Attaching Under Dash Trims to the Dashboard

[pharriso]

Here's the inserts I used. They take a #6 machine screw, 32 tpi. Body diameter is .216".

In the first picture, the smaller insert is the one I eventually used, sourced from Ace HW. The larger one is also a #6, from Woodcraft. Too large for my dash thickness.

Pics 2 & 3 are of the bin at my local Ace. The inserts were $2.33 each.

Hope this helps. If you want to go this route, and can't get them locally, I can send them to you.

Regards,
Steve

Steve, many thanks for all the info & the kind offer to procure the inserts for me... I am travelling in SC & went to the Ace Hardware store in Greenville SC last night & discovered the same inserts:

Must have gotten lucky as they were about 1/3 of your price!

I also bought screws & finish washers to match:

Now just have to find a good way of attaching the Vinyl to the trims...

[pharriso]

These ideas of screwing inserts into the edge of the dash are fraught with difficulty and the danger of breaking through. USA64 has suggested metal brackets. Can I suggest glueing some strips of wood to the rear face of the dash to effectively double the thickness locally. This would then allow inserts to be used with much less chance of damage.

MIke, understand your concern. But if take a look at the picture below you can see my dash when it was out (complete with Rawlplugs) & see that the glove box brackets are pretty close to the bottom edge of the dash making it difficult to add wood strips, at least in that area:

[steve lyle]

Phil,

You probably already know this, but it's something i learned the first time I took my dash out.

That first time, I left the glove box attached to the dash. It was a bit of a struggle.

On subsequent removals, I took the box off/out first. Much easier. You need a stubby #1 phillips (or Pozi?) driver to do it, but otherwise easy.

And a hint on the inserts. They have slots you can use to drive them in with a flat edge screwdriver. Don't do it - the brass is too weak, and you're liable to break off one side of the slot. Instead, get a longer #6 screw, and lock two nuts onto it so there's a few threads showing on the outer end, and drive the insert in with that.

Regards,
Steve

[lotusfan]

MIke, understand your concern. But if take a look at the picture below you can see my dash when it was out (complete with Rawlplugs) & see that the glove box brackets are pretty close to the bottom edge of the dash making it difficult to add wood strips, at least in that area:

Phil - good point, I had forgotten about the glove box but in the Chapman tradition of making a bracket do several jobs if you removed your aluminium angle bracket and replaced it with a square strip of wood you could screw the glove box on to one side and fit the inserts in the other. No need now of course because you have got your inserts in but it might be a useful technique for someone building up the dashboard from scratch.

[mbell]

The screw inserts are the same as I used, I purchased them from Lowe's thou. Likely a couple of dollars for a bag of 2 or 3.

[ericbushby]

Hi all,
These trim pieces have been annoying me all the time I have had this car. I cannot count the number of times I have had to work behind the dashboard. Drivers seat out, steering wheel off, trims off, adopt the Lotus position and get on with it.
Apart from being an old crow and struggling to work upside down it usually goes well until I come to fitting the trims.
With Bluetack on the screwdriver end and a washer added after the first hole I nearly always drop something.
After reading this I thought to do something about it.
I was going to make some brass inserts. That would be easy enough, but as the dash is in the car the risk of breaking through when drilling for inserts was too much for me.
I could have made a jig to ensure the drill stays central but I would still have the same assembly problems
So,- A Metre of 10mm black Velcro from ebay and 10 minutes to fit and it is done.
The Velcro tape is thicker than I wanted so it holds the trim off slightly, You would see it, but only if you have an Elan, nobody else would.
Also I have not made any changes to the car and the job is fully reversible.
Lotusian thankyou for the tip.
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3SE DHC

[elanner]

I have also used Velcro since fitting my new dash several years ago and chickening out of drilling holes along edge of it.

To minimize the visual impact of regular Velcro it is possible to get Low Profile Velcro. This keeps the trim slightly closer to the dash.

Nick

[ericbushby]

Hi Nick,
Low profile Velcro?. I didn`t know that !, Now you tell me !
Cheers
Eric

[RichardHawkins]

Nick,

I have just done a google search for low profile self adhesive Velcro 10mm wide, but cannot find anything. Have I missed something or do I need to cut wider tape down to fit?

Richard Hawkins

[ericbushby]

Hi Richard
I found it on ebay but only in 20mm width which might cut down, but only in 25 metre rolls.
Eric in Burnley

[elanner]

Wow - from my notes I see that I purchased it back in 2013. Time flies!

The product I purchased was 3M Dual Lock.

It's currently available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Dual-Lock-Rec ... r_1_2_sspa in 10 foot lengths.

It's also available at: https://www.findtape.com :

https://www.findtape.com/3M-SJ4575-Dual ... tener/p604

I purchased mine at findtape. It seems to have a broader selection, with widths down to 5/8" at $10.22 for 10 ft (a lot cheaper than Amazon):

I now remember that when I purchased it the only width was 1" so I cut it in half with normal scissors. It wasn't a problem. The 5/8" that's available now seems like a simpler option.

Nick

[RichardS]

I’ve just ordered from Amazon. Great idea, I too hate fiddling the screws back in!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... =UTF8&th=1

Richard

[ericbushby]

Ah! that clears it up.
The Amazon low profile stuff is o.1 inch closed. I just measured the10mm wide strip which I bought on ebay and it is 0.125". So not that much different. I think I will be content with what I have.
Eric in Burnley.

[RichardHawkins]

Nick,

Thanks, I have just done another google search, and Dual Lock seems to be available 1/2” wide.

Richard Hawkins

[mwhitaker]

I have used standard sheets of velcro from a craft supply store-Michaels-cut down to appropriate size for the required task on the driver's side under dash trim. Decided to try it 3-4 yrs ago when I had to investigate a starting issue related to the ignition coil wire to the tach coming apart. Since replacing the screws was daunting,I thought velcro would work and it has stayed in place nicely and I don't even notice how it looks now. We all know that won't be the last time I need to look under the dash unfortunately!

Mark Whitaker
69 Elan S4 DHC
45/8396