Making the Dash! (Not a quick job)
We decided we wanted a different type of Dash to RH one, We are not critiscising this type of dash but we wanted ours different.
We chose to divide the dash into 3 bits, Drivers, passengers and center section, first problem was that our steering column shroud did not reach where our dash was so we decided to make an extension to reach the plastic shroud. After a quite a bit of messing around we decided "Bugger it" lets make the whole shroud ourselves.
After making a paper template, this is our ally shroud, Obviously it needs tidying up a bit but this is the basic shape we need.
This is it fitted to the column, Just needs covering and a bit of work on the edges! And at least it reaches the Dash panel.
See what we mean!
Here is what we think our dash might look like, Probably a few things might be changed but its a start.
Here it is covered with leatherette and edging strips. Obviously we have not finished the bottom of the shroud.
Now we have finished the shroud, edge strips fitted nicely so we are quite happy with it so far..............
Now we cut the passenger dash to size, later Joey will be making a glove box to fit in this area, After all we have plenty of room now we have sorted the Battery position out.
Now the center section was a real problem, we wanted to have the instruments at one level and the lower section was to be behind the chassis down tubes.We are going to fit the oil pressure guage down there.
A big problem was how to seal up the instruments and fill the oval hole with the leatherette. We decided on this solution, the main panel was trimmed as required and then we fitted a strip of ally from B&Q
This is the center section on its first trial fitting with the blue leatherette, you will also notice we have put trimming on the center section. We will be painting the inner bit black to give the tunnel effect to the instruments.
And here is the kid "Dreaming again".
We decided to change the Dash (Again) we were not too happy with the last center section so we made this one out of MDF and covered it with leatherette. Curves were made round the dash to suit the SVA requirements. It was pulled tightly round the inner curves and glued in place. Joey made the left section and covered it with Black to match the right section.
Perhaps we will stick with this setup for a while.