I tracked down a set of Nippon gauges for my dash as I discovered the same issue you have found.

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1969 Cooper "S"
1967 Mini Deluxe
1973 Clubman Van (the fleet spare)
1978 ex 1275 LS ("Wizard" Eaton Supercharged)
2015 HSV GenF GTS(occasional drive & tow car)
2019 MINI F55 Cooper S

Thanks for the heads-up on the Nippon gauges.
I reckon I can get my gauges to fit.

Here's the old dash which I fabricated from MDF and PVC pipe for the dial shrouds and yes, that is velcro for the glovebox.



Surrounds with a lick of paint:



The chrome bezels have been fixed with what looks like JB Weld; the high points need to be removed
so the glass fits flush and doesn't break when you fasten the cluster down.

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2 steps forward, 1 step back

Maybe this should be in the "How-To" thread...I only just saw that.
Still, I'll keep it here for the moment if the mods don't object...

Bonded dial 'glass to the unit using JB Weld; 3 pinhead drops for each dial.



Positioned the dials roughly using gaffer tape to hold the dials while adjusting location.
Self-tappers used to fix the dial housings. No pre-drilling needed.



All looks ok:

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2 steps forward, 1 step back

It sort of fits. I say sort of; top and bottom clearances are pretty snug but there's a 1" gap on the passenger side!

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2 steps forward, 1 step back

Hi
Your images are not working for me?

I found my dash needed to be trimmed along the top and bottom to make it fit as I had my dash covered with leather , so I agree with a standard dash pads it would be snug. I also had a gap at each end which I adjusted so I ended up with approx 15-20mm at each end.
The gap is not too noticeable if you can make both ends the same
Good luck

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1969 Cooper "S"
1967 Mini Deluxe
1973 Clubman Van (the fleet spare)
1978 ex 1275 LS ("Wizard" Eaton Supercharged)
2015 HSV GenF GTS(occasional drive & tow car)
2019 MINI F55 Cooper S

It looks like Google Photos doesn't support embedding images into forums any more without using html. If you're logged into Google it'll likely probably work.
I'll re-edit my posts and use the upload tool instead.

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2 steps forward, 1 step back

DrF your last post pics look OK for me, but not the previous post. I'm running Safari.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks Doctor. They should all be visible now.

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2 steps forward, 1 step back

Yes images now good.
As previously advised I also had a gap at each end, which I managed to even up by moving the dash left to right until both about the same. I also sanded off a bit of my dash at top and bottom which may explain why I could move it sideways? I used a belt sander at about a 45 degree angle across the back and kept trying to fit and adjusting until it pressed in between the top and bottom rails.

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1969 Cooper "S"
1967 Mini Deluxe
1973 Clubman Van (the fleet spare)
1978 ex 1275 LS ("Wizard" Eaton Supercharged)
2015 HSV GenF GTS(occasional drive & tow car)
2019 MINI F55 Cooper S

Hi Michael,
Sage advice. My MDF marvel fitted better than the bought one due to a lot of what you mentioned.

What did you do with your air vent holes?

I only ask since I understand my mini doesn't have any air ducts to hook them up to.

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2 steps forward, 1 step back

I fitted speakers

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1969 Cooper "S"
1967 Mini Deluxe
1973 Clubman Van (the fleet spare)
1978 ex 1275 LS ("Wizard" Eaton Supercharged)
2015 HSV GenF GTS(occasional drive & tow car)
2019 MINI F55 Cooper S

I had speakers...a big arse Pioneer component front-end and two Jensen tubes on the rear deck and a 8" subby between them but
unless my cockpit drops a zillion dB I won't bother again. I'll just listen to the raucous chorus of my engine running on 3 cylinders through
Perry extractors.

The list of things that need to be done to such a small car is big.

Here's the beastie after a rushed wash.

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2 steps forward, 1 step back

Nice looking mini.
Here is how I filled the holes. And yes it is a bit hard to hear the radio or music while the car is being driven.

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1969 Cooper "S"
1967 Mini Deluxe
1973 Clubman Van (the fleet spare)
1978 ex 1275 LS ("Wizard" Eaton Supercharged)
2015 HSV GenF GTS(occasional drive & tow car)
2019 MINI F55 Cooper S

That looks mint, great result.

Warning Lights
I've got two warning light bulbs that sat in holes on the original cluster
and yet there's no equivalents on the new dash. At the moment they're
resting just behind the glove box.

What's their purpose (what do they indicate) and what's a good place to mount them?

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2 steps forward, 1 step back

Warning lights!

One is a hand brake warning and the other is a brake fail warning, or master cylinder fail, although I believe if the master cylinder fails you will probably notice it via your right foot?
There is a switch near the hand brake which wires up to the dash and the master cylinder has a switch built into the side.
I drill holes in my dash and fitted two little bezel lights I got from Jcar. You can seei one on the left of the instrument pod. The other is on the right of the pod. I drill two holes very carefully, don't use a very sharp drill and start small and work up to the correct size and use a slow speed drill. It is very easy to chip the lacquer on the dash.

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1969 Cooper "S"
1967 Mini Deluxe
1973 Clubman Van (the fleet spare)
1978 ex 1275 LS ("Wizard" Eaton Supercharged)
2015 HSV GenF GTS(occasional drive & tow car)
2019 MINI F55 Cooper S