Xephius's Custom Dash

[Xephius]

Yo,

While I am building an LT1 for the van, I have some time to get some the ascetics up to speed. To that end, I am tearing out my dash and old sub enclosure/center console. My plan is to build a new dash, with custom gauges and center console that flows into the rear. I plan to build in a Hurst style shifter, modify the stock A/C controls to fit, build in a larger sub enclosure and port some ducts to the rear where a video screen will be mounted.
Tonight I ripped out the old dash. It was a real PITA. Once it was out, I realized building a new dash out of sheet metal would be much easier than I originally thought. Over the next week or so I will design and start to build the new dash. If anyone has gone done this and has suggestions or pics of what they have done, please post them up!
Here are the photo's of my dash jacking...

-=John=-

[WVKayaker]

You're a brave man! Good luck! Awesome Project.

[peter]

Hell yeah!

[SafariRob]

John, I'm really looking forward to watching this thread.
Hardcore Astro Safari--I just love it.

[meetthespeakers]

So your gonna build the dash out of aluminum? No fiberglass? Is it gonna be boxy, smooth/curved, painted, vinyl, carpeted? Retain stock gauges, vents, etc?





I always thought Fat Huh Project was kind of cool, or will be cool when its done. I myself am working on a molded in center console, but nothing that extremem.

[bikeboy]

Yeh I cannot wait to see this, I have been fooling around with some ideas on how to redo my dash. Going to the parts yard tomorrow and get an old one out for a model. I am thinkingf fiberglass for mine. I am having some issues as to how to get around the doghouse. I have some rough drawings of the dash I think I might like to do will try to copy and get them on here. Gotta get my son to show me how.

[Xephius]

Hey all,

Well I have decided to use the original dash as a "frame". I will cut around the outside "bolt" holes on the dash, then fabricate a new frame to the shape that I want. Then using wood/metal fabricate the basic holes I need to mount everything in the places I want them. Once I am done with that I will go back in with fiberglass and smooth it all out.

I will be starting on it today, so I should have some plan/drawings/pics of progress. Before I can get into it, I have to go pickup some parts for my LT1, pull out the current custom console and get it ready for Trybe.

Below are the gauges I am thinking of using. I have been completely underwhelmed by the selection of gauges available on the market today. Auto Meter only makes 2 sets that even remotely appeal to me. The MCX and the Pro series. But the both still look a little subdued. I would like to see something more modern or aggressive in design. I think all the digital gauges look straight out of 1983 with the vacuum florescent displays, and the gauges that are pushing the edge by other companies just look cheap. This is all just my opinion, but man I feel like stock gauges suck and the aftermarket is only marginally better. At least the MCX line has some style to them..

https://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/ ... _672759_-1

Thoughts?

[PharmAstrocist]

You are a brave, brave man. I'll be watching!

$650 for guages? I give up the title, you're crazier then I am.

[SoCalli V8]

Some dash pictures that I found in my files......

[Hotroder383]

I gota say I like that grey carpt one, but I dont like the speakers in front of me like that, would have moved the gauge cluster in front of me and put the speakers in the center con. faceing out myself. Would love to have the time and money to do that some day =)

[SoCalli V8]

That grey dash was in a "stereo showvan" hence all the speakers upfront and in the doors......