One piece euro dash in US 73tii?

[infanterene`]

The dash on our 73Tii is severely cracked and I bought a euro one piece dash to replace it. I really do not like the fasten seat belt warning box. This is all part of a glass out paint in its original Sahara color. We are also strongly considering converting to euro lights and filling all the us marker light holes. Bumpers will also be converted. 

 

My new dash does not have marks in the back for a Tii clock and it only has 2 holes next to the gauges for knobs vs 4 that my original dash has.

 

How should I drill the hole for the Tii clock?

 

Can I drill 2 more holes for the two missing knobs?

 

The US dash has stencils above each knob to denote each ones function. The euro dash is missing these stencils. Can I add the stencils to my knobs?

 

i am not overly concerned with values but I would like to know peoples opinions about if this conversation is going to hurt the value of the car.

Thanks

Rene

[otisdog]

Well, if the dash has the hole for the "fasten seat belts" light, it's not a euro dash. Don't know why it only has 2 knob holes versus the four.

Euro dashs , as you noted, don't have the graphics identifying the knobs function...they had the icons on the knob itself to show it's function. No reason you can't add the graphics, or you could use euro knobs. I have found the owners manual has pictures of the euro dash and knobs...

[infanterene`]

The new dash does not have the fasten seat belt hole.   

[SteveJ]

On the back side of the dash you should probably see indentations of where the holes go. 

 

Mask off both sides and try a new, sharp hole saw for the tii clock.

 

The metal inside the dash may or may not have the holes already in it. Drill a few small test holes to see.

[mo02]

Hi Rene,

 

I have either type of decals if you are seeking -- PM me to discuss.

 

See pictures

[Gordon]

The dash on my former 74 tii looked like the Grand Canyon with the cracks it had in it. In 2004, I took a six month assignment from my company to work at Ramstein Air Base Germany. While there I went to Veterama (huge automotive fleamarket) http://www.veterama.de/en/home in Ludwighshafen where I stumbled onto a used crack free one piece Euro spec 02 dash for 120 Euros. I quickly bought it and mailed it back. Before it was installed into my tii, the hole for the tii clock was drilled out (very carefully). On the back of the dash, you will easily see the spot where the tii clock goes. Drill a small hole and slowly enlarge the hole with a small saw untill the tii clock fits. I like the look of the Euro spec dash without the seat belt billboard on it and no gear shift pattern.   I traded my Euro spec E28 525e for my clean So Cal tii shell in 2010.  Before everything (dash, interior, suspension, and drivetrain) was transferred from Frankenstein tii to the clean shell, the diving board to Euro bumper conversion was done and US spec sidemarker lights were deleted and Euro turn signals (scored those at Veterama as well) were installed.  Then it was repainted to its original color, Sahara.  

 

G-Man

[infanterene`]

1 hour ago, SteveJ said:

On the back side of the dash you should probably see indentations of where the holes go. 

 

Mask off both sides and try a new, sharp hole saw for the tii clock.

 

The metal inside the dash may or may not have the holes already in it. Drill a few small test holes to see.

Mine does not have holes in the metal. I guess I will measure very carefully 

[infanterene`]

Gman. Your car sounds very nice. Is there a thread ?

 

[infanterene`]

2 hours ago, SteveJ said:

On the back side of the dash you should probably see indentations of where the holes go. 

 

Mask off both sides and try a new, sharp hole saw for the tii clock.

 

The metal inside the dash may or may not have the holes already in it. Drill a few small test holes to see.

Mine does not have any marks on the inside for the clock. 

[Simeon]

I am guessing that this is a very late dash, like for a 1502. Anyone got any brochure shots that confirm that? Only two holes around the instruments is interesting. 

[infanterene`]

Only the top two have holes. . The bottom two only have blank pads. It is in very good shape. I am pulling my windshield so I should have plenty of access to do the job. 

[Gordon]

4 hours ago, infanterene` said:

Gman. Your car sounds very nice. Is there a thread ?

 

I did a blog page about 8 years ago when everything was moved into my new shell. The FAQ has gone through some upgrades since then and that blog page is gone.  Standard 02 upgrades courtesy of a E21 S car (5-speed, LSD, Recaro seats. sport wheel), Bilstein sports, Eibach springs, ST swaybars, poly bushings, 15X7 ET 25 Centra wheels,  motor rebuilt to Euro tii comp ratio, (9.5:1).  Fun weekend car.

[infanterene`]

Very nice gman. Definately inspirational. 

 

I have wheels coming in the same size and et as yours. 

[golf73]

12 hours ago, infanterene` said:

The dash on our 73Tii is severely cracked and I bought a euro one piece dash to replace it. I really do not like the fasten seat belt warning box. This is all part of a glass out paint in its original Sahara color. We are also strongly considering converting to euro lights and filling all the us marker light holes. Bumpers will also be converted. 

 

My new dash does not have marks in the back for a Tii clock and it only has 2 holes next to the gauges for knobs vs 4 that my original dash has.

 

How should I drill the hole for the Tii clock?

 

Can I drill 2 more holes for the two missing knobs?

 

The US dash has stencils above each knob to denote each ones function. The euro dash is missing these stencils. Can I add the stencils to my knobs?

 

i am not overly concerned with values but I would like to know peoples opinions about if this conversation is going to hurt the value of the car.

Thanks

Rene

 

If it's a '73, how come you're going to change the bumpers? Do you mean going to the Euro rear bumper with integrated license plate lamps? Fronts should not have to be changed unless they're bent beyond reasonable repair as the period Euro would have the '73 pointy bumper guards. Not sure if a Euro car would have had the same Modell 73 bumper brackets in the front, which protrude further out from the body than Modell 71's...Rears, too actually. If you change the rears and bring them closer to the body, let me know if you want to sell the black rubber rear bracket covers if they're in serviceable condition, I wouldn't mind having an extra pair

 

 

[infanterene`]

1 minute ago, golf73 said:

 

If it's a '73, how come you're going to change the bumpers? Do you mean going to the Euro rear bumper with integrated license plate lamps? Fronts should not have to be changed unless they're bent beyond reasonable repair as the period Euro would have the '73 pointy bumper guards. Not sure if a Euro car would have had the same Modell 73 bumper brackets in the front, which protrude further out from the body than Modell 71's...Rears, too actually. If you change the rears and bring them closer to the body, let me know if you want to sell the black rubber rear bracket covers if they're in serviceable condition, I wouldn't mind having an extra pair

 

 

To confirm- if I tuck my bumpers with 72 or earlier brackets I will complete the conversion? My bumpers are slightly bent but I am confident they can be saved. Can I add the euro  tag lights to my rear bumper and fill in the us ones?