieve wth a magnet, you can then screw through the lugs with self tappers a size larger and use some polysuphide panel adhesive/ hot glue to hold it all in place, the lugs are pretty fragile and may snap off again. Another solution is to use some counter sunk pop rivets or some c/s or dome head screws and make a 'feature' of the fastenings through the out side of the cowl and some small aluminium brackets on the inside and self tap back into fresh holes on the dash. If you don,t want to see the fastenings then cover the cowl in some matching leather/fabric.
If you come up with a better idea please share it.
HTH.
Mike.
mike

Branko

In case you wonder at 'mike' this is our one and only Mike Satur who is an aftermarket supplier who probably knows more about the *F* than just about anyone else - he has a web site:- http://www.mikesatur.co.uk/ well worth a visit if you want to enter the darkside and rid yourself of unwanted cash :-)

Ted
Ted Newman

Mike,
At 15 I worked on a school friends Mayflower (you guys should know that car) and yes, still learning :-)


Looks like I will modify the dashtop so that the "cowl" (thanks for the correct English) can be put on/off with ease.
I already have the screws out using a magnet.

Hold on to your horses, Helpful Hint coming......

*** Use a wire coat hanger, unfold it and permanently attach a small magnet to the end. Then put a curve in the wire and shove it into the duct to retrive the screws as you push them in.........

I now feel better giving instead of taking. Hope that helps someone as I use this all the time when dropng screws into car.

I will most likely insert a plastic type plug that a screw can be screwed into. That way it can be down from inside the cowl. I will post my solution when I'm successful.

Ted,
thanks for the info about Mike. Beleive me I'd love to got ther for personnal shopping, but the airfare is a bit steap :-(


cheers.
Branko

Mike does international mail order :-)
Ted Newman

Will look at his site tomorrow.
time for bed (12:30 am here)


zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Branko

Branko,
thanks for the hint with the magnet.
*secured* already. Nothing _important_ gets lost.
:)
http://www.mgfcar.de/dash/index.htm
Dieter K.

Success!

(Beware, Long Post!)

Here is how.

You will need:
A soldering iron (or some type of strong glue to fix the lugs back on).
A thin round file will suffice instead of melting the holes bigger. (I used my iron)
Three larger self taping screws.
A couple of cold beers to assist in concentration.

(OK you really don't need the beers, but what the Heck!, its more fun that way)

1: Fix the broken cowl plastic lugs using a soldering iron and melting them back in position with more similar scrap plastic for added strength. It takes some patience and a little skill to do this and a cool drink at hand.
I had my speedo cluster out when doing this as it was easier to access the rear cowling screws.

**********************WARNING *******************
Do the melting in a well ventilated area as the fumes may be bad for your health.
*************************************************

2: Remove all 3 screws using the magnet on the bent coat hanger trick as I would hate to leave a screw rattling inside there. (Keep screws for some future project or repair).

3: Make the screw holes bigger in the tabs so that a larger screw can go thru it cleanly. I again used the soldering iron to melt away from the inside of the hole.

4: Pre-insert the larger screws into the dashtop holes so that they thread in. It will be easier to repalce cowl when the thread is alreay made as the screw angle is arkward when putting back cowl.

5: Place cowl on to dashtop and insert screws and then replace the 3 front screws of the cowl which hold it to the dash front frame (loop thingy).


(If I've missed something just ask).

Hope this helps somebody. It did me. :-)





Branko

Nice work! Thanks for the feedback :o)
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 13/02/2005 and 14/02/2005

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