Dashboard/Steering fitting

[slowsprinter]

Hi Guys

I am at the stage of fitting a new dash to my Sprint project. Just about to add a new dash loom to the back of the dash. When I come to fit it back into the car, is it best to:-

A. Fit the steering carrier casting (see picture below the dash), to the back of the dash first and raise the steering column up and secure after the dash is in place?

Or

B. Fit the steering column all back together first and then try to secure behind the dash getting the 3 fixings in place up behind and in between the Speedo and Tacho?

Currently the steering column is out of the car, just the inner, lower steering rod is in place from the rack through the bulkhead.

I just want to draw on any experiences you may have had! Not really looking forward to this job, it seems I need to grow another pair of arms!

Ian

[steve lyle]

There’s likely multiple ways to skin the cat, but I’ve had my dash out multiple times, and I’ve always done it with the column support in place. I remove the column by unbolting the upper and lower clamps, unbolting the U-joint, disconnecting the electrics and pulling the column out. Of course, a bit fiddly, but most things on this car are.

I’ve made it a bit easier by welding the nuts on to the lower clamp, and replacing the electrical connector bullets with Mate-n-lok connectors.

[smo17003]

Did mine recently. I fitted the carrier loosely to the dash, fitted the dash to the car, trial fitted the column and then tightened up the carrier fixings, before taking it all down again. This was with instruments in the dash but no harness fitted. It also gave me the opportunity to clearly see where the harness might clash with the heater etc.
Like most things on an Elan rebuild there's not many things that you can fit first time without taking it off again to do a bit of fettling.
Also, when the dash is being trial fitted you can temporarily fit the glove box to check for clearance (assuming you're fitting a new one), but on final fitment leave the glove box out until you have completed all of you harness connections and checked routeing of heater and choke cables.

Mike

[pharriso]

There’s likely multiple ways to skin the cat, but I’ve had my dash out multiple times, and I’ve always done it with the column support in place. I remove the column by unbolting the upper and lower clamps, unbolting the U-joint, disconnecting the electrics and pulling the column out. Of course, a bit fiddly, but most things on this car are.
.

What Steve said....

[slowsprinter]

Many thanks fellas!
Ian

[Bushwacker]

I believe I've read that in fitting the new dash, it is recommended to leave the speedo out until everything else is in.
Perhaps they were referring to the steering column mounting conundrum. I'll be interested to hear how it goes as my car will be going through that next year.

Cheers,
Eric