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MG TD TF 1500 - Instrument Installation Help

I'm installing a new dash and center panel. While putting the switches in the new Center panel, the little notches around the openings for the ignition/lamp switch, the ammeter, and the oil/water guages are offest a few degress from 12/6 o'clock. When I place the ignition switch and ammeter gauges in, they are not straight up completely. Haven't done the horn yet, but its the only one with notches at 12/6 exactly. I find that odd.

Are you supposed to be able to rotate the switch or gauges once they are in to align 12/6? I cannot make mine budge, and I don't want to break something.

Help needed badly!

Larry
Larry Karpman

In a TD, all switches and instruments fit in a standard painted panel and there is no problem.

Denis, 1950 TD
Denis L Baggi

larry, in answer to your question...it appears to me that the "notches" cut in the panel accept the "tabs" on the chrome garnish trim ring on the instruments. after hanging the gauge, but before snugging up the knurled nut on he retaining bracket, i rotated the instrument from behind the panel to give me the angle i desired on the face. i then snugged up the nut on the retaining bracket. i hope this is helpful. regards, tom
tom peterson

Larry,

I think our friend Denis is correct. The notches in the panel match the tabs on the instruments. I don't recall being able to rotate them as Tom suggests.

Do you have a picture Larry?

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

dave, the tabs are the retaining tabs on the chrome trim rings. they engage slots on the gauge and you rotate the trim ring after engagement. these tabs stand proud from the back after installation so you neeed the notches in the panel to allow the trim ring to fit flush with the panel...whew! too many words. regards, tom
tom peterson

Thanks Tom,

I just looked at the back of my panel.

I guess when I reassembled my instrument panel, I made sure those tabs lined up without really thinking about it.

dave
Dave Braun

My computer blew up today. On the wife's. Dash is in. All is well. Just need to reconnect the speedo and tach and put on the steering wheel. Wphew!!!

Cheers

Larry
Larry Karpman

Well folks, it's all done. One beautiful burl walnut dash from Craig Seabrook is in. Took the weekend, but I was learning as I go, and of course as I have no colors left on my wires, I had to label each one first based on from where it was removed. This included the center panel too.

Everything appears to work, including the clock I installed last year but never wired up! It ticks loud enough for even this half deaf old man to hear, and seems to keep pretty good time.

I guess the biggest lessons learned is how to remove the dash to troubleshoot problems in the future. What sequence to do things makes all the difference time and effort wise.

I'd take a shot or two, but the wife has the camera out of town, and my computer with the digital card reader is now defunct!

Cheers

Larry
Larry Karpman

Don't know when I have seen as beautiful work as Craig's dashes!!!! He had a few at Gatlinburg....!
gblawson (gordon)- TD#27667

This one was surprisingly inexpensive by comparison with others, and it is a work of art. I opted to have Craig do the dash and glove box trim too. That wasn't cheap. No way was I going to mess up a beautiful dash fitting the box trim, etc.!

Now the car screams for a switch to a tan interior. The tan compliments the walnut much more than the red interior IMHO. Oh well, it's just money :-)

Cheers

Larry
Larry Karpman

Photo?
gblawson (gordon)- TD#27667

Not a great shot. The car is in the garage as we've had rain all day and night. The flash doesn't do it justice at all. Oh well :-)

Cheers

Larry



Larry Karpman

What a great looking dash. All your instruments appear to be perfectly aligned as well. Congratulations. Lou
Lou Van Koningsveld

Larry Your dash looks gorgious (sp), I have a Craig Seabrook dash as well. Don't remember what wood I asked him to do it in. But mine is sure good looking also.

I notice that you have the light above the trouble light sockets that goes with the directional signals. Is the bezel red or green? I thought I had mine correct with a green bezel but some have questioned it.

Cheers,

Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

Bob Thanks. It's red. I've read that the directional signal light is red, and the fuel low light is green. Seems odd, but thats the info I have read.

Cheers

Larry
Larry Karpman

Bob, here's the instrument panel from 'the53'. Rough, but quite original. The turn signal lens is red.


Bud Krueger

I switched the red/green lenses around... simple and able to revert back in a minute! (green - danger??????)
gblawson (gordon)- TD#27667

This thread was discussed between 29/03/2008 and 02/04/2008

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