Dashboard Curvature

[Jeemy]

I'm now in the process of trying to straighten/strengthen/soundproof the dashboard.

Rough plan is to test a small area with fibreglass to make sure it doesn't dissolve the expanding-foam-type material its made of. If fibreglass will effect a repair I'm planning to insert wire into gaps between the cracks and then fibreglass over them. Should this be successful I'm then planning to insert more wire or glue on strengthening panels in thin metal, before using heat and clamps to try and bring it back into line to get it flush around the fascia. It may be I can pull the vinyl off and tighten it in areas but I am not confident in doing that without destroying what is underneath.

I'm then going to coat the interior in Dynamat Superlite to reduce vibration and sound travel.

Finally it will be overwrapped with leather which should strengthen it once more and may well be the main thing that brings it back into shape.

The query I have is as follows; looking at the attached picture you can see clearly the top edge of the dash bends down and back up - leaving a depression in the top edge, which rises again. I suspect this is not correct and it should just curve downwards. Can anybody just look at their dash and confirm?

2013-01-17-14.49.23.jpg

To confirm, what you are looking at here is the top centre above the steering wheel, the front edge in front of the binnacle cover.

[RayD]

There is a slight indentation in mine Jamie,

If the straightedge is on the top of the dashboard yours is more pronounced.

I wonder if they all started out with a smooth curve and it is slowly sinking in over time?

Ray

[theelanman]

only the poshest of paper.....lol....

[Jeemy]

Had a look through Google Images, and this was the best thing I could come up with:

Screen shot 2013-01-23 at 17.36.28.png

[Jeemy]

There's a definite upturn, but its flush with the fascia. This is the fitment I am going to aim for.

I have plenty of ideas but have found little wisdom on how this can be done. Most people having problems (not on Elans particularly) have had far worse, dashes bending up so vents pop out, visibility is obscured etc - and they've just screwed them haphazardly down to whatever they could find.

The dash now has its own little custom stand made out of various boxes, supporting it much as the car would. I'll be posting pictures on my thread as I start to get it back into shape!

[Jeemy]

only the poshest of paper.....lol....

Haha yeah I noticed the paper. Shame the pic wasn't drawn in fountain pen really.

[RayD]

I'll try to remember next time ...

Poundland.jpg

Ray

[cliff]

[GoM100Go]

Hello Gentlemen,
Last year I purchased a brand new dash and (fed) steering wheel for my Elan, as mine had warped around the vents, gear shifter and had a tiny tear on the passenger side. I swapped it out myself, the old one is in the rafters of my garage with my old rear lights and plate holder, I swapped them out for the LGM valence and Elise lights. Anyhow, My old dash never had a problem with this droop, but this one only after about 6 months has begun to develop a bit of an indentation. I am curious to see how it goes to resolve this little issue. Good work on posting this guys.

-James