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MG MGB Technical - dashboard conversion

Is it possible to install aearly metal dash onto a 1971 MGB? If possible does it require much custom work or is somewhat a bolt on arrangment. Any input would be appreciated.
gary giampino

LOTS of work! But it is doable.
Ken Lessig

Gary:

I've heard tell its hell to do. Lots of cutting and welding necessary, although some people have done it. I know where you're coming from as I have a '69 with the 'nasty' dash as well and no glovebox.

I'll give you a better choice. Mike Satur (advertises on this site) has a great looking conversion for US dashes. He has a bolt on wooden dash kit that looks absolutely smashing. Costs a bit though, so I'm saving my pennies till I can afford.

Steve S. gave me the inside scoop as I think he's got one. Maybe he can tell you how hard it is to install. Check the Satur website to see what it looks like.

Good Luck,

Luis
Luis

There are quite a few archive posts on this subject. Many who have done it claim that you have to use the early steering column as well. Strictly speaking this is true if you want the authentic early look. But the 73 and later UK spec V8 cars used a variation on the NA collapsable column. In Clausinger ther are pictures of these. They used the same diameter speedo and tach as the MKII NA cars and a new plastic cowl surround. An early metal dash should be able to be modified to use this, thus avoiding the need to replace the steering column. A center console from a later RHD car would also be in order.
You will need to make a fillet panel to fill in the gap between that would exist between the metal dash and a NA MKII dash. Some weld this in place, but a bolt in place piece seems to be feasible to me.
Personally I LIKE the Abingdon Pillow. I replaced one several years ago using the Moss kit ,and I really liked the results.
In Knowles MGB book the designer Oneil is quoted as saying that the Pillow was designed for 4 inches of deflection on the impact of a passengers face. This impact standard was dropprd by the Feds later, hence the dash with a glove box in the 72 model year. Imagine your wife or kids face hitting that....
Short of installing air bags it does give some safety to your passengers. For your personal safety I would keep the collapsible column and the head rests too.
These safety features make the 69 MGB, with the classic chrome grille and the Gothic tail lights, my personal all around driver favorite.
Andrew Blackley

there was a guy on here a few weeks ago who removed the foam from his "abbingdon pillow" (for the record I also like it), it came out looking amazingly similar to the steel dash from the early cars.
Dave

The picture that Andrew talks about is the MGB V8 dash. The metal dash was the similar to the early Mk1 cars, except the switch's and fresh air vents. The cowl around the steering column is diffrent. The cutout for the steering column is wider to fit the NA type column. Getting a MGB V8 dash is not the answer as it is RHD.

Jim
jmlema

I'm in agreement with Dave's comments about removing the foam from the dash with no glove box. My son Anthony was undecided what to do with his tattered dash. We were going to modify one of my spare XJ dashes but then he saw a foam-stripped dash and decided to do the same to his and I must say, it looks like it's going to be very nice looking once it's colour keyed to the body paint. The instruments seem to be more enhanced in appearance against the plain metal surface.
john morgan

The V8 dash was made common to all RHD cars when rubber bumpers came in. At that time all LHD export markets got the NA dash, before that most LHD markets had the tin dash with the big instruments. Energy absorbing columns were fitted to non NA cars for the 1972 model year but were a different type to the NA.
Paul Hunt

It appears that some owners of 69-71 MGB's have striped their dash and left it bare metal. I found this link to a page that shows a car with a bare metal dash on a 1969. http://home.pi.be/~pasron/

Jim
jmlema

I've done it...
...&, its lots & lots of work...
...&, using the US early steel dash you have to change the steering column from the u-joint outside the firewall which means you have to cut & weld the firewall & the dash suport bar (no, you can't modify the early US dash...its totally different from the UK one of the '70's)...
...& your dimmer switch has to go on the floor...
...&, the only radio console that will fit is a UK radio console from the '70's...
...&, you have to cut & reshape the cowl above the dash using one from an early car....
...&, your instrument hookups behind the dash won't work until you change all the wiring (& positive to negative ground)...
...& you have to redo the headlight switch wiring, the horn wiring/pickup...
...& your later windshield washer won't work...
...&, you'll have to have the early heater control cables...
...&, you'll have to redo the oil presssure sending unit (&, possibly the tach pickup)....
...other than that, its pretty easy.....
Tony Barnhil

I never cared for the dash in my '71 so I reworked it. After stripping off the vinyl I cut off the lower part of the pillow, leaving the brow. (actually I removed it altogether and put it back later) I cut the glove box opening out of a '68 dash and welded it in, cut an opening in the center for an equalizer, 4 guage holes, and one for a brake balance control knob. On the driver's side I welded up the oil guage hole, then cut out the speedo and tach holes for the larger '68 guages. I installed the '68 dual water/oil guage as well, used three stacked illuminated rocker switches for light control and also for the heater blower, and outboard of the glovebox added a pull switch and map light. I then went to Tandy and got some black leather and covered the whole works with it. I think it came out pretty good.
http://www.foresight.cc/blackwoodlabs/Projects/MG/MG_Main.htm
Jim Blackwood

This thread was discussed between 12/02/2002 and 14/02/2002

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.