1987 3.2 Carrera Backdate project - Sladeys hotrod

[sladey]

OK so, bit of an update....

Firstly, my progress has been interrupted by the drivers window not working. By swapping switches around and testing voltages (yes, really) I deduced it was the motor itself. Ordered a new one and have then spent quite some time swapping it out.

In case you haven’t done it, this is a bit of a old git of a job. You have to undo all the mechanism to get the motor off and then getting it back on again and the mechanism back on again is a old git of a job. Anyway, finally finished it all this morning.

During the week some rennline CNC’s anodised knobs arrived


These are nicely made things - a bit bigger than standard but I think they will look good. They didn’t send through all the fitting stiuds I needed so I’m in correspondence with them about that


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[sladey]

After fitting the door motor I got onto the dash. First issue was in relation to the hazard warning button. On the 87 car this was originally fitted into the centre console. I removed that some time ago and since I did the hazard warning button has been cable tied under the dash somewhere - not ideal.

I looked at it a bit more today. There are 2 issues. Firstly the cable isn’t long enough to mount it into the dashboard, and secondly I can’t see an obvious way of mounting it.

Cable length


Not nearly long enough. I decided to add 70cm onto each of the 8 cables.


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[sladey]

Took a while




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[sladey]

But got there in the end




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[sladey]

The next issue was actually mounting the thing. Looking at it carefully I couldn’t see an obvious way of mounting it into the dashboard.



Those two prints sticking out seemed like they should do something but I couldn’t work out what - I assumed there was some sort of steel clip that goes round the back of it.


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[sladey]

A bit of research on the web soon illustrated the problem



Someone (possible me!) had cut off the two sprung tabs that hold it into the dashboard.

Looked around on eBay and found a decent one for £50 so that’s on it’s way to me now

Aiming to do some more on it all tomorrow


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[DustyM]

During the week some rennline CNC’s anodised knobs arrived

Mark, I'm surprised you didn't make these yourself, bit slack really




.

[sladey]

I”d have been happy turning them, threading them, and would have had a good go at anodising, but I draw the line at CNC engraving

[DustyM]

but I draw the line at CNC engraving

Well perhaps that's the next piece of equipment for the garage.... Start dropping hints ready for Christmas

[sladey]

Hmmmm, maybe.

When this job is done I might revisit the knobs - I like a bit of knurling.....

Anyhoo, it’s Sunday so I’m back in the Shed. Starting with the drivers side panel.

Now on the early cars they either had no face vents or they are pretty small. Therefore there is no issue in relation to the aluminium strip running along the dash.

On the later cars there is a moderately useful face vent. Now when you compare this to the ally strip, it’s too wide



However it’s not a lot too wide. Also when you look at the Singer dashboards they have somehow got their ally strip to neatly go along the top and bottom of the face vent.


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[sladey]

I thought that either Singer had had special aluminium strips made (a possibility but which would lead to knock-on effects on the knee pad location, OR they may have shaved a bit off the top and bottom of the vent. On some photos it looked like they had shaved a bit off, on others you really couldn't tell.
Having measured it I only needed to lose about 1.6mm off top and bottom.

Reasoning that if I mess it up I can order a new one I set to work



I took it really steady, constantly measuring as I went on. It was hard to get it completely flat (I don’t have a flat-faced sander available).


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[sladey]

After quite a bit of work I ended up with this



Not perfect but I could live with it.


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[sladey]

Next I set to work on the other holes needed. - for the ignition switch, the headlamp switch, and the newly relocated hazard warning switch.

After a considerable amount of fannying around I ended up with this


Current issues:- The ignition switch surround overlaps the top ally strip. I don’t like that so I’m currently considering my options. If I turn it down to size firstly there isn’t enough material on the back so it would break up, and secondly because of the unusual shape of the ignition key gubbins it probably wouldn’t cover the whole


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[sladey]

Here’s a pic without the cover on.


Alternatives are:-
Cutting the top off the disc, or turning a new one that is slightly smaller but solid, and hoping that covers the ignition gubbins.

I also found from the glovebox I bought that that material isn’t just glued onto the ally strip - there is a steel strip that slides inside the ally strip and the material is glued onto that. The steel strip is only 0.55mm thick and I don’t have anything that thickness so I’ll try and pick some up this week.




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[sladey]

I need to source some double sided tape to hold it on - this is what it originally looked like - has anyone got any recommendations?




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