1973 Volvo P1800ES on MX5 chassis with Ford 5L V8 conversion

The smaller the repair, the more tools I end up using, so you're not on your own. That's an excellent idea with the white paint! All cars should have that.

I'm for option one, pulling it all together in one nice custom cover piece. To me that would be more in keeping with the rest of your build. Can't remember off the top of my head where your console ends, but I can even imagine a nice barrier from one arch cover to the other fitted behind your seats. Separating boot and cabin visually a little bit more. Although I'm not thinking of a high plate (creating a box shape), but rather something with some shape to it and a lower centre... If that makes sense.

God hates a coward, so with no further ado and one last read of my warning, the front clip has been welded on. The car is now one piece again. Big milestone in my book.

This is the DS cowl. Pretty much have the DS welding done and started on the PS. Bit of the old grind in my immediate future.

Speaking of progress...more proof that this is a non-linear game.

When I went out to the shop on Monday morning, I had the dashboard installation and wiper system installation firmly crossed off the list with big exclamation points of relief.

They are both back on the list.

When I installed the dash and its PITA  A-pillar mounts, I was locating the dash position based on 4 bolts on the tunne ( see the little rectangular hole at the bottom of the dash?) l. With the tunnel bracket on the dash located so that the four bolts looked centered, I built the brackets to hold the ends and leading edge of the dash. And there was much rejoicing because it came up nice and close to the windshield and yet allowed for the window rubber to go in place. And there was room for the wipers to fit underneath.

What I was missing at the time was the center stack piece for the radio and HVAC. Had one on order but not yet here. Should have waited.



When I went to install the centre stack for the dash ( aka "Tombstone" in Miata vernacular) the leading edge would not match the console. Furthermore, the shifter mechanism ( has a tongue that travels under the front of the console via the tombstone)  would hit the tombstone. So, the dash had to rotate a few degrees forward, tilting the leading edge downward. Needing the mounts cut off the A post and the leading edge of the cowl. And the front of the dash had to be re-contoured to match the lower position.

Broke my spirit to cut these off the A-post since they were so fun to make and install.


So, the  dash is  in a workable position now. Just need to re-make the side brackets and dream up a new forward bracket of some sort. The more interesting challenge is that I will need to carve some clearance into the leading edge of the dash that will accommodate the wipers, and then figure how to trim-out the front so as to hide the wiper mechanism and 1.5" drop to the dash. It has to be something elegant because it is going to be right in your face the whole time.



 On a more positive note, the front clip is firmly attached and most of the grinding to clean up the welds is done. Maybe a few more hours to fine tune some of them, but let us pray the front clip never has to come off again.

Pete

I feel your pain... Sometimes it really sucks to have to go back and redo some work that was so much fun to get done the first time around. I guess most of us have been there at one time.

So the last two pictures show the dash in the right place? Looks like you could get away with a relatively simply shaped "bolster like" (for lack of better word) transition piece between it and the windshield frame. If done nicely covered in the same colour material I think it would look fine.

My 66 mustang had a curved metal transition piece in two parts to cover the back edge of the dash pad and which sat against the windshield rubber. That never looked out of place either. Yours would have to be a bit wider than that of the mustang but the idea possibly applies.

Anyway if there's one thing I've learned about you by now it is that you surely already have a pretty good idea on how to proceed anyway!

You'll find a way...

Shame you had to move the dash but by fitting some sort of cover panel it might mean you could carry out any repairs to the wipers without having to remove the dash and there is more room to fit a screen if you need to.

Are you having any de-misting vents ?

Screw the deadline - just do it right.

you mean thats not all part of the game?



doing it right, means not doing it several times!... Keep that  "several" part conceptual. Skill acquisition....yeah, tell me about it!  Thanks for sharing what works and what does not work....it adds very valuable definition...


JP

That top piece looks like it would take a strip of wood to match the rear interior bed you'd planned ages ago very nicely. Might be a bit of a chore to make.