Clever instrument panel trick

[abowie]

My trimmer may have been sniffing glue for over 30 years but he still has a few tricks.

To make folding down the centre dash panel easier, he puts rivets through the 2 central holes between the legend and the chrome strip and only fits the 2 outside screws. Remove these screws, remove the legend and you can fold the panel down without having to remove the whole centre console.

I have embellished this idea by making knurled heads for the two screws so they can be removed by hand. Works a treat!

[H7OB]

Great stuff, many thanks Andrew, a handy tip as I try to improve my fit of centre console to floor console!

Btw never underestimate the creative benefits of sniffing contact adhesives!

[PeterCrespin]

Er, the instrument panels folded down easily enough when the cars came down the line. They still do on any car maintained or re-trimmed to factory spec.

The only time I’ve had trouble is when I (or a PO) have used too much sound or heat insulation around the tunnel or console, or not fastened the tunnel cover and/or centre console low enough. Any one (or two, or all three) of these errors result in the radio console sitting too high to clear the fragile legend strip. I’d also be a bit nervous of riveting brittle plastic, although with care I’m sure it’s doable.

Of course nobody wants to peel back nicely-applied Dynamat/Koolmat or even the jute under plush new carpet, but if the car is over-trimmed the panel doesn’t fold down..So, is it better to fix the cause or do a work-around? Something to think about if you’re tempted to buy 3/4” jute instead of 1/2”, or whatever...

[Heuer]

I have used these very successfully for some time:

http://www.shear-loc.com/8thumbscrew.htm

I tapped the holes and put rubber washers on to make sure they did not vibrate loose.

[christopher storey]

Like David, I too have used the knurled thumbscrews . No need to drill or rivet the plastic, and the whole thing is off within 15 seconds, and can be replaced in about 30 seconds

[Jeremy]

You do have to be careful with that fragile legend strip. On my car, the left hand end had been snapped off at the screw hole when I bought it...possibly by some passenger's shoe. But, oh, my delight during the grim process of scraping the slowly composting underfelt off the crumbling floor panel, to find the missing piece buried in the mess....
Andrew, clocked your new XJS avatar...

[MarkRado]

As Peter said.
After retrimming my car, I realized that the instrument panel would not fold down. I had to cut and remove some flintcote and felt and cut the carpet under the horiz console panel more precisely. The legend strip still touches the radio console- just.

[ETTony]

I used plumbing washers with a selftapper, good grip and vibration proof.
After retriming my radio consol, I need to remove the strip, no worries.

[JerryL770]

Er, the instrument panels folded down easily enough when the cars came down the line. They still do on any car maintained or re-trimmed to factory spec.

The only time I’ve had trouble is when I (or a PO) have used too much sound or heat insulation around the tunnel or console, or not fastened the tunnel cover and/or centre console low enough. Any one (or two, or all three) of these errors result in the radio console sitting too high to clear the fragile legend strip. I’d also be a bit nervous of riveting brittle plastic, although with care I’m sure it’s doable.

Ah!!! So that's why my instrument panel is difficult to fold down. Thanks for the advice Peter.