Flat dash conversion. A work in progress.

[K1200 GT]

Very nice work. But something I would never try. As far as the over rated traffic lites. I was in my MX5 couple weeks ago. Could have been the roadster they are the same height. But I look kool. Just turned yellow.....and red by the time I went across 4 lanes. The nice cop told me the lights are timed for 4 seconds. WOW.. didnt know. I told him I didnt have any more room in my glove box for his yellow piece of paper. But when he told me it was only $212 I took it.

Rich

[S Allen]

Do I have your permission to post this in the wiki? Thanks.

Steve

[MSmethers]

Please do Steve, I was hoping it would end up there.

Marshal

[fj20spl311]

WOW...
Very nice work....

When I did mine, I just cut the early part out at the "V", cut half of the mounting tabs away at the outside and the one above the wiper mount. Bolted the part in by the wiper mount and marked holes for the outer tabs. wiggled it around till I liked it and then cut square holes for 1/4" carriage bolts to bolt in the outside. I will need to check how close I got.

[WOODY]

I just bought a flat dash conversion for my 68 roadster. Thanks for all this great info on it.

[MSmethers]

Glad it will be of some use to you. If you have any specific questions once you get into it, give me a holler here or shoot me a PM and I'll give you my number. I also have more pictures than what I posted so may have something specific if you need.
Now that I've done it, the conversion is actually pretty simple and should be able to be done in a day and a half or so. Just make sure you have a windshield gasket and a dash pad (condition doesn't really matter as long as the defrost vent openings are decent.

[WOODY]

I don't see anything on the steering rack that mention that the 4 holes on the body dont match the '67 how do you center that on the current holes? please let me know before I mess up this

[MSmethers]

Since I used an aftermarket column, I cut the mounting plate from my 70 column and welded a 2" tube for the column to slide into. I pondered using the late model column, and didn't see any reason it wouldn't work. But opted for the Ididit for ease of wiring and steering wheel adapter availability.

Maybe Pebbles has more info. I think he went to the early style column.

[pebbles]

Sorry, not much help. I have obtained an early tube assy, however I have not fit the pieces.
I am curious as to how much mismatch there is.
Maybe adapt the late plate to the early tube, or adapt the early tube/plate to the firewall (lose the plate nuts and nut and bolt).

[scogre]

Ok, I've been reading this post and I'm not sure exactly where to go from here. I got an awesome dash from Ross at Sports Imports, (thanks again Ross, great dash) but I just found out this weekend that I have to change my '69 steering column to the earlier one.

So my question is, what are my options? Using a complete earlier steering or build one on my own? What's the best solution?

Here's what I got.

IMG_3394.jpg

IMG_3396.jpg

[dbrick]

It depends on if you have an early or late steering box. If it's an early, then maybe a 67.5 column, if its a late box, any chance you could modify the column and dash so they cold work together?

[fj20spl311]

You don't need to change your steering column and IMHO, it not safe to go backwards to a spear!

The two problems with the column
One is a small obstruction with the mount and the early defroster.
You can change the defroster vents or trim the mount.

The other is the turn signal / ign. switch. I don't think anyone has come up with a supper trick set-up.

I enlarged the early cover to make the it look like an early car and covered the late turn signal switch' For the Ign. switch I disabled the steering lock and hid it under the dash by rotating and sliding it forward.

I may add defroster vents (large) like the late car...the early one don't work very well.

[dynaguy]

Finally got the welding done for my flat dash conversion. Thanks to Marshall for this write-up. It helped tons, took about 4 hrs to cut out the old piece and weld in the new.

Now it's time to pay forward on the windshield weatherstrip piece that Marshall sent me. It is the lower section with the corners. It really helps with fitment.

I'll do the same for the next person as Marshall did for me. Provide me with your shipping address and it's yours to use (no charge) with the condition that you make the same offer when you are done with it. First come, first served. Please be at a point where you will use it in the near future.

Pat Mahoney

[MSmethers]

Finally got the welding done for my flat dash conversion. Thanks to Marshall for this write-up. It helped tons, took about 4 hrs to cut out the old piece and weld in the new.

Now it's time to pay forward on the windshield weatherstrip piece that Marshall sent me. It is the lower section with the corners. It really helps with fitment.

I'll do the same for the next person as Marshall did for me. Provide me with your shipping address and it's yours to use (no charge) with the condition that you make the same offer when you are done with it. First come, first served. Please be at a point where you will use it in the near future.

Pat Mahoney

Pictures! or as they say, it didn't happen

Glad the write-up helped things along for ya.

[Geordie]

For what its worth, I am 6'4" and 280 (now 250) I use the 69 buckets and a stock steering wheel in my 67. I have re-drilled the seat mounts back as far as they will go. Getting in is sort of a slide right leg in straightened out and drop into seat approach. I have always driven the car with one shoe off. Ahh good times.(and a hot foot)