Underdash trim, Plus 2

[JonB]

Hello

How the dickens are you supposed to fit this poxy trim under the dashboard? I can't work it out..

This is as far as it'll go. It's crumbling, too, so I have tried to strengthen it with some duct tape (on the back). I need advice..

[NIGELAN]

Not very helpful, but mine looked a lot like yours. I managed to refit it using tiny screws, cable ties and bits of tape. Looked okay ish until i tried to use the hand brake only to discover I had managed to put the trim my side of it, making it inaccessible. Had to take it all off again. It now sits on a shelf in my workshop where it fits quite well. One day i may have another go! Hope you do better!

[vincereynard]

Where are your curvy padded bits that screw to the dash edge?

The flat panels fit to them. (After a fashion.)

[JonB]

Where are your curvy padded bits that screw to the dash edge?

The flat panels fit to them. (After a fashion.)

ScreenHunter_344 Dec. 17 16.21.jpg

That much I knew.. I just cannot see how to slide this panel into place. Could you take a picture of your driver's footwell, looking up at the panel, please? Might give me an idea as to how to fit it.

Incidentally, I would get these bits in place and then attach the edge trim (which screws into the dash and the valence panel).

Love your interior Vince. Wish I'd held out for a black interior myself now.

[vincereynard]

The trim goes under the ignition lock /barrel. Which goes through the LH padded trim.

The flat bit are therefore much lower than in your images. Mine are also in 2 bits, separated by the steering column.

See if this helps.

[JonB]

Ok, so I guess what I have is a seriously deformed trim. It's a very bad design, the sort of crap I used to put on my kit car, because I didn't know how to make good trim (still don't, ha!). Let's try tomorrow!

[The Veg]

This trim was missing from my car when I bought it. How much difference does it make in terms of noise reduction or other benefits?

[alan.barker]

Edge trim is assembled first screwed to edge of dash.
The flappy big trim is then slide up over the inside top edge of edge trim. Screw put through flappy trim into tunnel just below heater outlet + screw through trim into footwell near hand brake.Last screw through edge trim into flappy trim clip.
Alan

[JonB]

That makes sense, thanks Alan.

[JonB]

This trim was missing from my car when I bought it. How much difference does it make in terms of noise reduction or other benefits?

I would think very little. Might protect your knees slightly in a crash, but it is mostly cosmetic. The main benefit being to close off the area behind the dash where the heater output pipe and all those wires are.

[Orsom Weels]

As Alan says, padded edge trim screws to dash first, then attach under dash trim to that & work from there. Mine is still in one piece, just, & still fitted as per factory, if you get really stuck, I'll try to take some pic's of the screw locations but that'll mean digging her out from winter hibernation

This trim was missing from my car when I bought it. How much difference does it make in terms of noise reduction or other benefits?

I would think very little. Might protect your knees slightly in a crash, but it is mostly cosmetic. The main benefit being to close off the area behind the dash where the heater output pipe and all those wires are.

Actually when I drove mine without the trim in place it made a very noticeable difference to the amount of noise transmitted into the car. The gap between dash & bulkhead must create a sort of 'sound box' which the trim effectively puts a cap on & dampens out. Mine do have a thin layer sound proofing glued to the back though, something I've only seen in a couple of other +2's. Maybe that's why they are still just about intact ?

Regards, Tim

[JonB]

Interesting. I was thinking that, as the trim doesn't cover all the bulkhead, some noise would inevitably get through.

I have a problem with noise in my Elan. I will be sorting the bulkhead grommets out soon, probably by gluing some neoprene patches around each grommet (which would seal up against the loom / cable / whatever is passing through the bulkhead, and look reasonably original).

[vincereynard]

Interesting indeed. Leaving the floppy trims off made no discernible difference to Toad.

Maybe it's a Lotus thing - some do, some don't.

[JonB]

Right, then. After a lot of grunting, twisting, losing tools and other senior moments, I have it sorted. Key to this was the flat platform on top of the handbrake mechanism, about an inch square. It's in precisely the right place to wedge a piece of wood between it and the top trim. It holds it in a good position that alllowed me to adjust and fiddle about until it was good a fit as possible (given the state of it).

So that's the interior sort of reassembled. Binnacle and steering wheel also fitted ready for the first drive (when I get my uprights)!

[vincereynard]

Look on the bright side - you are getting an education.

You're not likely to forget how to do it now.

Think how bored you would have been if it was easy!