The 'E' Type Forum

Hi
In my musing about the forthcoming restoration of my S2 OTS I thought about the standard centre console and dash. The car will have to be converted from LHD to RHD so new trim would have to be ordered....
I know to some this may be a no no, but I have always liked the metal finish of the S1 dash and console.
It is a longshot but just wondered if anyone has experience of substituting the S2 with S1...I know it may devalue the car...but I think that the S1 layout looks better...but wondered if it was a straight forward swap or if there is much modification needed (I realise that the ignition switch would have to be addressed)
Thanks for your comments
David

AFAIK the dash panels are the same size so it should go in ok.
Your biggest problem will be with the wiring loom, as the S2 dash loom would be quite different from the S1 one. There are a lot of wires back there...

Thanks Andrew
I will have to look at the dash switches more closely ie S1 v S2 to see if they are for fundamentally different use..I know about the ignition....however in theory as i am replacing the switches then the S2 wires should plug in...hmm

The S2 used smaller spade connectors on some switches like the wipers. Not a big deal but needs to be modified properly. The Aluminium panels on the centre console should fit with no issue after you remove the arm rest. The radio console would be more difficult though I would think.

It's not too bad a swap if you use the matching S1 harness, which is what I did and may do again one day. The issue is the wiper motors and switches are very different between series. I had a rebuilt S1 wiper motor so it was easy enough. Maybe an S1 dash switch can be successfully matched to an S2 motor with far fewer wires but my brain hurts just thinking about it. The S1 also used an ammeter of course so an S1 harness would be wrong for an S2 charging and voltmeter wiring.

None of this is insurmountable and I liked having the S1 dash, but it's not trivial.

Pete

Thanks chaps ...I expect that the replacement loom will be S2...so switch mods should be ok (easy for me to say..I wont be doing it lol) ..as for the radio console we will have to look to see if the S1 will fit...I like the overall simplicity of the S1 dash etc..no doubt much discussion with Angus over a cuppa...
I suppose my thinking is that my Healey is one of the last ones made and I think that whilst it is a better car than the earlier Healeys the wooden dash kinda spoiled it as the earlier simple dashs were better ....