AP2289 Build log 'stage 2'

[xb-60]

Started on the dash install today.

Here it is sitting in place with the angle around the 17⁰ mark as a rough starting point; will probably have to make it closer to 20⁰.




The ‘challenge’ is allowing enough rear clearance for the speedo (the larger round opening) and also the water temp gauge (capilliary type) in the second row.
Oh, and the glovebox…..I’ll just have to wait and see what I can achieve there. Yes, the round tubular cross tube is very much a structural member, so no mods permitted there.


Because the glovebox opening and also the lower edge have been welded, there is some distortion, so I’ve added a length of timber as a temporary straightener. That will stay there until I’m happy with the rigidity of the installed dash panel.




Cheers!
Glen

[xb-60]

Dash update time.

Progress hasn't been lightning quick, but been a little warm here. One day last week was 46.6⁰C (116⁰F to you northerners)

I was looking at a dash inclination angle of 17⁰ to 20⁰.
I settled on 20⁰ for a number of reasons…
- I have a horizontal structural tube that is causing me some headaches for gauge clearances, mainly for my speedo cable, but also for the oil pressure gauge tubing in the second row of minor gauges.

More angle means more clearance.
20⁰ also is the angle of the steering column, so the dash panel will be perpendicular to the steering column, so all good





The dash is largely a scratch build. I left the welding to an expert, but the rest of the dash design, construction and fit is mine.

I had to make some bespoke brackets. Here’s my bending 'fixture' (aka my vice)….




….and here’s the first one ready for trimming…




Cheers!
Glen

[xb-60]

More...

Here's what it's starting to look like:



....and from underneath:




For some extra perspective, here you can see that structural horizontal tube under the scuttle that I mentioned previously:




The big hole in the dash panel is for the speedo, so that's the one where I might have a clearance 'challenge' for the speedo cable.


Cheers,
Glen

[1795]

Glen,

Looking nice. Yes, that support tube does make things tight. The vice and the C-clamp are some real old looking tools. Have not seen any like that in quite some time, like my grandfathers tools. You must be old

Jim

[xb-60]

Hi Jim,

It's unlikely that I'm as old as your grandfather unless you're way too young to be driving.
I did however make the vise and the clamp myself, and I do actually have some tools of my Grandfather's....a ratchet screwdriver date-stamped 1914, and a couple of nice woodworking chisels.
Back to the here-and-now....it's the challenges like the cross tube and the speedo that make the build more interesting. (No, I don't really mean that.)

Cheers,
Glen

[xb-60]

Well, here I am bumping my own thread

Other issues need my attention just at the moment, so will be another month or two before I can post build updates.

Cheers,
Glen