I have had some new cards made up for a Mk1 Cooper S. They should be the correct size and shape as they were copies of some originals.

I also want to replace the sound deadening.

Can anyone tell me...

1. Should the under-felt/deadening go all the way over to the old cream plastic binnacle (see pic below) or should it stop short of the position of the oval outer 3 gauge binnacle. I'm thinking that underfelt + card + vinyl will be too thick to then fit the oval 3 gauge cluster over the top.

2. Do you normally fix the vinyl under the cream central binnacle via the screws.

3. Is there a trick to maneuvering the dash cards into position.

I'm asking because I know they get damaged if they are taken in and out too many times so I'm trying to avoid that.

Cheers

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

Phillb, can't help you with your question, but your query and photos has answered a question I had

For some reason, the underfelf/sound deadening sheet has made its way INTO the engine bay. I always found this odd, but was unsure where to put it. Now I see it was supposed to be behind the dashcards. Makes much more sense now. BTW, is there a place where I could get the dimensions of the dashcards? Mine have gone missing before I got hold of it.

Thanks
marc
Inner West, Sydney

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1966 Morris Mini Deluxe
.... 4 bicycles and 3 screaming kids.

Hi Marc,

Well my cards went in this arvo and they are all good.

Actually Marc there should be sound deadening in the engine bay also.

There should be a piece of thick black vinyl with underfelt on one side of it. This fits right across the firewall behind the brake masters, carbies and wiper motor.

You see lots of cars without it but it serves another important purpose in that it stops water getting into the back of the instruments (on a roundnose) and as it also covers the fuse box & keeps that dry too.

I bought mine from Miniking, all precut to the correct shape. They have them to suit Clubman and Roundie. Makes the engine bay look nice and neat. Its probably also flame resistant.

When I got my car it had a piece of cardboard with vinyl stuck to it. Not a good idea so close to the exhaust.

I took my old dash cards to an upholster in Campbelltown and between by old torn up incomplete cards and his slightly incomplete one he was able to make up a complete new template, so he has a good correct template for a MK1. I'll PM his details to you.

My cards are a perfect fit so the template he has is spot on. It's important to get the right shape because of the way they curve when fitted.

But remember though there are two different card shapes for Mk1 and Mk2. Mk1 the card goes behind the oval, Mk2 card goes around (he has templates for both)

Also if your car only has the cream single dial that may be slighly different again as you need a neat fit around that.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

Hi Phillb
Thanks for the info on the upholsterer from Campbelltown.
The sound-deadening material in the enginebay was about an inch thick (very similar to some old carpet underlay). The stuff at all the mini shops were much thinner. Wasnt sure which was right, so assume mine was the correct one. However it now makes more sense for this thick piece to sit INSIDE the car as it is prone to rot etc. I will get the thinner one for the engine bay soon.
Regards
marc
Inner West Sydney

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1966 Morris Mini Deluxe
.... 4 bicycles and 3 screaming kids.

Mk2 dash cards are very similar to Mk1 , they also go behind the oval dash and the fixing screws for the dash actually go through them and screw into the captive nuts on firewall . They are not a very nice job to fit , as you need to make a couple of holes in them for the screws , unlike Mk1 dash cards which are quite simple to fit with the thin plastic dash merely fitting over them .....

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1965 Morris 850
1966 Morris Mini Minor
1967 Morris Cooper 'S'
1977 Leyland LS

Also Marc be aware the cards for your Deluxe may be different again depending on the type of dash you have. John Smidt (MiniKing) has told me there are at least 4 different variations for the Cooper S alone so best to double check before you go ahead with getting them made up for your car.

Likewise with the sound deadening. I know Cooper S had extra sound deadening in various places that other models did not have, so that could also be the case with the engine bay and behind the dash.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

I'm sure I've seen MK2's with the card fitting around the black oval rather than behind. I guess they are either incorrect or another variation.

Having seen how a MK2 dash fits in I agree it does look a little more awkward than the MK1.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

When I first restored my `70 Minimatic 15 years ago (same binnacle as a Mk2 S) I got the dash cards from Mini Classic (before Greig Malaure bought the business).
They fit around the binnacle, not under it.

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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.

That's interesting. I've never seen a MK II S like that. On all my cars over the years the card simply sits around the outside of the oval binnacle and can fitted and removed by a bit of twisting and leverage - no screws. In fact it acts as a cover to hide the binnacle fixing screws.

Ive never seen a MK2 Cooper S with cards behind the binnacle. While they do finish flush with the outside of the binnacle they also have a piece of plastic crome trim fitted around the edge adjacent to the binnacle. Its a simple U shape moulded into a semi circle with the open section of the U fitted over the edge of the card.

Given time they all go brittle and invaribly break getting the cards out
Ive never been able to find a solution . I guess fitting them would be a bit like fitting the seam trim around the wheel arches - lots of sun and gentle push

Anybody out there know where we can source this bit of trim?

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Mk1 Cooper S
Mini K Rally car

The parts book shows a U-shaped moulding trim for the round binnacle but not the oval one, and I don't remember ever seeing such trim on the MK II S.

14A5889 - Moulding - Edge - Instrument Housing (x2)
14A8008 - Finisher - Instrument Housing (x2)


Out of interest, the Cooper dash card liners for the oval binnacle are HYA1116 (LH) and HYA1117 (RH).