mpbarrett Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 Does anyone have a Herald or Vitesse fibre dashboard surround. I don't want thee wood dashboard but the fibre body. Mine is very distorted (around the vent holes) and I want to replace it over the winter so am looking for parts. Or is there anyway to repair it, was thinking about taking it out and making a jig to take the distortion out and then fixing it using PVA or similar. Any suggestions welcome. cheers mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted August 13, 2018 Report Share Posted August 13, 2018 Absolute hen's teeth in good condition. I know I have one for my 1200 convertible but it's got slight damage from years of use and I reckon that's the best I'll find, unless a NOS one turns up somewhere for £££££££££s. They do, occasionally. I threw one out a while ago that had broken completely across the rear of the screen vent holes, I just couldn't work out how to do an invisible mend other than to have it covered as per the later cars, and in that case I may as well start with a later dash surround. List it in the Parts Wanted section where it'll be visible for browsers who just might have a source. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigolf Posted August 13, 2018 Report Share Posted August 13, 2018 Would you be able to use something like a wallpaper steam stripper to soften the distorted areas and then clamp them flat, until dried out ? Just a mad idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted August 13, 2018 Report Share Posted August 13, 2018 If I could find some kind of filler, or fibreglass compound sort of thing that would fill holes and flatten dimples I'd have a go at repairing one, but nothing looks right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted August 13, 2018 Report Share Posted August 13, 2018 Have you tried applying paper mache might be worth a try Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbarrett Posted August 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 thanks. There is one on ebay but I am trying to get the seller to send pictures of the top so I can see if it bent. Its in Blackpool a bit far from Cambridge to go and have a look. Out of interest what are they made from? cheers mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted August 14, 2018 Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 1 hour ago, mpbarrett said: thanks. There is one on ebay but I am trying to get the seller to send pictures of the top so I can see if it bent. Its in Blackpool a bit far from Cambridge to go and have a look. Out of interest what are they made from? cheers mike Hi Mike PM sent - the fibre dash is like an open weave hardboard - guess they were made wet and formed over a mould Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted August 14, 2018 Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 There is one showing on ebay in Neath, surely not the same one. Complete dash surround, facia etc. Asking £85 or offer plus carriage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted August 14, 2018 Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 Those are probably padded ones, not the bare early ones. I'll have to go check, myself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbarrett Posted August 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 4 hours ago, Badwolf said: There is one showing on ebay in Neath, surely not the same one. Complete dash surround, facia etc. Asking £85 or offer plus carriage. yes that's the one (there was another in Blackpool), still a long way from Cambridge.. I have asked to see some pictures of the top to see how distorted it is around the vent holes. cheers mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted August 14, 2018 Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 We're obviously at cross-purposes here. I assumed it was the early pressed-fibreboard version which had no padded cover, but was just bare paint, as in the photo. Sorry! This one on ebay is a late padded version of pressed card-like manufacture, a different base material altogether that requires a cover as it's too rough to be left raw. You can patch those in any way you like as they'll be covered by the vinyl outer. That's why I mentioned invisible repairs, as anything I tried in this area was very visible on the uncovered version. On my later cars I just reinforced it with very thin panels of shaped wood as reinforcing, with the vinyl cover over the top of it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbarrett Posted August 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 Colin I can imagine the early ones are difficult to repair, the later ones the repairs can be hidden away. I think I have got a good from Paul, needs a bit of work but that's fine as I wont change it until the winter. I also want to sort out the wiper arms as the drive gears are very worn and would like to add 2 speed wipers but maybe that needs a different topic (I know Nick has done it to his Vitesse). cheers mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted August 14, 2018 Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 I'm sure that 2 speed wipers have been covered previously. Do a global search and see what is already posted 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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