Post
by TonyG » Wed Jun 05, 2019 9:07 am
Kevin,
Sounds like you are tackling your car with some enthusiasm! In my experience, anything you need to get done elsewhere needs to be identified early and packed off to them or you will be waiting on it further down the road. Depending on the condition, your steering wheel could be one such item. You can buy leather rim covers that may resolve the problem or there are steering wheel refurbishment companies out there. A chat with Mike Couldry at Meteor may bear fruit if he has one for your car. My Tourer wheel was the four spoke metal type with steel spokes and an aluminium rim. It was very poor and would have cost many £100s to dismantle and restore. I had it blast cleaned to remove rust and Bakelite from rim then powder coated black. It looks good, in keeping with the car and cost £50. If yours is regular three spoke the construction will be different. However, for localised damage, you may be able to rub down poor areas and fill with P40 fibreglass filler, finish and repaint. Worth a go before sending to a specialist I’d have thought!
Regarding the dashboard; the freewheel cable is easily disconnected on the drivers side top of gearbox. It threads through from the front with a cable clamp/nipple at the rear. You will need to remove the carpet and rubber tunnel cover to do this. Assuming you have one, take care of the rubber cover as they get brittle with age. Once undone the freewheel knob can be withdrawn from the dash.
The dash itself was originally made of plywood, stained and, in the case of mine, varnished to a gloss finish. I used to have a Morgan with a walnut dash which, I believe, is often used. It will be much more costly though and take time to get done. Similarly, chrome around the centre instrument section will need to be sent away if it is really bad. I was lucky and able to repaint mine with the black, leaving the edge looking ok, if not perfect.
Tony.
Tony Gilbert
P1 12 Tourer
P2 12 6 Light Saloon
Discovery 3
Discovery Sport