New dashboard

[jono]

Well, I have now sold my Caterham Seven , so can now plough all the money into my Plus 2

First up is the dash which has the usual flaking lacquer. I have a cabinet maker friend who is going to cut and machine me a new dash from marine ply and veneer it with burr walnut (and birds eye maple on the inner glove box lid, hell why not ).

The problem I have however is the rocker switches (Plus 2 S). They are all really poor (well, crap actually) and look like they would have not have lasted more than a few years when the car was new. I am not too purist and am looking to improve the car and restore it to as close as origianal as possible but it must be reliable. If being original means having unreliable rocker switches then I will change them.

As the dash will be cut from new I am thinking about fitting Lucas toggle switches instead of rockers, which I suspect cannot be obtained anyway. Has anyone else done this and do you see any issues other than originality?

Any other pointers or ideas re the dash whilst I am on with it bearing in mind I have a blank sheet so to speak as the dash will be custom made? I was also thinking of going for keyless ignition with push button start (something discrete, not the big red button type), using the choke position as the starter (as the twink is going throttle bodies with an ECU)

Also, on a totally separate tack, has anyone done the Spyder double wisbone rear suspension - it looks nice but are there real benefits bearing in mind the fairly high price?

Cheers

[Frank Howard]

I too have considerd replacing the rocker switches, but with modern rocker switches that come with facias to cover up the holes rather than the original rockers that were supplied as I understand it by a company that was manufacturing them for a British washing machine manufacturer.

Go down to your local auto parts store and have a look. Not only are the modern rockers easier to install (because with the switch facias, you don't have to worry about cutting the rectanglar holes perfectly) but they also have a much better feel to them. Some of them even come with lighting. Others come with indicator lights.

With new rockers, at least you would be preserving some of the originality (and all of the safety benefits). Hope this is another option for you.

[stuartgb100]

Hi,

If the rocker switches are serviceable, but just faded, give them a little TLC with a silicon brake fluid rub, then a rinse and clean. Leave to dry.

Susan Miller tip ........... the best !

Regards,
Stuart.

(PS ever noticed why the most-used dash switches stay shiniest ? ).

[rdssdi]

I sourced new rocker switchs. They are very close in size and have the identical appearance to the oem switches. The size is so close that very minor mods will allow them to fit. Certainly easy with a new dash. I bought a new dash from Prestige Autowood in California modified to accept either OEM or the replacement switches. I have my new dash installed and wire. All switches function correctly.

I was selling them but sold only a few. I sold my surplus to Dave Bean and some to RD Enterprises.

I spec'd the switches for my 1969 Elan +2. I assume the "S" will use many or all of the same.

Talk with Ken at Dave Bean for details.

Bob

[rdssdi]

I have attached a photo of dash and switches.

[martinbrowning]

Hi there
I have just replaced the dash on my '72 S130. I was able to source original switches from Susan Miller and Pat Thomas at Kelvedon Motors (he has bought up most available stock from the company that used to make them).
That left a couple of switches which, although mechanically good, needed new rockers. I bought extra switches from Pat and had a local electronics shop here in Belfast put the new rockers on the original switches - result was a dash with all new rockers.

Martin B

[pmallinson]

Hi

Ineterested very much in your rocker changing story !!

Do you have approx cost and availabilty of more switches from your supplier ? a telephone number or email would be great

Cheers

[martinbrowning]

Hi Peter,
I was able to source some of the switches from Susan Miller (01728 603307) and was also fortunate enough to have two brand new window switches still in their sealed Lotus packaging. The remainder of the switches casme from Pat Thomas at Kelvedon Motors (01775 725457). Pat has several boxes full of the switches but the trick is identifying which is which - every one on my dash is different (whether it be click up/down ,central rest position etc etc). I ended up faxing him diagrams of the rear view of those I needed and left him to it! As I said he was able to match some and then sold me some others purely for the rocker. I think I paid ?25 each - might be considered expensive but worth every penny when you see the final product back in the car.
My local electronics shop charged about ?1 per switch to change the rockers.

Hope this helps,

regards

Martin B

[denicholls2]

Yes, you can source the original switches. Apparently, you can pay anywhere between about $25 and $50 (U.S) for them. Either is a lot of money for a poor-quality switch.

I recently redid my Europa dash with modern rockers. I used lighted ones, which I probably wouldn't do again because the lighted part looks a bit funky and the behavior of the lighting is kinda odd. The non-lighted version would simply be a better-looking variant of the originals, and I'm thinking of swapping them out.

I bought mine from Mouser Electronics, www.mouser.com. I believe they were an average of 6$ each, and they've cleaned up a lot of bad connection issues to boot. The non-lighted ones were probably a buck or so less.

If you're interested, I can send pictures and specifics. Just email me offline.

[saildrive2001]

Can you let us know what manufacturer & if possible part #s you purchased or would purchase for the non lighted ones?

[steveww]

If you're interested, I can send pictures and specifics. Just email me offline.

I think most people in this group would like to know the details. Please post up the part numbers and some pictures

[rdssdi]

I would be most interested also. It took me many hours to identify the internal switch logic for each switch in my +2. Most of which were special order circuits. I was unable to find all but the simplest functions as stock items. For example the wiper switch is a progresssive 3 circuit switch that I doubt would be found "off the shelf".

Bob

[fjbm]

Hi

Did anyone ever found out a way to replace the rocker switches?

All usual places I asked want a lot of money for them and probably someone found a good source for replacement...

Can it be shared?

Thanks

[stugilmour]

I sourced new rocker switches. They are very close in size and have the identical appearance to the OEM switches. The size is so close that very minor mods will allow them to fit. Certainly easy with a new dash. I bought a new dash from Prestige Autowood in California modified to accept either OEM or the replacement switches. I have my new dash installed and wire. All switches function correctly.

I was selling them but sold only a few. I sold my surplus to Dave Bean and some to RD Enterprises.

I spec'd the switches for my 1969 Elan +2. I assume the "S" will use many or all of the same.

Talk with Ken at Dave Bean for details.

Bob

I believe the one's Bob referred to are the ones Ray has on his site. Look way down under Plus 2 parts in the electrical section. Not sure if you had already found these ones.

http://rdent.com/

[davidj]

Hi,

I guess you must be aware that the earlier +2 had Lucas toggle switches which are all still available (if a bit pricey) The wiring diagrams exist as well to help you wire them up. The only slight problem is the hazard warning switch. I have mod'ed a Lucas switch to work in the past, but on my car I used an early '70's triumph pull switch which looks period.

David