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Next step in my dash project

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drooartz

drooartz

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Got motivated this evening, and swung down to Home Depot for some dash makings. Got a 24" x 48" piece of 1/2" birch plywood and a jig saw. I plan to use the ply to make a template, including holes for the steering wheel shaft in both LHD and RHD configurations. If I can get one built up correctly, I can use it to make a final version out of better wood. It's a start.

The wood piece is big enough for 2 dashes, so I've got some room to screw up the first one. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
Made a little more progress on my template. My first rough cut seemed to fit pretty well. I'll need to smooth out the curves a bit before I consider it done, but it does seem to line up where it needs to.

wooddash1.jpg
wooddash2.jpg


Next job is to spend some time cleaning up the edges to get the curves smooth. Then I'll give it a quick coat of some sort of sealant. I'll use this one as a router template to make another to use for my first attempt to cut in some gauges.

I'll also need to dig up some small L brackets to use for attaching it to the car, and will need to make a shim of some sort for mounting the steering column shroud. This dash sits just a bit further back than the original, so the shroud needs about a 1/2" shim or so to work properly.
 
Looking good Drew! I noticed that the one on ebay is still there at the same price, did you give up on that one? Since you are going this route, have you considered a totally original shape and layout for a dash? Since you are starting from scratch, you could create anything so long as the top fits the cowl!!
 
I decided against the eBay one, since I was going to want to modify anyways. I am eventually planning on modifying the shape a bit, but wanted my initial template to be as close to original as possible. That way I've captured the shape if I want it.

Now that I know the top profile is correct, and the LHD steering hole is in place, I can work up a new design. I am considering a new layout, moving the smaller gauges (fuel, combo) a little more centered in the dash so that they are not blocked by the wheel when driving.
 
Just flip it end for end for a RHD dash. All else the same I beleive.
 
Very good point Jack /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif!! Just finish both sides of your dash and it will work for LHD or RHD, Drew!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
 
I had sort of figured that it would be a mirror for the steering column. I'll have to experiment...
 
Foot Drew, get a peice of material that is good both sides and you can work it either way. Or if you screw up one side you can flip it.
 
Perfect timing, Drew!!

Check out:
<a href="https://www.justbrits.com/cars/spridgets.html" target="_blank">

Mike Farmer's Dash</a>

Ed
 
Thanks for that, Ed. Nice work that chap did, gives me some good ideas.
 
In a couple of places in my car I wanted an original design, so I went to a crafts store and bought that material that is about 1/4 inch thick, with foam in the middle and cardstock on both sides as my template material (forget the name of it, but you can probably picture it). Very easy to cut and recut. I used ridged brad nails to "tack" 2 or more sides together. I then took my creations to a local fab guy, and he created mirror images in welded aluminum--for pretty cheap, too.

Drew, you are already way past this point with your dash, but it may work for you (or others) for future projects.

One of these original designs was my "ignition and switch box" that I bolted to the interior side of the firewall under my dash...

During my build, I added some footwell lights, a boot light and couple of other things, so I needed a place for these switches. I also wanted an enclosed ignition box (that houses a separte ignition switch) as I did not like how any 9-year old could hotwire my car with the original ignition location in the dash. Here is a photo of the design box and aluminum fabrication.

https://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t109/msoylemez/DSC02702.jpg

The box was then covered in leather to match the dash and bolted in place.
 
Drew,

For wooden stuff in vintage British cars...

Mahogany or Walnut

You can even buy "farm raised" mahogany these days, so you won't be accused of depleting the rain-forest. Mahogany (particularly the farmed kind) is mostly straight grained, but after you have sealed it with polyurethane, it polishes up wonderfully well using old-fashioned turpentine and beeswax polish.

Walnut often has more interesting grain patterns. Choose a piece that has a nice figured grain pattern on it, tell the wood guys what you're doing with it, they'll know what to look for. Also polishes up well, and rewards the amount of finishing work you do on it.

Not cheap, either of them, but what is, these days?

Chris
 
That's a good idea, Mustafa. I do actually have a guy reasonably close who can do custom fabrication. Never thought about using that foam-core stuff for mocking up parts. Great idea!
 
Here is a pic of how I did my dash. I used a different switch for the headlights and parking lights. I used a wood laminate that came from a table top. Hard to cut without breaking it. I did not put in my oil/water guage because I have it hooked up on the car temporarily for my mechanical check out that I hope to do soon. I have the top cover that I got from moss to be put on yet.
MVC-241F.jpg
 
Chris - when I get this ready, my plan is actually to cover it with vinyl so it will look stock-ish. I've got a rosewood steering wheel coming, and don't want the dash to compete with the wheel. My first try may even just be rattle-canned black (as a temporary measure, of course /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif )

I'm using wood mostly because I can do the work myself, and the materials aren't that expensive (relatively speaking). I'll probably wind up with some sort of maple, since it's strong and not too expensive.

At least for my first one. Who knows what the next few might look like.
 
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