When I did my V8, I took an old pillow dash and stripped it of all its
padding. If I had been building a stock B I would have finished that and
used it, as it is a very pretty piece with all the padding stripped off. In
my case I cut it up and fabricated a completely new gauge layout though.
James Nazarian
71 MGB Tourer
71 MGBGT V8
85 Dodge Ram
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dodd, Kelvin" <doddk@mossmotors.com>
To: "Paul M." <rowman22001@yahoo.com>; <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 3:40 PM
Subject: RE: MGB Metal dash question
> Paul:
>
> Converting to a steel dashboard, just as converting from RHD to LHD is not
a typical home mechanic project. I doubt if there is any way of putting
together a conversion package which would be economically feasible.
>
> Small order fabrication jobs are extremely expensive, so unless you can
combine the low margin speciality parts with mass produced items to spread
the costs there isn't a way to make the kit price attractive.
>
> Fr instance, we can afford to make low margin on chrome bumper conversion
kit bits if we sell them as a package with bumpers, turn indicators etc.
>
> A dashboard conversion kit would not have the same demand and the majority
of the conversion parts would have to be sourced used and then restored.
>
> Tooling for a stamped metal dash would probably be over $20,000. That is
a lot of money to invest in a controversial project that can be duplicated
by sourcing used components and some fabrication.
>
> Nice thought, but given a parts car and some welding skills, a conversion
is practical as I hope to demonstrate with my MGC GT.
>
> Interesting point BTW. My LHD 1969 MGC appears to have all the body
stampings and firewall mounting points to install a RHD early
non-collapsable steering column assembly. I'm interested to see what the
sheetmetal and reinforcements look like behind the dash. Obviously it has
the recessed later pillow dash cowl, but the other supports may be an
amalgam of UK and US spec.
>
>
> Kelvin.
>
>
>
> > And Kevin, with all the constant resurfacing relating
> > to this string, have you guys ever thought of having a
> > metal dash conversion kit made? Something that would
> > either allow the early metal dash to be bolted on to a
> > later car, or perhaps a complete new "late" metal
> > dash? I can't imagine it would be THAT expensive to
> > have them made. And if a complete metal dash
> > conversion could be had for under $1000 or so, I'd
> > think you'd get a decent amount of takers.
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