Dasboard Wooden panel

[Skyedriver]

Anyone who knows my car will know that the wooden panels - dash, glove box and centre console have been painted.
I've been contemplating removing them and either "carbon fibreing" them or re-veneering. Either professionally or myself.
I think someone on here has done a re-veneer successfully??
What is puzzling me at the minute it how the main dash trim comes off. I believe there are some screws or bolts behind, anyone any clues or a map to where they are hidden?
Think the centre console is easier - screw either side?
Thanks

[jon haines]

What car have you got? My dash was warped with veneer split and peeling so I made a new dash using the original as a template and got some burr walnut at a good price and re did it. That was over 4 years ago and it still looks good I also did the glove box and centre console. Cost me less than £30 so quids in. My dash was just pushed on with some crap screws pushing into plastic type plugs that went through the metal part that the instruments mount to.

[Wedg1e]

The most common version of the main instrument panel is just a pull-off steel plate. Three studs welded to the back of it are a push-fit into nylon plugs set into the steel plate behind it, that carries the instruments and warning lights. This plate is usually fixed to the GRP dash moulding by either nuts & bolts or just a handful of self-tappers.
If you get your fingertips into the holes around the speedo and tacho you should be able to exert some pull on the 'veneered' plate and determine where the retaining studs are located, then pull accordingly to release it.
The 'veneer' on this version is rarely real walnut; if it is, it's probably been done by a previous owner. The original was some sort of Formica.
Steve (Hotty) found a supplier of something really close and had a few batches of 'veneer' made, you could ask if he has any left...

[Yatesy350i]

How about a bit of fake wood, carbon or Snake skin if thats your thing.

Wicked coatings the guys who did the Wheeler Dealers Range rover.

Had all my panels and door trims ets done for £200. Very pleased with the results.

The main dash wooden panel just pulls off on my 350i S2 as mentioned above.

[TVRIK]

I'm having the exact problem... I can get my fingers slightly behind and it pulls away slightly, but it just doesn't seem to want to come any further, just starts to bend.
Luckily I recently got my hands on a steel back plate, which I've painted up.
But as it stands I'm gonna have to put it over the top, which I really don't wanna do.

I'm scared if I pull any harder I'm gonna break something!?

Rik

[RCK974X]

My wedge (82 2.8) has 4 threaded studs which are screwed into the wood, and you have to undo the nuts to get the wooden panel off the steel backing. Don't know if that's original or not.

It's impossible to see this without taking all the dash off first.

[Wedg1e]

RCK974X said:

My wedge (82 2.8) has 4 threaded studs which are screwed into the wood, and you have to undo the nuts to get the wooden panel off the steel backing. Don't know if that's original or not.

It's impossible to see this without taking all the dash off first.

Yep, that's the early variety, where the dash panel is made from a slab of plywood, covered in real walnut
There are studs, as you say, screwed into the wood, that pass through the steel back panel and have Nyloc nuts IIRC, just to make it even more fun to get them off .
It's extremely difficult to get your hand up to where the nuts are; you really need to drop the steering column or remove the whole dash from the firewall.

I imagine the change to Formica on steel was a cost-cutting exercise as even simple parts are labour-intensive to veneer the proper way.

Incidentally, on my Tasmin, all the veneered panels (dash, glovebox lid, door pulls) had matching numbers stamped into them, presumably so that when they got to the TVR factory they'd be kept together as a set to maintain shade and figuring of the grain.

I had a cabinet maker look at the cracking on my Tasmin's dash and he said it looked like it was lacquered with proper old-fashioned Shellac, about 2-3mm thick... that's what gives the deep shine that's hard to reproduce with modern lacquers. Or so I'm told. Wood-bothering was never my thing

[Skyedriver]

Hi
Its an '86 350i looking very similar layout to Yatesys (Except been painted red)
Is that a "simple" pull-off one or do I need to get two additional joints into my arm
Oh no not drop the steering column, just got that back together...

[jindle]

Does anyone mind making a template for the plate that goes over the top? thinking of making my own as attempts to locate a spare have failed miserably!

[Skyedriver]

Had a tentative tug, I mean pull, oh you know what I mean, tried to ease off the "wood" panel this morning and it seems pretty well secure. Like another poster I'm afraid of snapping it across one of the openings.
It's been off before to paint it, so wonder if it's been stuck down....need to spend a little more timewith it, not in the office car park.

[wooly350i]

jindle said:

Does anyone mind making a template for the plate that goes over the top? thinking of making my own as attempts to locate a spare havefailed miserably!

Could do it, just finding the time, depends how quick you need it. And if you fancy a drive out to Reading to pick it up. Wooly

[jindle]

Not needed any time soon. I'm in Isleworth so a trip to reading not an issue

[wooly350i]

Ok,I'll copy the one I've got but not fitted yet, round clock or square clock between the dash vents.?

[jindle]

It's square. Cheers mate

[HOTTY]

jindle said:

It's square. Cheers mate

Unfortunately you find john's template wrong for your square clock main dash.

It's not only the clock that changes it's also the positions of the dials, they do seem the same but they are not by some way.

I have some old veneers were the factory cocked up and made for the square dial arangement but put a round clock in..........if any use you can have (sorry dont have the glove box or centre though) will post a picture to help.

Oh Crap........................carob just remembered ! (back in the office Friday so will check if you read this) sorry

hotty

[jindle]

Hotty I think that would indeed be very helpful. Let me know when you're back

[wooly350i]

What car is it for jindle?

[jindle]

350i

[wooly350i]

I was guessing it is a wedge, what year, series 1 / series 2?

[jindle]

late 85 according to the v5