Dashboard construction techniques.

[Adrian Southgate]

Seeing lots of different types of dash material and constructions on our photo albums but lets have some specific ideas / methods. I will probably edit this thread for publication in DT at some point in the future so you have been warned.

Just to start the ball rolling here is how mine was made.

Cut back the original dash facia to fit the clocks (capri 6 clock unit is quite large) then used 'meccano ' strips from halfords to locate the instrument cluster.

I used LD45 (a measurement of foam density) to make a skeleton and eventually an outer skin which is removable in segments. repair sized penny washers have been inserted into the foam during the construction process to allow a firm fixing and the majority of it has been covered with LD25 (softer) foam as impact protection. This was shaped using a very sharp knife and sandpaper and then finally covered in patterned 'skin' also made of foam.

The whole lot was assembled with lovely brown evostik (do this outdoors or the mrs WILL kill you, you'll be off your face on the fumes and won't care) 

The facia plate was from the capri club of australia, used to be available on ebay but I haven't checked recently and fits straight on to the plastic dash panel from any late capri once you remove the old foam insert. its made of H2 stainless which does need taking off every now and again for gentle lengthwise scouring to retain the brushed finish.

Trial fitting of cluster.

I do have more foam sheeting but not enough for another full dash like mine. there may be enough for a phaeton or melos though.

Over to you guys.

[Adrian Southgate]

And this is what the finished article looks like, still some work to be done around the lever switches on the column though.

This is the passenger side, glove box actually does contain gloves and is warmed by the heater matrix below it :-)

[Dave Adams]

Not a bad idea there Ade my dash will be redesigned this year but keeping the same basic shape. also because i am going to lower the transmission tunnel to a closer fit to the gearbox i will have a centre consul look to the car as well which may well have the heater controlls on amongst other things.

[Dave Adams]

For the foam sheeting for lining the cockpit area i am looking to buy some camping bed roll, it is thin enough and very cheap to buy.

[Dave Adams]

Steve i may have a spare heater. but i think that one could be custom made using a fiat panda blower fan (compact 2speed fan) and a heater matrix from any car to hand and then make your self a distribution box from thin plywood. have a permanent demist and cabin flow for ease of controlls.

[Adrian Southgate]

Karrimat is LD30 - LD35, too soft to carve, hold a screw or provide structural support but too hard to bend into confined shapes. I can source sheets of all grades given a bit of notice for about half the price. I have a contact who purchases in bulk.

You really need LD40-50 for structures and LD 20-25 for padding.

 

They do stainless dash plates for lots of ford instrument clusters.

 

[Dave Taylor]

Too much sun more like, but you could pipe it through the seats too

[Dave Taylor]

I have heated seats in my RAV, and in winter when they first heat up it feels like you've wet yourself, and at my age thats worrying.

I di try to make my Phaeton electric with a washing machine motor, but it would only run for 15 metres before the plug came out of the wall.

[Dave Price]

My wife's Golf has heated seats, definately the way forward.  I have cold leather seats in my daily driver, that why I am car sharing with my wife at the moment.  Leave the Skoda with it's cold leather seats at home.

[Adrian Southgate]

Sues mondeo has got heated front seats too.... did wonders for my back but have to agree with Dave T, worryingly like you've wet yourself.

[Paul Sheridan]

You said you wanted specific ideas !!!!!   Hairy ??

 

 

[Adrian Southgate]

Do tell me thats not yours...

I suppose I worded it wrong really.

What I was looking for was actual constructions with pictures, the different ways people have built their dashboards.

That will teach me not to post when tired.

[Paul Sheridan]

Sorry coudn't resist :-)      

No, definitely not mine, this Phaeton was built by a mate of mine in the late 70’s early 80’s can’t remember exactly when, but it was the reason that I always wanted one (apart from the hairy dash).