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MG MGA - Coupe dash covering

I'm just about to start another "winter project" i.e. indoors, recovering my 1600 coupe dash. The question I have pertains to the manner in which the vynal is afixed. Does the covering wrap around the outside edges and gauge openings or is it cut off flush at the edges. On my TR3 the covering was brought around and glued on the backside which would seem to make for a better hold but what about the gauge openings? Thanks!
Robert Maupin

Wes,

I just went down and looked at mine. The past owner recovered the dash and it looks like some of the vynal is pushed through the gauge hole but not glued like your TR3 dash board was. If you have any other questions let me know.

David......
David Honness

Wes,
Mine was the same as David's so that is what I did during the resto. Be careful using some spray adhesives as they come loose eventually. I would recommend contact cement. Have a good day!

John
John Progess

Robert

I did mine by using contact adhesive, When the vinyl was dty, I then cut a cross in each dial aperture so the material could be pushed through and stuck to the back of the dash.

I found the best way to achieve a good finish was to cut small V shape's around the outside which finished flush with the edge of the dial aperture. These were then folded through and glued to the back of the dash.

It is also beneficial to place the gauge or dial in the aperture as soon as possible to help the vinyl stick to the recessed indentation around each aperture. You can then remove the dial or gauge and fit the o-ring at a later date.

Regards...John
J Bray

These are pictures of the back of my coupe dash. I believe the vinyl is original. The vinyl is thin, thinner than what comes from Moss to cover the trim pieces that surround the cockpit. The vinyl was glued and attached with clips along the top. It was folded over the ends and glued at the ends. It was folded around the dash, glued and held in place by the horn trim. The bottom is held by the metal trim that is pop rivited to the bottom. The radio hole looked kind of amaturish, almost like it was cut by the guy that put in a radio. It appears that the vinyl was trimmed to the diameter of all the round holes both switches and gauges and held in place by the gauge or switch.
This dash shows the original brown primer color that originally appeared on the back of all but CKD dashes. The vinyl is green and the car was originally green. When the car was painted red they painted the front of the vinyl black.
R J Brown

Another picture. Quite a bit if vinyl was pulled around the end and glued. Gauge openings are trimmed flush.
If you want a picture of any particular part let me know.
R J Brown

I spoke too quickly on the other post. This time I will try closing and reopening the upload box.
R J Brown

Same picture 3rd try
R J Brown

try again?
R J Brown

The easiest with modern slightly thicker material is to cement it to the dash and cut out the holes for the gauges carefully - no need to lap any over and no room for the gauges if you do.
Bill Spohn

The fabric is pulled around the outside edges and glued. As Bill states the material is trimmed flush inside the holes.

R J Brown

This thread was discussed between 14/01/2008 and 16/01/2008

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