Griffith dash swap
Discussion
Dear those who have changed a dash on a Griffith.
Imagine you have an old delaminated dash and you have a brand new lovely walnut dash in your hands ready to swap over.
For those who have done it, roughly how long would it take to remove the dash, swap the clocks etc to the new dash then sit back and enjoy your new lovely dash. (Hours).
Many thanks.
Imagine you have an old delaminated dash and you have a brand new lovely walnut dash in your hands ready to swap over.
For those who have done it, roughly how long would it take to remove the dash, swap the clocks etc to the new dash then sit back and enjoy your new lovely dash. (Hours).
Many thanks.
Depends a lot on how much experience you have. I found the Griffith dash quite a fiddle to get out, it doesn’t fit fantastically well and it is tricky to avoid scratching the leather surround. So, if you have done it 10 times perhaps a day fiddling around. I believe pros will charge £300 to change (maybe old info).
I took mine out because there were other things to do whilst I was in there.
Briefly, remove the shrouding around the steering column and the steering wheel. I think I also lowered the column. Disconnect the battery first! Then remove the radio, plus its retaining frame. I also found it useful to remove the glove box to get access. You should be able to pull out the air ducts. Then unscrew the two screws behind the steering column. There are end mounts I believe, but mine never had them. Check through the glove box with a mirror.
Then cover the leather, maybe the non sticky type tape. The dashboard should then pull forward. It’s not child’s play, but there is a knack. Cover the centre console as well.
I used the opportunity to get my alarm sorted, plus add a remote boot opener (don’t need dash out, but do it anyway), plus for a DAB radio.
I had to adjust the shape of my dash to fit ideally, plus change the screw mounts as they were hanging in mid air. So expect some fixing.
Then unplug the big plugs. Take to a nice bench and start pulling out instruments. Stuff is glued in, Such as warning lights. I had to fix several bits, plus rustproof unpainted steel bits.
It is a TVR, there is often room for improvement!
I would leave a few weeks! Plus a dose of courage…. But it is definitely DIY.
Best
Nic
I took mine out because there were other things to do whilst I was in there.
Briefly, remove the shrouding around the steering column and the steering wheel. I think I also lowered the column. Disconnect the battery first! Then remove the radio, plus its retaining frame. I also found it useful to remove the glove box to get access. You should be able to pull out the air ducts. Then unscrew the two screws behind the steering column. There are end mounts I believe, but mine never had them. Check through the glove box with a mirror.
Then cover the leather, maybe the non sticky type tape. The dashboard should then pull forward. It’s not child’s play, but there is a knack. Cover the centre console as well.
I used the opportunity to get my alarm sorted, plus add a remote boot opener (don’t need dash out, but do it anyway), plus for a DAB radio.
I had to adjust the shape of my dash to fit ideally, plus change the screw mounts as they were hanging in mid air. So expect some fixing.
Then unplug the big plugs. Take to a nice bench and start pulling out instruments. Stuff is glued in, Such as warning lights. I had to fix several bits, plus rustproof unpainted steel bits.
It is a TVR, there is often room for improvement!
I would leave a few weeks! Plus a dose of courage…. But it is definitely DIY.
Best
Nic
When I removed the dash on mine, I just dropped the steering column (2 x 13mm bolts I think) for access to the 2 screws, the column shrouds can be fiddly gits.
If you just open the glovebox, you can reach in and round to the securing nut on the left, mine was already a wing-nut thankfully.
Switching over the instruments is straight forward, but the warning lamp diodes between the tacho and speedometer may be glued in.
Be careful with the rubber ring gaskets behind the instruments. They are likely starting to degrade although replacements are possible, albeit for the Chimaera so you'd need to recycle one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284896623436
Personally, I'd take the dash indoors and spend a day on it. You may consider swapping the standard illumination for coloured LEDs.
If you just open the glovebox, you can reach in and round to the securing nut on the left, mine was already a wing-nut thankfully.
Switching over the instruments is straight forward, but the warning lamp diodes between the tacho and speedometer may be glued in.
Be careful with the rubber ring gaskets behind the instruments. They are likely starting to degrade although replacements are possible, albeit for the Chimaera so you'd need to recycle one:https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284896623436
Personally, I'd take the dash indoors and spend a day on it. You may consider swapping the standard illumination for coloured LEDs.
It is surprisingly easy to get the dash out and in once you know how. I've seen the whole dash in and out within an hour, without any work on the dash panel itself.
As in the previous post, dropping the steering column, two bolts, avoids the need to remove the wheel or cowl. Then you can remove the two screws above the column.
Remove the stereo and surround, unplugging all connecting leads, remembering what you have done.
Pull out the plastic dash vents, they were just resting there on my car. Aligning them to the metal connectors behind is a bit more of a fiddle when you put it back though, but can be done via the stereo slot.
As above, find the nut holding the nearside of the dash from the glove box and undo, then start to pull the dash out. I would suggest gently from the top to avoid damaging the leather it rubs against. Unplug the connector and then take it fully out.
Then you can swap over the parts. Most likely you will need new LED's as the old ones will probably be stuck in and you may destroy them if attempting to remove. On the 500 the push button bracket is also glued on so you will also need some strong glue, maybe hot glue, ready too. If you have everything to hand it will probably take half a day to swap things over.
Not sure which Griff you have, but if a later car are you changing the panel between the seats too?
As in the previous post, dropping the steering column, two bolts, avoids the need to remove the wheel or cowl. Then you can remove the two screws above the column.
Remove the stereo and surround, unplugging all connecting leads, remembering what you have done.
Pull out the plastic dash vents, they were just resting there on my car. Aligning them to the metal connectors behind is a bit more of a fiddle when you put it back though, but can be done via the stereo slot.
As above, find the nut holding the nearside of the dash from the glove box and undo, then start to pull the dash out. I would suggest gently from the top to avoid damaging the leather it rubs against. Unplug the connector and then take it fully out.
Then you can swap over the parts. Most likely you will need new LED's as the old ones will probably be stuck in and you may destroy them if attempting to remove. On the 500 the push button bracket is also glued on so you will also need some strong glue, maybe hot glue, ready too. If you have everything to hand it will probably take half a day to swap things over.
Not sure which Griff you have, but if a later car are you changing the panel between the seats too?
I don't need to change my dash.
It's been done by a TVR 'specialist' who charged me £1,020 to swap the dash.
(10 hours @ £85 + vat).
That's just the tip of the iceberg.
Just wanted others opinions on how long it should take.
It's a long story that I don't want to spread on the net. (I kinda do want to but can't until it's resolved).
It's been done by a TVR 'specialist' who charged me £1,020 to swap the dash.
(10 hours @ £85 + vat).
That's just the tip of the iceberg.
Just wanted others opinions on how long it should take.
It's a long story that I don't want to spread on the net. (I kinda do want to but can't until it's resolved).
Harvy500 said:
I don't need to change my dash.
It's been done by a TVR 'specialist' who charged me £1,020 to swap the dash.
(10 hours @ £85 + vat).
That's just the tip of the iceberg.
Just wanted others opinions on how long it should take.
It's a long story that I don't want to spread on the net. (I kinda do want to but can't until it's resolved).
Time for quite a few cups of coffee in there I suspect, but was it for both panels? It's been done by a TVR 'specialist' who charged me £1,020 to swap the dash.
(10 hours @ £85 + vat).
That's just the tip of the iceberg.
Just wanted others opinions on how long it should take.
It's a long story that I don't want to spread on the net. (I kinda do want to but can't until it's resolved).
Hi. In my experience lots of TVR jobs are not massively complicated, but complicated by poor manufacturing and design, plus the need to fix other stuff whilst you are in there.
I am a TVR fan and still have 2, so I enjoy the fixing and improving, it is much more engaging than fixing a Merc where everything is designed. TVR were winging it in lots of areas, that gives us interested folks loads of stuff to play with. Currently doing my 3000S pedal box, seems to be designed by a compete loonie, almost got to laugh!
Only thing I would add, it is much better to have a go DIY, as TVR specialists are still needing to fiddle and repair and stuff will cost big money.
Best
Nic
I am a TVR fan and still have 2, so I enjoy the fixing and improving, it is much more engaging than fixing a Merc where everything is designed. TVR were winging it in lots of areas, that gives us interested folks loads of stuff to play with. Currently doing my 3000S pedal box, seems to be designed by a compete loonie, almost got to laugh!
Only thing I would add, it is much better to have a go DIY, as TVR specialists are still needing to fiddle and repair and stuff will cost big money.
Best
Nic
Harvy500 said:
I don't need to change my dash.
It's been done by a TVR 'specialist' who charged me £1,020 to swap the dash.
(10 hours @ £85 + vat).
That's just the tip of the iceberg.
Just wanted others opinions on how long it should take.
It's a long story that I don't want to spread on the net. (I kinda do want to but can't until it's resolved).
It's been done by a TVR 'specialist' who charged me £1,020 to swap the dash.
(10 hours @ £85 + vat).
That's just the tip of the iceberg.
Just wanted others opinions on how long it should take.
It's a long story that I don't want to spread on the net. (I kinda do want to but can't until it's resolved).
Harvy500 said:
I don't need to change my dash.
It's been done by a TVR 'specialist' who charged me £1,020 to swap the dash.
(10 hours @ £85 + vat).
That's just the tip of the iceberg.
Just wanted others opinions on how long it should take.
It's a long story that I don't want to spread on the net. (I kinda do want to but can't until it's resolved).
I suppose I could break it down as .... It's been done by a TVR 'specialist' who charged me £1,020 to swap the dash.
(10 hours @ £85 + vat).
That's just the tip of the iceberg.
Just wanted others opinions on how long it should take.
It's a long story that I don't want to spread on the net. (I kinda do want to but can't until it's resolved).
3hrs removal & refit - It is easier for two people to do, but if you're a specialist all the tricks are outlined in this thread/you'd know them.
3hrs removal & refitting dials/gauges/switches etc
But I'm still 4hrs short of that quote, unless there were complications, custom elements etc. (which I suspect form your description there weren't).
I'm not a TVR specialist trying to make a living, I have removed refitted my more than once ....
I presume the unaccounted 4 hours are fixing the wiring issue.
I had my Chim Dash changed over for a new one many years ago and the installer did have problems with the little bulbs for heater etc saying they had been bonded in and 3 broke trying to remove them from the old dash so if the Griff bulbs are held in a similar way expect it to take some time and require a careful hand.
It’s one of those jobs you can’t be sure how long it will take and I can only presume 10 hours means it was difficult.
That does seem extreme so maybe ask what problems they had and why it took so long.
They have charged you to remove dash/refit clocks and bulbs into new dash then refit dash.
Have they charged you a separate amount to fix the wiring issue.
If not the ten hours must surely include that wiring work.
I had my Chim Dash changed over for a new one many years ago and the installer did have problems with the little bulbs for heater etc saying they had been bonded in and 3 broke trying to remove them from the old dash so if the Griff bulbs are held in a similar way expect it to take some time and require a careful hand.
It’s one of those jobs you can’t be sure how long it will take and I can only presume 10 hours means it was difficult.
That does seem extreme so maybe ask what problems they had and why it took so long.
They have charged you to remove dash/refit clocks and bulbs into new dash then refit dash.
Have they charged you a separate amount to fix the wiring issue.
If not the ten hours must surely include that wiring work.
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