Section : Dashboard and Instruments

And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!

Posted By : Stuart Smith, 02-Dec-2005, 07:11pm

When i first joined the club and got delilah (1979 1500) i spoke about doing some stuff to personalise the car, and make it exactly what i wanted from a little two seater sports car.

Basically, before any makor restoration work is carried out, i am doing the changes i wanted to do beforehand.

In a nut shell, i have begun re-designing the dashboard, which involves makign new pieces and installing new polished aluminium LED push switches.

The first section of the dash (centre) has been fabricated to the first stage (ready for sanding, priming, finishing) and all the gear has been test fitted, but not fully installed as yet.

The two main dials in the centre section are in the same place, and there will probably be a third gauge installed between them (a clock maybe?), with the four new switches between the clocks and the heater slide controls.

Might put some piccies up as and when i complete various stages, but i have a memory like a goldfish!!

Any comments, pop em here and i'll read em fairly regularly!

Stu

Followups :

And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!

Posted By : Stuart Smith, 07-Dec-2005, 10:09pm

Well here we go! The first installment of the work has been completed, and here is teh evidence!

This pic shows the newly designed centre section, sadly the fourth silver switch (the hazard lights) is not staying in, and i have to put the old one back in, as i have no idea how to wire it in properly, so thats a job for a car sparky!

Also i think the flasher unit has gone pete tong on me, since my attempts to wire in the new switch, the hazards only come on and stay on until they are turned off again, with no 'flashing', yet the indicators do flash..... me seriously confused! any advice going????

Anyway, enough of the gabble, here are the pics, whaddayathink??

Stu

And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
- And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
  
  Posted By : Stuart Smith, 07-Dec-2005, 10:10pm
  
  And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
  - And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
    
    Posted By : Stuart Smith, 07-Dec-2005, 10:11pm
    
    And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
    - And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
      
      Posted By : Vin Poonwassie, 07-Dec-2005, 10:42pm
      
      Mmmmm interesting, what material are you using for the fascia? looks like you're a bit like me, like to use different materials readily (but not obviously) available.
      
      Oh, looked at your number plate - now I know why it's called Delilah!
      - And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Mark Stradling, 07-Dec-2005, 11:09pm
        
        Go on, stickon Kevlar effect. You know you want to... ^_^
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Stuart Smith, 08-Dec-2005, 09:48am
        
        Actually it's 6mm MDF that i formed into the identical shape of the existing dashboard. (The joys of being a carpenter!!)
        
        Then i primed, painted, rubbed down, painted, rubbed down, and painted again. Just need to rub down, paint and laquer to get them 100% finished, but i'm going to re-install them hopefully today unfinished, and complete the painting when she goes in for re-build next year.
        
        Stu
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Stuart Smith, 11-Dec-2005, 06:08pm
        
        It's back in at last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
        
        Will post some pics when it's daylight again!!
        
        Looks real sweet, i'm well happy with the end result!
        
        Stu
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Colin Lindsay, 11-Dec-2005, 08:12pm
        
        Looks good Stu! With regards to the indicators / hazards, am I right (long time since I had a 1500) that there are separate flasher units for the indicators and the hazards? It could either be a duff flasher or poor connection in the hazard circuit (try them with the engine at high revs? It might make them flash in which case insufficient power is getting through at idle to activate the flasher unit).
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Ian Mulford, 12-Dec-2005, 00:49am
        
        We all moan about previous owners messing around with cars we've bought... but when someone makes a mdf dash with modern switches in it everyone seems to say 'well done'. And does anyone else see a trend of 'boy racers' on this message board wanting to turn a quite normal car for its age into something it was never and will never be? If you want a car to burn people off the lights with and drive like a modern car, buy an Impreza not a 30 year old sports car. I give up.
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Stuart Smith, 12-Dec-2005, 10:53am
        
        just to clarify Ian, i am by no means a 'boy racer' as you put it, i merely wanted to update the car a little bit so that it was what i as the owner wanted. I have retained ALL the parts i have removed from it, and should i ever sell the car on, i will be replacing the parts i changed with the original pieces.
        
        I understand peoples annoyance at a 'boy racer' personalising a car, but just to make sure there are no crossed wires, i have no intention of 'burning people off at lights' i merely wanted to make the car what i wanted it to be.
        
        May i suggest that if there are any further comments of this nature or in response to my post that they are sent to my email address instead of being placed on here.
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Neil Nasralla, 12-Dec-2005, 11:03am
        
        Stuart I wouldn't take too much notice of comments like that. It is your car after all and I don't see a problem with changing the switchgear (etc). I have changed my dashboard to a Walnut dash and have a Moto Lita wooden steering wheel and I like both changes and neither are original. I have fettled the engine and changed things a little and have not attempted to keep everything original although the car looks good to me. Revolution alloys were hardly an original fitment but they are of the right period.
        
        I think someone must have associated what you are doing with attaching blue neons and 'Lexus' style lights. Frankly it is up to you what you do with the car and no one else should bat an eyelid. If you did start to put 'boy-racer' mods to the car then that might get a few comments but it is still up to you.
        
        Enjoy your car.
        
        Neil
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Stuart Smith, 12-Dec-2005, 11:10am
        
        Does this look like it doesn't belong there? Looks pretty close to original to me, the only difference being two new switches, one moved switch, and one moved indicator warning light. everything else is in the same place, just a different colour, and it was easier to make new than modify old, besides, i wanted to keep the original so that it could be put back at a later date.
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Neil Nasralla, 12-Dec-2005, 11:28am
        
        Stuart I think it looks great. The switchs don't look out of place to me at all. Good job well done!
        
        Cheers, neil
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 12-Dec-2005, 11:39am
        
        If it were my modification I think I'd have gone for a nice row of chrome toggle switches with 'idiot' lights rather than the alloy ones you have. But then I like toggle switches... I just love they 'clonk' you get when switching them on... my new racer control box should look something like that after I finish re-wiring it..
        
        But what you have done looks great... I like it
        
        Wot chu guna put n t'ole?... I forget and am too lazy to read back..
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Stuart Smith, 12-Dec-2005, 12:05pm
        
        Originally there was going to be a set of four switches:
        
        Side lights
        Main Lights
        Hazard Lights
        Rear Fog Light
        
        Unfortunatley there have had to be some changes, namely the hazard switch has had to be sidelined for now, and the original system re-installed, but moved, and the hole is for the rear fog light, but i need to install a fog light before the switch becomes useful!!
        
        Stu
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Vin Poonwassie, 12-Dec-2005, 02:03pm
        
        Speaking of drastic mods, there are kits out there to change an mr2 into a Ferrari look alike, quite convincing. The best one I've seen though is the kit that changes a GT6 into a Lotus Elise................(tee hee!)
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Craig Gingell, 12-Dec-2005, 02:10pm
        
        don't you mean the TR7 into a Ferrari looky-likey...
        
        Currently on eBay at -
        
        http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRIUMPH-TR40-TR7-Ferrari-Sty...
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Mark Stradling, 13-Dec-2005, 00:05am
        
        Toggle switches, pha!
        
        THESE are the ones you want...
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Ian Mulford, 13-Dec-2005, 00:15am
        
        Nah, nothing comes close to what I suggested James C replace his rev counter with last year...
        
        http://www.tssc.org.uk/messageboard2005.asp?board=...
        
        Carruthers McFly wasn't it?
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : James Carruthers, 13-Dec-2005, 00:21am
        
        To be fair - it wasn't to replace it - and was temporary.
        
        It was about &163;5 off eBay - and I wanted it for my engine bay so I could read it whilst adjusting carbs etc (obv not mounted there permanently)
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Ian Mulford, 13-Dec-2005, 00:51am
        
        Adjusting carbs... I still maintain you were researching time travel
        
        Now where's me Mr Fusion.....?
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Stuart Smith, 12-Dec-2005, 10:56am
        
        Colin,
        
        I ended up installing a new hazard flasher unit, as we suspected the old one had given up the ghost, and now (touch wood!) all seems to be working fine, although i am somewhat amused by the fact that the indicator speed is dictated by the revs?!?!?!?!?!?!
        
        Stu
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Aaron Tucker, 12-Dec-2005, 01:10pm
        
        I agree with the others it looks great, originality is up to you not anyone else as it is your car after all!!
        
        My herald 1200 has a Vitesse 6 dash and door cappings that were on the car from a previous restore....I like them that&8217;s all that matters.
        
        I tried back lighting the dials on my herald with LED's as I thought they might be brighter than the bulbs and would pop less often........not original I know... but I wired them into old bulb casings so they can be removed easily. Note self blue LED's look good in the packet but on a dark night they aren't much cop! I think I will go back to the white ultra bright ones.
        
        Good luck with Delilah
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : William Davies, 12-Dec-2005, 08:31pm
        
        The Vitesse dash and door cappings were available as a special order on Herald 1200s, so it's a slightly different issue. I can't say the black dashboard is to my taste, but to each their own. I'm not particularly keen on the look of the original MkIV black dashboard.
        Cheers,
        Bill.
        
        And so the re-designing of Delilah Begins!!!!
        
        Posted By : Aaron Tucker, 13-Dec-2005, 09:42am
        
        ooo thanks Bill more history about the car .... this is great
        
        aaron