Radio console

[16024d]

If anyone could help me with the position of this rubber shield. BD24394.
Car is 62 roadster
Looking in parts book should have a retainer bd24394.
Thanks

[abowie]

Sandwiched between the bottom of the centre instrument panel and the switch legend retainer.

Often not fitted as it jams and makes folding the centre panel down difficult.

[16024d]

Thanks for reply. Do you have a picture of one I can't work out how it fixes to the switch legend.

[Heuer]

The rubber seal BD24393 was fitted under the instrument panel legend strip and folds against the ash tray finisher panel assembly when the centre dash panel is closed. It is there for cosmetic reasons and to prevent instrument lighting spilling through. It is missing on many cars because the indicator strip needs to be removed to lower the console. The part is not listed in the SPC J30 and appears to have only been fitted to the later cars with the black vinyl instrument panel - September 1963 onwards - and subsequently all 4.2 cars:


Whilst yu are at it replace the two retaining screws with thumb screws to make lowering the dash easier eg.:

[ysmalkie]

If these are the parts from SNG, then they definitely do not fit 3.8 car.

The was there on the 62 car.

Tadek

Photo of a 61 attached:

If anyone could help me with the position of this rubber shield. BD24394.
Car is 62 roadster
Looking in parts book should have a retainer bd24394.
Thanks

[ysmalkie]

I respectfully disagee.

You can lower the console with the light strip on on a properly assembled car.

The console will not lower when the tunnel console is sitting too high.

Tadek

..... It is missing on many cars because the indicator strip needs to be removed to lower the console. ...

[Philk]

I respectfully disagee.

You can lower the console with the light strip on on a properly assembled car.

The console will not lower when the tunnel console is sitting too high.

Tadek

..... It is missing on many cars because the indicator strip needs to be removed to lower the console. ...

The four threaded attachment points for the radio console are on the bulkhead. If the tunnel console is too high then you would not be able to bolt the console into the bulkhead fixing points. It is the combination of the rubber strip and its associated metal fixing plate under the hinged instrument panel that causes it to bind on the radio console. My instrument panel rotated perfectly until I re-installed the missing rubber seal!

I would be very interested in seeing pictures of how the rotation takes place (with the rubber strip in situ) if the console is screwed in place using the normal attachment points. I have enclosed a close up of my console below. There appears to be a trimmed "strip" at the top of the console which also adds to the issue.

[16024d]

Thanks for all your reply.
I struggling to get the centre panel to lower even without the rubber. Ive tried lowering the gear cover as much as I can but can't get the ashtray in. Is the suggestion to remove the switch legend to enable the panel to lower each time you need access to the fuses?

[Philk]

On earlier S1 cars that could be an option if they do not have the rubber strip. To my best recollection, the challenge though for late 3.8/4.2 S1 cars is that the rubber (and the metal strip that holds it to the underside of the instrument panel) utilise the inner two screws that hold the plastic legend strip in place. As such, you cannot get at those without removing the radio console first which negates the approach of trying to remove the legend strip to enable the panel to hinge down.

[Heuer]

The there are several parts to the indicator strip assembly. First there is the chrome strip C15916, then the light filter C15289, then the indicator strip C15609 which are attached to the instrument panel with two self tapping screws DAZ508/8C in the outer holes. Next there is the rubber light shield BD24393 and the light shield retainer BD24394 which are attached to the instrument panel with two self tapping screws DAZ408/10C in the inner holes.


For those who have difficulty dropping the instrument panel because the indicator strip fouls the radio console the simple fix is to use two thumb screws allowing the strip to be easily removed. If the rubber light shield is attached and the instrument panel still can't be fully dropped the thumb screws can be used in the outer holes to retain all five components. All that will required will be to make two matching outer holes in the rubber strip.

[ysmalkie]

I actually used a crow bar to lower the radio console enough to clear the light strip. It's really a pain. I had to remove all the felt obstructing the centre console and fiddle with the gearbox aluminum cover to get it as low as possible. Once it's low enough, fis the radio console rear screws.

Also, bare in mind that the console (actually the lip of the ashtray panel) has to be slightly front of the switch legend.

It's definitely a 2 man job.

As I did a bit of research on it, I assembled a collection of photos how it's done one some of the more original cars:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tSRRwpvQcyrvfL247
Note, that some (like the '64 with beige interior) will not open.

Thanks for all your reply.
I struggling to get the centre panel to lower even without the rubber. Ive tried lowering the gear cover as much as I can but can't get the ashtray in. Is the suggestion to remove the switch legend to enable the panel to lower each time you need access to the fuses?

[16024d]

Again thanks for the information, I now have a clear idea of how this is supposed to go together.

[Heronscourt]

My car didn’t have this strip and there is a significant gap between the radio console and the instrument panel so I need to fit one.
A search for the part number on Barratts site doesn’t find it so I need to make one, does anyone have the dimensions please. Length is obviously governed by the width of the console but what is the width of the strip.