Time to try the new dashboard

Trial fit of dashboard

I had made a new dashboard for the JZR some time ago and it had sat, for safety's sake, under a double bed in a spare bedroom. However, we had moved to our new house and a major decluttering exercise had been ordered so the dash had to find a new home. With the car being reinvigorated, it seemed sensible to fit the dash, at least temporarily.

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The existing dash was a wooden affair with veneer, whilst my new one was in aluminium. It didn't take long to remove the old dash and offer up the new one, which after some minor adjustments fitted just fine. Having spent some time on the wiring for the new dash, it really puts to shame the existing wiring, which, after the turbo related loom has been removed, consists mainly of different (wrongly) coloured wires connected by some bullet connectors but a lot of "twisted ends" covered with insulation tape. A quick Google search found a supplier who had all the correct CX500 wiring colour combinations, so an order was placed. I also ordered a new 6-way fusebox as the existing item had seen better days. My intention is to make a small board to carry the fusebox, CDI unit, and flasher unit and fit it on the panel above the passenger's legs.

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I had been rather concerned about the rewiring, but seeing how few wires there are on a standard CX500, I am now a little more confident that my rather poor skills in that area will not only make the car go again, but create working lights, indicators, horn and cooling fan!

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As I pondered the wiring, my thoughts moved to the front mudguards, as I have mounted side/indicator lights on the mudguard tops. These would need a refit as I had done a temporary job two years ago. But, thoughts of a colour change for the body were in my mind too. If I changed the mudguards I could solve the problem of the mudguards being very close to the tyres, making it impossible to remove a wheel without first removing a mudguard. A further issue is the support stay for the mudguards, one of which locates too close to the bleed nipple on the front brake caliper. Both these things need improving so I may replace the wings with either aluminium or stainless steel ones in the process.

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Talking of colour - the car is presently painted in a Alpha red of some variety and has a stainless lower half. I'm thinking of having the bonnet and tail painted in Fiat broom yellow - the colour that the Fiat Coupe was painted. Any thoughts?

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Roger