Dashboard repair

I'll describe work done on the suspension and cooling system in another post, but here's info on the most recent work - repairing the dashboard and starting rewiring.
















Dashboard - painted over vinyl, wiring problems and a crude patch over the radio aperture.

I obtained a spare dashboard in better condition - looks like from a MkIIa Sprite (1098cc and disc brakes) with underdash cushioning strip (removed in pic below, also original vinyl covering removed).

Like many early Sprite dashboards this has extra holes for switches and gauges. The two extra gauge holes were blocked with a piece of aluminium pop-rivetted on the rear of the dash (and hoping that the fabric covering wouldn't sink too much...). Rust was removed with wire wool and a covered with a quick spary with matt black paint; the aluminium pastch was sprayed too.

I had some vinyl from an old black-out blind - got from a skip in the 1990s. Raided the old spares box for the correct heater switch - came from a 1977 850cc Mini van I had in the 1980s (all that's left).

Old vinyl used as a template to cut out replacement dash covering. The old dash cover was peeled off after the spring clips were removed. New vinyl stuck on with Evostick contact adhesive (messy job), using lots of clothes pegs to hold down edges and also using new spring clips from Woollies for Trim.

New Lucas switches purchased from Auto Electrical Supplies and Mini Sapres Centre. Let's see how good the non-UK manufactured Lucas components are (bearing in mind the originals were not always perfect, particularly with age). New wiring harness and choke cable from Austin Healey Spares.

Start - car arrives May 2012

Welcome

This blog charts my ongoing restoration of an Austin Healey Sprite MkII and eventual conversion to a standard-bodied Sebring Sprite.

Car as purchased May 2012:

Thanks to Richard Tipper of Cartrans - great job of transporting the car from SW England to SW Scotland.


When blue (from new in July 1961 until late 1990s)

It is a 948cc car, with later front disc brakes (and on later checking the incorrect drum braked master cylinder fitted).

Car had an MoT, solid bodywork - been welded a lot; paintwork a bit rough, plus the A posts are a bit undulating (filler over homemade patch panels?). The floor panels are homemade flat panels rather than the correct parts with stiffening grooves and footwells. Wiring needs fixing too - dash lights and external lights not all working. Fan noisy (loose belt). All OK, picked up these issues when checking the car over before purchase - I wanted a project car!

Once getting the car home noticed coolant loss, incorrect fan belt fitted (longer alternator belt).

Initial jobs to do:

• Replace cooling hoses, water pump, fan belt.
• Sort brakes (replace master cylinder, put in new rear shoes, check over)
• Fix wiring
• Service (oil & air filter changes, lubricate and check suspension, dampers, steering rack)
• Get new MoT.

Shouldn't take too long...