DIY Dash

[Morris]

Not going to win any car shows but looks much MUCH better than what I had.

 

[bthompson]

Cool! I like it. How'd'ja do it?

 

[Guest]

Not bad at all.

 

[mrsprite]

Meh......I could've done a better job. :wink: Only kidding.....looks nice (now how about a "before" shot?).

 

[Guest]

KNowing Morris I'm surprised it isn't aluminum.

 

[Morris]

Ha! Billy I did contemplate aluminum for a long time. But decided to go the cheap and easy route.

How I did it:

1) Remove ugly, cracked dash cover
2) Cut away foam with sawzall so that dash face is basically flat
3) fill holes, valleys and canyons with light weight filler. I used "Rock Hard" because I had some on the shelf. If I did it again, I would use spackle. Rock Hard is difficult to sand.
4) Buy a couple of yards of vinyl from the fabric store. Using bull dog clips, secure the vinyl to the bottom of the dash and gently stretch the vinyl around. Slowly trim away excess fabric.
5) Secure the vinyl to the dash using contact cement and Super 77.
6) Use a scalpel to cut out instrument and switch holes.

I will probably redo it at some point. When I do, I will place a thin foam layer between the dash and the vinyl. They had headliner material at the fabric store that looked like it would work nicely.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Morris,

Looks a lot easier than replacing with a fiberglass dash and substantially cheaper. I've got a new prototype fiberglass dash in the back of my garage that has been sitting there for past 5+ years. Never had the courage nor a MOWOG available to unbolt the old dash and chase the grounding issues a fiberglass dash presents. Geat job.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Here's the new dash I made for the MGB race car.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

After krinkle paint shot.

 

[Morris]

Always showin' me up, Hap. :wink:

 

[bill_powell]

Good job, Morris. I've always liked a nice custom dash.

And Hap: that's awesome. I really like the 'wrap-around' idea. If I ever decide to eighty-six my passenger I just might go there.

Here's a quick shot of mine; typical, simple home-made wood job:

I know; the car's filthy. So's the garage. Need to spend a little less time driving around and spend a little more time cleaning.

 

[nomad]

Curly maple, Bill! I love it! If you use an acid stain on it it would come out looking like the back of a fine violin!

Kurt.

 

[bill_powell]

Kurt, once I've got the dash as I want it, I'll do just that. I'm still tinkering, so for now all I do is a bit of paste wax.

I do love curly maple; I've done four Mini dashes with it.

 

[Morris]

That is beautiful Bill. Is that a gps mounted in front of the wheel?

 

[Guest]

That is beautiful Bill. Is that a gps mounted in front of the wheel?

Nope, that's a TV so he don't miss any Honey Boo Boo.

 

[Gerard]

Here's one I made from solid black walnut back in the 70's for my Bugeye. This was taken as I was dismantling the car for a second round of restoration, so things are a little disheveled. Even the light switch know was reproduced from solid walnut.

 

[nomad]

Wow, Gerard!! Are you sure thats a picture of a bugeye interior!!


Kurt.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Interesting transmission tunnel treatment. Custom or something available way back when?

 

[Gerard]

Wow, Gerard!! Are you sure thats a picture of a bugeye interior!!


Kurt.

Quite sure...

Here's my original (same) car circa 1969

 

[Gerard]

Interesting transmission tunnel treatment. Custom or something available way back when?

All hand made by yours truly. The seats are obviously later seat foams, covered in leather, Everything was professionally upholstered, including a headliner for the hardtop. The seats are waiting to go into my current Bugeye project. I still have the dash and the console, but not sure if I'll continue to use them in this car.