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MG TD TF 1500 - Wrinkled dash piping

Installing the dash and I can't seem to find a way to get the piping to not wrinkle in the center top. Any suggestions, or is this just the way it is going to be? I tried heating it a bit and pulling it in both directions, but no joy.

Yes, I know the top chrome strip is missing-- this is just a trial fit.

David Littlefield

I think that you have to start in the middle and pull it as taut as you dare, then go back and make adjustments as necessary. I used staples to fix on the reverse side. These can be easily removed and replaced.
Dave H
Dave Hill

David: Did you make stress cuts in the piping to allow the material to bend easily? And as Dave says, once you do that you will be able to pull it taught to relieve the wrinkles.



Christopher Couper

I did exactly as David did also cutting the back into "vees".
John...Sydney
J Walton

Sorry, I didn't mention cutting it on the back, but it is essential to help stretch it around those curves. Just don't cut so deep that the cuts extend onto the visible part.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Thanks all--

Yes, I did cut the V's. I'm using Horst's book and relying heavily on Dave Braun's website, as well.

I played around with it and found that by flipping the welting over the wrinkles largely went away. I think it had to do with how the welting was stored rolled up that one side was stretched a little more than the other.

In any case, one more hurdle crossed. I'm still fiddling with the position of the staples to get the piping as even as possible.

Thanks again, guys. More questions to come, I'm sure!
David Littlefield

"I'm still fiddling with the position of the staples to get the piping as even as possible."

Might I suggest putting the piping in loose and then putting on the dash. Push the piping in so it fits tightly. Now take some masking tape or painters tape and tape it to the scuttle. Repeat every few inches. When done, remove the dash and then staple/tack the piping in place.

This will give you a very uniform and tight piping around the dash.
Christopher Couper

Thanks, Chris, I'll give that a try. The first time I tried installing the piping I made the mistake of fitting it to the edge of the cowl and stapling it in place, then trying to put in the dash.

Out came all the staples and that's when I flipped it around. I got it a little closer the next time by leaving the piping looser as you suggest, but still stapling it. Taping temporarily is a much better idea. I think I have half of it in the right place, though, but it means I need to take the staples out of the other half.

In the meantime, I found that I was not happy with the finish on the dash, so it will take a few days to refinish it before I continue to fit it.
David Littlefield

This thread was discussed between 05/06/2016 and 12/06/2016

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