Custom fiberglass dash build...

[emoguitarboy]

Lookin good man, just wondering, are you saving any weight with that...I'd love to do something simmilar...but just to save weight.

 

[HiPoSped]

Lookin good man, just wondering, are you saving any weight with that...I'd love to do something simmilar...but just to save weight.

All that fiberglass and wood is probably much heavier than the stock dash, so i don't think anthing like this will save you any weight. But it's lookin great, keep up the good work man. I can't wait to see it all painted, and installed. I've done a good bit of glass work and I know how time consuming it can be. Keep it up!!

 

[Blitzeclips]

All that fiberglass and wood is probably much heavier than the stock dash, so i don't think anthing like this will save you any weight. But it's lookin great, keep up the good work man. I can't wait to see it all painted, and installed. I've done a good bit of glass work and I know how time consuming it can be. Keep it up!!

OK guys for the record yes it does weight the dash down BUT it will compensate for it in sound reduction within the cabin. I am pulling all the HVAC vents off the underside of the dash and coating it with a noise dampener so when I install the dash, any creaks or noises at all should be greatly reduced. If you are concerned with weight, taking out the rear and door panels will be most effective and convenient.


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MORE UPDATES: Finsihed up most of the gauge pods. Also worked on the center console some more... Sorry most the pics were done at the evening..

Here is a pic of the cover I made for my monitor. This was made using sheet metal that mimicked the shape of the center console so the monitor screen will sit flush with everything. It's already very smooth and no sanding was needed. I just glassed the backside of the sheet metal, let is cure, then pried it off and viola perfect shape and smooth as can be.

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Here is the peice reference up there and the gauge pod I started. I need to sand it and some other stuff but you get the general idea.

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On the console..

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On the console on the dash..

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I also made the template for the lower passenger and river side area of the dash. This will cover the lower portion of the dash you see unfinished or for lack of a btter word 'missing'...

 

[Blitzeclips]

Hey guys I completely forgot but I was hoping I could post up something that you guys could giv eme input on.

The seldom pod on the center console has 2 different directions it can go.

It can either come OUT from the console like this:

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OR....

It can be sucked inward. Well not literally but you see what I'm saying... Like THIS..

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Which do you guys think would look better? Which would you prefer?? I don't know.. Thanks.

 

[TAndrus]

The "sucked inward" looks best in my opinion.

 

[Talesin]

Hmm. Looks like you're going to end up catching a whole lot of sun glare on those top three gauges (and the left one might have outright visibility problems while driving given the angle it's at). I'd recommend some kind of cowl or 'eyelid' over the top of all four.

I'd say that the 'sucked in' look would be fine if you were going to have a clock or some other non-critical gauge there, but the sides of the shaping would again potentially cause a visibility blocking problem for anything that you relied on looking at to determine the health of the car.

There's a reason that on newer vehicles, center-mounted gear is always angled toward the driver, rather than following a symmetrical cabin layout... the driver needs to see the gauges easily and clearly. The passenger does not.

 

[Blitzeclips]

Thanks thus far guys i appreciate the input.

As far as visibility goes, I have actually sat down in the exact position as my seat to the dash and the gauges are actually quite visible. I've also put gauges in the pod already for this issue so to some extent I know this. I've looked at countless interiors when I was coming up with ideas for the dash itself(from custom to OEM to classic cars). I'm glad someone is keeping an eye out for little stuff like that that I may overlook. Thanks again for the input.

 

[eclipsh]

Having it stick out straight looks funny. If it were molded in well it'd be different but like that it just isn't right.

 

[Blitzeclips]

Well yeah the gauge will be molded when I decide where/how it's going to mount.

 

[93EclipseGSX]

so are you making the fiberglass over the stock stuff?

or just making a mold then using fiberglass only ?

### i was curious how much its going to weigh....

 

[stock1g4g63]

If you're going to make a mold... you gonna consider selling it?

 

[nokturnaltalon]

your dash should look pretty sik when done. here are pics of mine after i finished it.

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[Artago]

^^^ SWEEEET. A little ricey but SWEET.

 

[Talesin]

The flames and lower windshield banner are *very* ricey, but the rest of the dash looks good.

 

[Artago]

The flames and lower windshield banner are *very* ricey, but the rest of the dash looks good.

Agreed. The flames also reflect off the windshield, I imagine that must be distracting when driving.

 

[Blitzeclips]

nokturnal- Nice dash man! Paint scheme not exactly my style but I love the effect of it. Thanks for the motivation to finish. Where is your head unit BTW?

I wanted to stray away from the 2g dash painted, I want to make something that wouldn't mimick a 2g very much, yet only in certain places.

Sorry no updates lately, if any of you live in the Northeast you'll understand why. It's been colder then a witches titty the past week or two. Plus going to work and school full-time isn't helping either.

I'm trying to convince my buddy to let me finish the last bits of it in his garage. I could actrually work on it when it's dark out and make some serious progress. If I had 2 full days from 8am-8pm I could get this dash ready for paint. Guide coat and everything...

Thanks to all keeping interest and giving comments. It's really nice to know someone is getting something out of this. Also some nice motivation.

Will keep EVERYONE updated!!

 

[nokturnaltalon]

My head unit is right under my air controls its a double din.

 

[Blitzeclips]

My head unit is right under my air controls its a double din.

What is a double din?

 

[PieEyedPiper]

What is a double din?

Thats what they call the spot for our cdplayer/radio. Since ours was so huge and fat, the size of two, they call it a double DIN.

 

[Talesin]

Single-DIN is the standard height radio, around three to four inches tall. Double or Two-DIN is twice as tall (the size of our stock radio units). His appears to be a two-DIN unified stereo/navigation system with a touchscreen interface... usually that type has the bottom of the screen slide forward with the top sliding down to expose the CD load slot, angling the screen 'upward' in the process.

Bonus points, DIN stands for Deutsches Institut fur Normung; the German Standards Institute. So a single or pair of standard radio mounting slot(s).

 

[lazer1985]

any updates on this? really intrested how this turned out!!

 

[Blitzeclips]

Yessir! Haven't forgot about you guys nor the dash! She's been getting worked on all week... Progress pics to come soon..

 

[cXc5120]

Looks good so far

 

[Blitzeclips]

Alright I know it may seem like I have been working on this for a while now but that's technically not the case. Like I said I work and go to school full-time so I rarely get a chance to work on this. Especially over the holidays. So though alot of this may not seem like alot of progress : it actually is. ALOT of this stuff is tedious and really time onsuming. Plus working in a cold-ass unheated garage in the winter isn't fun either. Anyways here's how shes goin thus far..

Things done were:

Made gauge cluster housing removable. (believe me this was not fun getting all the edges smooth and to line up was a HUGE B*TCH)
Made the center console removable
Finsihed up alot of the edges and sanding.
Finsihed the gauge cluster

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You can't get a good idea of what it looks like with all the bondo and what not. Next week I'll have her fine sanded (guide coat) and primed nice. You all should get a nice idea of what she'll look like..

Oh and if someone could tell me how to erase or remove the date from the bottom left corner of each pic that'd be cool... It's a couple years late. .

 

[gixrman]

Oh and if someone could tell me how to erase or remove the date from the bottom left corner of each pic that'd be cool... It's a couple years late. .

There should be a setup feature in your camera for seting date/time. Good work so far, don't give up, start from scratch fabrication is always time consuming. The sense of pride from telling someone that you made it yourself is worth it.