John:
I've installed the self adhesive dash overlay kits to both 1973-76 and
77-80 style dashes. The wood is a very thin veneer covered with a thick
almost bullet proof clear flexible coating.
The kit is more effective on the 77-80 dash as the wood trim around the
earlier fuel gauge has to be very narrow due to the curvature of the
dash at that point.
The 77-80 dash has a nice flat surface with a reasonable trim area
around all the gauges, so the kit has a good finished look.
I did have problems installing the radio console piece as it had an
extra hole, which I will have to either cover or install a switch. Plus
the one I installed covered all the way to the bottom edge of the
console. This is where the armrest assembly attaches, and there has to
be about 1/4" of clear, non covered area for the arm rest to slide over.
Being the idiot I can sometimes be, I didn't dry fit this piece so had
to spend about 1/2 hour with a razor blade trimming the piece after it
was installed. NOTE! Always dry fit anything that needs to be glued.
First! Not sure if this has been addressed by the manufacturer, but I
havn't heard any other complaints.
Once installed I really liked the effect as the wood breaks up the black
cockpit very dramatically. I really like the 77-80 dash design and the
wood trim gave it a lot more character. This from someone who installed
custom wood dash inserts into his Austin Marina. The look is very
similar to modern Jags that have a similar insert in the dash.
Combined with a wood wheel and gearshift knob it does give the car a
decided up-market look.
The product itself is high quality and the manufacturer does have a good
reputation. I havn't heard any reports of the thick clear coat
discoloring or the wood fading. The adhesive is Scotch brand, designed
for exactly this application. The down side is that it is permanent, so
don't plan on ever removing it. These types of kits are supplied for
other applications such as pick up trucks and the product seems to hold
up for the entire life of the vehicle.
I just noticed that you had an LE. Something to think about is that
adding a kit like this is going to impact the "collect ability" of your
car. The dash can always be recovered and the center console assembly
replaced, so at least it is not a permanent modification.
Kelvin Dodd
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-mgs@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-mgs@autox.team.net] On
Behalf
> Of John.Hed@faa.gov
> Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 11:27 AM
> To: mgs@autox.team.net
> Subject: Wood Dash Trim Kit
>
> Another question for the group.
>
> I see advertised out there (in various catalogs and online) a wood
dash
> overlay kits for the MGB. Anyone out there installed one? Do they
look
> nice or are they hokey/cheap? Would you do it again if given the
chance?
> If you don't like it, can you remove them or is the dash trashed? As
> usual, any advise is appreciated.
>
> John Hed
> 80 MGB LE
> john.hed@faa.gov
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