Quick Qustion/Alum. dash

[rulle7]

Folks,
if I fabricate an aluminum dash to replace the stock steel/pillow dash, will I have any issues with grounding through the alu. dash??
I believe not but just want to check...

 

[Bugeye58]

None at all, Carl. Aluminum is a wonderful conductor. Many high voltage transmission lines are made of the stuff.
Jeff

 

[tony barnhill]

You could just get rid of all the foam & paint the original dash to match the body!

 

[rulle7]

Foam's already gone, don't like the look of what's behind.
Thinking a new dash is the way to go...
Started fixing some very minor bubbles in the paint at the rear wheel arch........one thing led to another and it's now it has no bonnet, no fenders, no trunk lid and most importantly, no rust!
Painting her Old English White(ish), giving her a new interior and, it seems, a new dash.
"Might just as well..." has somewhat drastic consequences.

 

[Steve]

That's how many full-blown restorations get started....

Good luck Carl! Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[rulle7]

Well, made a mock-up today.
Was going to keep the old dash panel behind the gages mostly because the heater flap 'twistie switch' is mounted on it and I couldn't be bothered to take it out...this changed as the day progressed and now the old dash is ALL gone.

 

[rulle7]

Then my daughter Hannah and I started cutting and banging on aluminum..........

 

[rulle7]

And, so we have a new dash, well at least a good beginning...

 

[Bugeye58]

That's looking very nice, Carl.
Jeff

 

[rulle7]

Thanks Jeff,
Shall I presume you comment on my daughter?... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
The main issue is knee room for my wife upon entry and exit.
This gives her an easier time and as we all know, a happy wife is a happy family, or some such...

 

[Bugeye58]

Carl, Hannah is looking exceptionally fine, as well!
Jeff

 

[kcbugeye1275]

There is a bodyman who did a really nice restoration on a box sprite in the area and air brushed his dash to a wood panel finish. It looked like wood.

 

[JPSmit]

a happy wife is a happy family, or some such...

happy wife, happy life - easy to remember /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bow.gif

 

[aeronca65t]

Here is mine from race car (before I tucked the wire up behind it more neatly). Lucky Lizard is optional.

My surface finish is the lazy-man version of "engine-turned". I hit it every 1" or so with a 1" round wire wheel on an electric drill.

 

[dklawson]

Nial, years ago I read of another DIY method for creating engine-turned aluminum. If I remember correctly it involved taking a short length of large diameter wooden dowel and putting a stud in it so you could mount it in a drill press. You put sandpaper on the drill press table and brought the dowel against it (press running) until you got a flat face on the dowel. After that you took the dowel out and glue ScotchBrite to the flat face of the dowel. I think someone came up with this in response to a kit that Eastwood once sold.

Anyway, nice dash (both Nial' and Carl's soon-to-be one).

 

[bugimike]

That engine turned effect can be achieved quite easily (but still requiring much patience!) with a Dremmel tool, small buffing pad and compound!