Dash Cluster mounting points

[racerstev]

I just picked my Elan up the other day, on the ride home I noticed the dash cluster moving around when going over bumps.
Upon further insepection it seems it's just floating around in the hole with nothing but a radiator hose, some foam and a
bunch of duct tape holding it in place!

The mounting is totally missing, can someone post a picture so I know what I need to make?

Thanks in advance Steve

[tweetdriver63]

Have you taken the cluster out? If not, you need to remove the knee bolster under the steering column/dash. The bolster has two studs that go up through the bottom frame of the dash. There are two very difficult to reach nuts holding the bolster in place at the forward (toward the front of the car) part of the bolster. You'll have to get into the Lotus position to get to them. The aft part of the bolster is held on by two clips and will come off by sliding toward the seat. Once you get the bolster off, you'll find two screws holding the instrument cluster at the bottom (or maybe you won't). It sounds like either the cluster is broken there, or the last person to take it out was too lazy to put them back in. I suppose it's possible that person didn't know how to get to them, and broke the mountings forcing it out. Besides the two screws at the bottom front of the cluster, IIRC there is just one other at the top, behind the cluster, with a small metal bracket.

Sorry I don't have any pictures from the last time I took mine out.

[racerstev]

It took awhile but yes it's all apart. Seems the last guy broke the mounting points off so there in no place to bolt the cluster too.

I think I see were they used to go on the dash overlay (the part the switch's and heater controls are in). Were the mounts just a
thin gauge steel straps glued to the overlay that the cluster bolts too?

[tweetdriver63]

I really don't remember any more about them. I need to take out my cluster to mount a new fuel gauge voltage regulator on the back of it, but I've put it off because I'm having some lower back issues and I just can't get in the necessary position to get the bolster nuts off. If I could, I would do it today and take some pictures for you.

[esprit888]

Were the mounts just a thin gauge steel straps glued to the overlay that the cluster bolts too?

In a word, yes When i pulled mine one was missing and two were loose. I have attached some pics but can you tell me specifically which ones you are looking for and i will see if i have a more detailed shot.

It took awhile but yes it's all apart. Seems the last guy broke the mounting points off so there in no place to bolt the cluster too.

I think I see were they used to go on the dash overlay (the part the switch's and heater controls are in). Were the mounts just a
thin gauge steel straps glued to the overlay that the cluster bolts too?

rear of fascia.jpg

mounting points.jpg

[racerstev]

This is what i wound up with, kind of close to factory except for one mont on the side it looks like. You dash is really clean
compared to mine, I had that brown goo pooling at the bottom there was so much on there!







Oh and thank you BTW for the pictures!!

Steve