Dash

Did I mention the 109 hasn't had a dashboard since at least 2005?

If you can't be bothered to read the full saga of the big rebuild, just know that it was done in a caffeine-fuelled fever-dream against the clock, days before departing for Russia and with the proviso that the truck needed to be able to wade as deep as a Proto-class truck on 40“ tyres… so, long story short - throw it all on the ceiling and sort it out later!

I never banged my head on this - everyone else who's ever gotten into the truck absolutely has though. I thank you all for the laughter and kind words ;)

So, let's get it gone!

It's like the ceiling vomited

That's a weight off my mind - and a dent off my forehead!

With enough cable ties we might just pull this off!

So let's crack on with putting an actual dashboard back in… how hard can it be can I make my life?

So, all I want is a totally original (looking) Series 3 dashboard but with a modern fusebox and relays plus full Megasquirt & EDIS setup tucked behind it in an orderly and accessible fashion… is that so much to ask?

Fusebox fits down there, at least it does with no wires or anything else near it

I'm using a modular fusebox from Vehicle Wiring Products which I think is made by MTX.

I'm also using a Midi-Mega fuse holder as a distribution box behind the dash… it's going to be tight!

The plastic binnacles are always cracked, so I had a replacement lasered out - big thanks to TSD for drawing it in Autocad! If you're not that advanced, a bit of CAD (Cardboard Aided Design) should get you there well enough.

Yep, this might even work!

Started wiring - 4-way Midi fuse holder under the steering column mount to provide power & ground.

ECU & EDIS module back there, this is getting cheeky cheeky!

Let's check…

Clearance is clearance! Gauges may not stay 100% original so clearance should increase if anything

Soooo many hours spent crouched in the cab just fiddling with wires!

The old one had a hole in it…

As I currently have no heater (certainly no standard heater that would blow into the dash) I made a new top section.

With room to mount the Freelander dual-fan relay:

Now, about that fuse box…
Yes as part of the expensive extensive complete rewire I'm hiding a proper modern-ish fusebox behind the dash, like this:

Now, while my wiring is obviously utterly perfect in every way, it's possible that by some incredible stroke of misfortune or manufacturing defect that a fuse may blow, and at that point I don't want to have to pull the whole lower dash out to get to it.

So, out with the tin-snips!

I was only cutting through the metal, leaving the foam & vinyl alone.

This is what I was left with:

Trim some foam, steal some clips off the discarded section, and voila!

Yes, it's a shortened dashboard bottom!

Using a hacked-about dashboard bottom I picked up at Sodbury for a fiver, I did the same trick again to create a dashboard end that will bolt in & cover the fusebox.

Central auxiliary panel holds diff lock switches, fan warning light and maybe some other stuff later.

Dash top on!

Gauges ahoy!