Le Mans 2 Seater Dashboard

[cev196]

Hi, A newly made and part completed Dashboard came with my Le Mans 2 Seater, holes for the center section and the speedo and rev counter were already there.
Can any one provide layout details for the additional gauges, which I believe would be the oil pressure gauge and possibly a water temperature gauge.
Also the position where the Choke knob should be.
I've worked out that the ammeter goes in the center section and that the bottom of the center section has (left to right) Charge warning lamp, Key switch and Dashboard lights switch. In my box of bits came a push switch, which I am presuming was fitted as a starter button at one time.
Also required is the position of the two dashboard lights (they are currently an ongoing project).
Any help in this area is appreciated.
Abe

[telco.2]

Is this any help?

[Peter McKercher]

The picture in the handbook is how I did mine, although mine originally had the centre dash light in the lip of the cowl rather than in the dash. They were done both ways. If you are missing the centre panel, here is a template.

centre_console_mai.jpg (79.55 KiB) Viewed 30538 times

cluster.jpg (335.92 KiB) Viewed 30538 times

[jeans_old_man]

Hi Abe,

Petrol gauges were only fitted to four seaters, Two seaters relied on the reserve tap. Many owners fitted an aftermarket temperature gauge such as Motometer. Early models had a slightly different dashlamp fitted high up on the cowl. I'm not sure which model you have. I got my dashlamps from Vintage MG spares - http://www.vintagemgparts.com. I hope that helps. Brian

[casadecabra]

This is a faithful reproduction made to the dimensions of the original dashboard from my Le Mans 2 seat 9hp registered in May 1934.

The hole for the choke can be seen to the bottom left of the speedometer - the location is correct but I'm not sure of the diameter.

The hole for the ignition switch in the metal centre panel is 1/2" diameter. I'm not sure what type of switch was fitted - I need one myself. Presumably one with a spade key? The panel itself originally had a black crackle finish.

Unfortunately my rev counter does not have a clock. I suspect this was an optional extra at the time.

One instrument lamp was fitted on the cowl above the dashboard. There was a crudely made hole directly above the water temperature gauge on my original panel. It is possible that this was for an additional gauge or was the location of a second instrument lamp.

David B

[mikeyr]

that is odd, I swear there was a write up on the LM Dash on the main site...looking for it, all I can find is the 4AD one. I know I have it somewhere and will find it and put it back. One of the problems with running this site for 25 or so years, things get lost, well not lost, just lose menu links and like that.

In the meantime, with the images above and the pic from the owners manual, you should be able to get it. (this pic is the same one as in the PDF above)

LMDash.jpg (82.25 KiB) Viewed 30488 times

[Peter McKercher]

That is the set up I used. I have seen the small gauges set up in line or as in the handbook photo, staggered one above the other. I prefer the staggered look, although it doesn't leave room for the Le Mans brass dash plaque that many folks add (it doesn't actually belong on the 33/34 Le Mans anyway). And as Abe points out, the fuel gauge was never fitted to the Le Mans. As for the dash lamps, Hardwicks do supply them. The one that fits on the cowl is the same as the one on the dash, except that an additional chrome base is used as a mounting fixture. Hardwicks also supply the base. Here is a shot of my dash. NB, the gauges are not all mounted in the correct positions in this photo and only one dash lamp is mounted . I will be placing the ammeter in the centre console, oil gauge in the top far right and water gauge in the far lower right.

new_dash.jpg (354.46 KiB) Viewed 30483 times

[cev196]

Hi, these posts are fantastic it makes things clear.
It has however raised another question re how the dashboard is mounted, I see 4 bolts/screws, what type of head do these have? Am I right in presuming a standard nut fixing is on the reverse.

[Peter McKercher]

Yes, just a 3/16" round head slotted machine screw with nut. It bolts through tabs on the reinforcing plates that secure the coachwork joints. You will have to shim them between the tab and the coachwork, otherwise you will have a large gap between the dash and the cowl which will be too wide to be filled by piping. I just used a shim at each tab. The Le Mans originally had a full strip of plywood about 1" wide by 1/4" thick that followed the entire contour of the cowl.

[mikeC]

... The hole for the ignition switch in the metal centre panel is 1/2" diameter. I'm not sure what type of switch was fitted - I need one myself. Presumably one with a spade key? The panel itself originally had a black crackle finish...

I am pretty sure the original ignition switch was not key-operated, but just a simple button with a twist operation. The actual button was approximately rectangular in shape and turned through 90°.

[Peter McKercher]

Yes, you are correct. The ignition key I have installed is modern (sixties). The original would have been a spade type key. They are fairly rare. The square switch that turns at 90 degrees is for the dash lights and is installed to the right of the ignition switch.

[jeans_old_man]

Here is a picture of my 1935 version (with petrol gauge)

[Phillip]

Hey Abe,

Hope your project is going well. The dashboard is one of the LM's nicest features and getting the details right is very satisfying.

As mentioned, Pre-War MG Parts sell the D-43 repro dashlamps and I think that they are the best available. The earlier cars had one mounted on the scuttle in-between the humps and one on the dash, later cars had both on the dash.

Also wanted to note that the '35 dashboard shot from the 1935 Singer Sportscars handbook is a Sports 4 seater. As mentioned, the LM does not have a fuel gauge, usually a water temperature gauge and an oil pressure gauge. A combined oil temperature and water temperature gauge could also be fitted and the finned alloy sump has a spot to tap that oil temperature sender into it.

I have an original ignition switch and Solex choke cable, as well as ignition warning lamp and panel lamp switch.

Although what I have is mostly for my 1934 Sports, the components are the same. In fact, even my 1936 LM SS has a PLC switch with a spade key in it! Very early cars had no key at all, just a switch.

This is the original type switch from the early '30's:

Spade Key Ignition Switch_WEB_1.jpg (158.2 KiB) Viewed 30424 times

It mounts into the back of the dash panel on this bracket:

Spade Key Ignition Switch_WEB_4.jpg (184.1 KiB) Viewed 30424 times

Like this:

Spade Key Ignition Switch_WEB_2.jpg (183.57 KiB) Viewed 30424 times

Looking like this on the front side, although the key slot is worn on this one:

Spade Key Ignition Switch_WEB_3.jpg (236.5 KiB) Viewed 30424 times

On my other cars, where I could not find the original switch - they are more than quite rare - I adapted a later Lucas switch that mounts in the same way from the back and use the casing of an old panel lamp switch for the bezel. It give a very similar look and provides a locking tumbler switch:

Alternate BMC Ignition Switch_WEB.jpg (253.05 KiB) Viewed 30424 times

The original starter button is what I call the 'reed switch', the construction is different from the common repro available that has a larger flat topped button. The original is quite slim and smaller. I can dig mine out if you'd like a photo.

If your car had the Solex carbs, the original choke knob had a logo in the center of it saying, "SOLEX" in the center and around that, "Pull to Start". I have a NOS one I can photograph if you's like it.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,
Phillip

[jeans_old_man]

I would love to see the photo of the Solex choke knob, Phillip.

I notice that SS models do not have a choke knob on the dash - presumably the SU version (if there is such a thing) is mounted on the gearbox remote next to the advance/retard.

I have never seen that version of the spade switch before. There are plenty of examples of ones with a hexagonal nut holding it in place though :

The key is a plain blade but more key-like than the one you showed. Brian

[Phillip]

Hey Brian,

Here's the SOLEX choke knob. This is an unused NOS item:

Solex Choke Knob_NOS_WEB.jpg (145.66 KiB) Viewed 30367 times

It's been a while since I looked at it and the lettering is slightly different to my earlier description, as you can see.
It actually says, "Pull without opening throttle / START / Solex / British Made"
[
I'll dig out one of the original starter buttons for a photo also.

The photo in the Singer Sports Car Handbook that shows the dash is the 4 seater version that has the choke cable on the dash. The diagrams of the Le Mans SS that I have seen show a motorcycle Bowden lever on the gear lever remote extension, plus, if I recall, one up under the dash on the steering column for advance / retard and possbily a hand throttle(?). I'm going to assume that the 'standard' LM that was fitted with twin Solex had a dash mounted choke cable like the four seater.

Another thing that is rarely mentioned on the '35 LM is the sidescreen tray under the dash. I've only ever seen one!