Centre console question (and parts that don't *%$#@! fit!!!)

[pip007]

Bear with me. I need to grumble. I'm about to remove the ugly air conditioning vents (and the rest of the A/C junk which doesn't work anymore) from my US spec. S2 1970 (manual gearbox) car . As that will leave a gap above the console I've bought a new console/fascia (radio surround) for a non-A/C car. Unfortunately the new fascia looks like it was made by someone who has never seen an E-type. The cut-out for the gear stick surround is way too wide, the height of the cut-out is way too shallow and if I modify it I will be cutting into the radio location; and the shade of black is wrong so it doesn't match the existing trim. I'm in the US and buy parts from a company in California. And I constantly end up with parts that don't actually fit the car. I have an MG as well and the parts for that car (from a different supplier) also often don't fit.

Getting decent parts seems like a crapshoot! Is this just an occupational hazard or have I chosen a bad supplier? In which case who might I use in USA that has parts that actually fit the car?

With respect to the console, has anyone else had trouble getting a good fit?

Sorry for the ramble ... Philip

[christopher storey]

Philip : this has become a great problem in the last 3 or 4 years. It is particularly prevalent where the parts are sourced from China where bolts holes don't align etc a lot of the time. I have a theory that the Chinese work on the basis of 25 rather than 25.4 mm per inch as a result of which ( incorrect) tolerances build up . I find that where possible it is better to buy used parts and refurbish them

[pip007]

Thanks Christopher. I like the idea of sourcing used parts.

[Heuer]

This is on eBay at the moment: http://tinyurl.com/27uqygy - might be worth a punt.

[pip007]

Thanks David. Nice find. I used to work for Motorola and I know the early radios were Motorola, so I'll throw my hat into the ring on this one. I clearly need to spend more time browsing E-Bay.

Philip

[e-bygum]

Seller states UK bidders only!

[Heuer]

Bid first, ask questions later is my view! Also consider using Auctionsniper as the first three snipes are free. Never lost an auction in 9 years using it.

[pip007]

Thanks for the E-Bay tips, guys. I'll get my son to bid for it (he's in UK).