Aluminium dashboard

[g6civcx]

I'm sick of cracked dashboards. Any useful links/comments on aluminium dashboards before I order?

The best I found was universal race dashes that you cut to fit.

[Annoying Eric]

I am making one right now, but its going to a half dash cause i need room for the air-water-air cooler on the passenger side..

There pretty easy to just fab up yourself, just take some time and think of a design you like and find a shop that can bend the metal.

[g6civcx]

I'm going to do a 2 piece for easy removal.

All I really need is something that covers up maybe several inches below the cross bar and extends to the windshield.

I don't really care about asthetics.

[89singlecamnoob]

I'm sick of cracked dashboards.



I don't really care about asthetics.


logic is broken here

[g6civcx]

logic is broken here

I'm going to do a 2 piece for easy removal.

The shape of the dashboard also doesn't lend itself to boring out for gauges.

Logic seems intact to me. Ask a simple question and get useless answers. Seems like the norm nowadays.

[240cracker]

these r good ideas.

lets see some pics

[McRussellPants]

God you retards are so fucking bad at cars.

hhahahahaa

[slw240sx]

ill sell you one i never finished. i got in the middle of building it and decided it was a waste of time, and i would rather have a factory dash...
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh75/ForcedFabllc/alumdash2.jpg
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh75/ForcedFabllc/alumdashfront.jpg

Jon

[Xandy Boosts]

Won't it blind you? (No sarcasm here, serious question)

I sometimes get an annoying glare from my keys when I'm at the right angle, I can't imagine a whole aluminum dash in the sun!

[Nachtmensch]

Won't it blind you? (No sarcasm here, serious question)

I sometimes get an annoying glare from my keys when I'm at the right angle, I can't imagine a whole aluminum dash in the sun!

felt/suede

msglngth

[Koopa Troopa]

Build your own out of sheet metal....

[smelly240]

instead of felt or suede you could do it right and get it flocked... like the rally cars.

[g6civcx]

I'm ordering a universal race dash with rolled edges and nonglare finish.

Thanks to all those who tried to help. I'm starting to hate the people who don't post anything constructive. This is not your personal soapbox. I bet you they don't get any attention in real life so they have to go online and make smart ass comments.

[Nachtmensch]

instead of felt or suede you could do it right and get it flocked... like the rally cars.

i completely forgot about that (more of the term slipped my mind) :duh:

[g6civcx]

i completely forgot about that (more of the term slipped my mind) :duh:

That's a good suggestion. I'll look into that if the factory finish doesn't work out. Thanks.

[g6civcx]

Bump this thread so you all can see how it worked out.

Custom 4piece dash with the top half lined with headliner. right half moveable to service the A/C without taking off the whole dash.

I still have to make a radio bracket and clean up some of the wiring. I was focused on putting the dash together.

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/4183/dash1ia4.jpg


http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/7229/dash2ik7.jpg


http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/198/dash3iw9.jpg

[steve_o1989]

Looks good man. How much did it run you if you dont mind me asking? I take it the bottom edge is rolled?

[Phlip]

Ken...
All I will say is that sometimes you REALLY scare me.
Strangely enough, I really like that.

[iHeartTheTouge]

thats awesome, nice job!

[g6civcx]

How much did it run you if you dont mind me asking?

The parts themselves were about several hundred. I screwed up on some of the earlier versions so those sheets were junked.

I did get help on fitment (I wanted it to line up perfectly with the body), machine shop to roll the bottom edges, and upholstery (to line up and trim the dash covering).

So in the end, figure about several hundred for parts and about 1 day's worth of labour.

I take it the bottom edge is rolled?

Yes.

[oscarsx]

looks very clean..
but i wonder if the heat from the sun will effect the tempeature inside that car.. :eek3:

[McRussellPants]

Thats disgusting.

Probably weighs more than stock

and offsets your guagecluster making it even more useless.

damn.

[ms!3]

thats pretty cool. just needs that radio bracket. nice job.

alittle off topic, but what is that extending your shift knob? is that custom or something you can buy? id like mine alittle higher but don't really want a bubble knob.

[g6civcx]

looks very clean..
but i wonder if the heat from the sun will effect the tempeature inside that car.. :eek3:

It's ok. I have A/C.

Thats disgusting.

The bottom half has not been lined yet. I admit it looks gross right now because of the raw aluminium, but it will get lined and will sit flushed with the steering column.


Probably weighs more than stock

No, sir. How do you figure 4 flat sheets of aluminium would weigh more than the stock dash?

and offsets your guagecluster making it even more useless.

If you looked closely, there is not enough clearance for the Racepak to fit behind the steering wheel. Plus I have a sequential shift light so there is no reason for me to look at the gauge cluster while driving. The gauge cluster is used more for "tuning" than anything else.


You're not me and you don't know what I need. I'm glad you don't like it, and that's why this isn't your car.

what is that extending your shift knob? is that custom or something you can buy?

The shifter is coming out of a Borg-Warner T5 meant for an F-body. If you notice, the entire shifter plate is offset to the side and back. Note the patch welds. T5's have offset shifters towards one side. They don't sit straight in the middle like other gearboxes.

So no, this is not something you can buy for a KA or SR gearbox. Plus the T5 is mated to this: :D

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/7299/enginesk8.jpg


This is really just a mock-up. The car is going in for what the hod-rod guys call "frame-off" resto. I just wanted to give everybody an update of what I put toether based on your inputs.

[racepar1]

Why go woth an aluminum RACE dash if you are going to keep the radio and A/C, shit even the heater? Hell If that dash is actually any lighter than the stock one I'll trade you my spotless charcoal s-13 dash for it. I don't have any of that crap left in my car.

[g6civcx]

Why go woth an aluminum RACE dash if you are going to keep the radio and A/C, shit even the heater?

First, if you remember the V8 thread, you saw this:

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/4576/firewallib4.jpg

While the stock dash physically fits over the crossbar, there is literally less than 1" of room between the dash and the firewall.

I'm running a full Vintage Air system and there was no way it would fit behind a stock dash with a modified firewall.

Second, I promised my ultra clean uncracked black dash to my friend so I don't want to track down another dash.

Third, this dash is easier to remove than the stock dash because it comes out in 4 pieces.

Fourth, this dash weighs less, and looks nicer IMHO. The bottom half still needs to be lined.

Hell If that dash is actually any lighter than the stock one I'll trade you my spotless charcoal s-13 dash for it

Again, why do you think 4 sheets of aluminium in that size would weigh more than the stock dash?

It's just 4 flat sheets. There is absolutely nothing behind the sheets.


Why do have to explain myself? It's my car. I do whatever I want with it. You do whatever you want with yours. There is something on everybody's car here that I don't like, but as long as it's safe why should I say anything?

[racepar1]

Jesus, why are you all butthurt? If you don't want to hear other people's opinions or explain yourself to answer their questions then don't post! It's pretty simple. At first glance it looks like you are trying to build a racecar, but you want A/C too! VERY un-racecar. The aluminum dash does not look clean, it looks raw and racecarish. The fact that you want A/C makes me think that you would like the clean look much better than the raw race look, so what you are doing makes no sense to me at all. It is your car so do whatever you want with it, but don't get all pissy when people question you, or critique your work! We are just curious and trying to help!

[WangonwWarrior]

First, if you remember the V8 thread, you saw this:

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/4576/firewallib4.jpg

While the stock dash physically fits over the crossbar, there is literally less than 1" of room between the dash and the firewall.

I'm running a full Vintage Air system and there was no way it would fit behind a stock dash with a modified firewall.

Second, I promised my ultra clean uncracked black dash to my friend so I don't want to track down another dash.

Third, this dash is easier to remove than the stock dash because it comes out in 4 pieces.

Fourth, this dash weighs less, and looks nicer IMHO. The bottom half still needs to be lined.



Again, why do you think 4 sheets of aluminium in that size would weigh more than the stock dash?

It's just 4 flat sheets. There is absolutely nothing behind the sheets.


Why do have to explain myself? It's my car. I do whatever I want with it. You do whatever you want with yours. There is something on everybody's car here that I don't like, but as long as it's safe why should I say anything?



Aluminum dashes are nothing new and their are no seirous downsides to them. Almost every drag car i have seen has a bare aluminum dash. I say go for it. And g6civcx is right, the T-5 shifter is cocked to the side due to the bellhousing, im not sure if you are aware of this but i bought an aluminum bellhousing off a standard 4-speed chevy car (1967-1981 camaro, truck etc..) and it lines the shifter up directly in the center. So far i have had no problems with doing this and it kept me from having to reposition the shifter. Sorry for thread jacking a little bit:bow:

[McRussellPants]

Jesus, why are you all butthurt? If you don't want to hear other people's opinions or explain yourself to answer their questions then don't post! It's pretty simple.

People get ultra defensive when they know the shit they just spent 400hrs making sucks.

seriously,

If that were IMSA car I'd maybe let it fly, but that shit is gross, no cage, no weight saving, no function. knee cracker dash holy god 10$ momo wheel. take your fucking column bezel off and move your racepak over.

put a stock dash back in and stop trying to convince people it won't fit.

oh god 300$ hahahahahahahahahahahahahha

[g6civcx]

If you don't want to hear other people's opinions or explain yourself to answer their questions then don't post! It's pretty simple

First, I did not ask for any opinions. I wanted to give the people who helped me a chance to see what I came up with based on their recommendations as a follow-up courtesy to their help and suggestions.

If you think I wanted your opinion, then quote me where I asked for opinions.

At first glance it looks like you are trying to build a racecar, but you want A/C too! VERY un-racecar

Where is it written that a "racecar" cannot have A/C? What makes you the arbitor of all things "racecar"?

The aluminum dash does not look clean, it looks raw and racecarish

So what?

don't get all pissy when people question you, or critique your work!

See above. Nowhere did I want opinions, good or bad. I was speaking to the people who gave me suggestions. If those people want to respond then they can.

For everyone else, move on. It's not a big deal. Like it or don't like it. I don't care. Note how I didn't respond to positive criticism either.

We are just curious and trying to help!

Help when somebody asks a question. If I wanted your help I would have asked for it. Nobody asked you for help in this thread.

It was just an update on a work in progress. Lighten up. If it's not your cup of tea then go build your car the way you want.


If you think I'm being defensive, I challenge you to do this. Go through all of my posts and find one where I critiqued something that wasn't safety or function-related. I always try my best to help the Tech forum. Read every one of my post in Tech if you don't agree. I just ask that you extend the same courtesy to me that I do for everyone. I treat everyone the way I wanted to be treated.

Is there a safety reason? Is there a functional reason? If not, don't bother posting. There are plenty of threads for your to "critique".

Is that fair?

[g6civcx]

no cage

How do you know?

no weight saving

How do you know?


no function

Say why.

10$ momo wheel

This shows that you don't know shit.

take your fucking column bezel off and move your racepak over

Why? Listen you fucktard, there is absolutely no reason to be looking at any gauges other than a sequential shift light, which I have. Everything else that needs to be monitored is setup on warning lights. There is zero need to look at any gauge if you program your warning lights correctly.

If your dumbass want to look at 10 different things when you drive then you know nothing about driving.

That's what I said. Deal with it.


Anyone can go through all of your posts and find out what you're about. Just say your piece and leave it be. I try to be nice but I'm sick of you starting shit for no reason.

You can have the last word, but just butt out after that.

[HIM]

Bump this thread so you all can see how it worked out.

Custom 4piece dash with the top half lined with headliner. right half moveable to service the A/C without taking off the whole dash.

I still have to make a radio bracket and clean up some of the wiring. I was focused on putting the dash together.

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/4183/dash1ia4.jpg


http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/7229/dash2ik7.jpg


http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/198/dash3iw9.jpg



DAMM, clean ass setup + to your rep.

[lolatclint]

nice.. take pics of your interior when your fully finished :P.

[HIM]

nice.. take pics of your interior when your fully finished :P.


I second that notion.

[racepar1]

First, I did not ask for any opinions. I wanted to give the people who helped me a chance to see what I came up with based on their recommendations as a follow-up courtesy to their help and suggestions.

If you think I wanted your opinion, then quote me where I asked for opinions.



Where is it written that a "racecar" cannot have A/C? What makes you the arbitor of all things "racecar"?



So what?



See above. Nowhere did I want opinions, good or bad. I was speaking to the people who gave me suggestions. If those people want to respond then they can.

For everyone else, move on. It's not a big deal. Like it or don't like it. I don't care. Note how I didn't respond to positive criticism either.



Help when somebody asks a question. If I wanted your help I would have asked for it. Nobody asked you for help in this thread.

It was just an update on a work in progress. Lighten up. If it's not your cup of tea then go build your car the way you want.


If you think I'm being defensive, I challenge you to do this. Go through all of my posts and find one where I critiqued something that wasn't safety or function-related. I always try my best to help the Tech forum. Read every one of my post in Tech if you don't agree. I just ask that you extend the same courtesy to me that I do for everyone. I treat everyone the way I wanted to be treated.

Is there a safety reason? Is there a functional reason? If not, don't bother posting. There are plenty of threads for your to "critique".

Is that fair?


Dude what the fuck is your problem? This conversation was over hours ago and here you come again all butthurt and bitter! Do you need some midol? Or do you have a yeast infection? I mean seriously this is stupid! If you don't want opinions then GTFO of zilvia! It is nothing but opinions here. I can see that you have a couple reasons to use an aluminum dash. I don't see a point to an aluminum dash in anything less than a dedicated racecar, which yours clearly is not. That's just my opinion and it has been stated, do what the fuck you want and get the fuck over it man. You are being all defensive over nothing.

[McRussellPants]

How do you know?

uhh. sick 4 point then I geuss?

How do you know?

I'm looking at a car with sound deadening and an Iron block 350. does it matter that your dash is 1lb lighter?

Say why.

its a dashboard. I flocked and moved my dashboard too, Im not delusional enough to think it was for function though.

This shows that you don't know shit.

20$ Momo steering wheel?

If your dumbass want to look at 10 different things when you drive then you know nothing about driving.

rofl.

reality check dude, your shit is slow as fuck.

If you can't spot a guage on the straight because you're so tunnel'd in in a peice of shit with 300whp you should prolly throw the brakes on telling people they don't know how to drive.

I forgot how shitty people drive in the green run group though, so maybe you have to be tunnel'd in to make sure you don't rearend some jackass brake checking 5 miles before the corner.

soooo... Get into the advanced run group and move your shit to behind the wheel.

Anyone can go through all of your posts and find out what you're about.

Trying to get banned without using racism while still posting more legitimate tech than 90% of the people here?

You can have the last word,

Thank you kindly.

[Phlip]

This thread has a fucking topic, please stick to it people.
Save your arguments for 4pm at the flag pole, where I will gladly invite any 4 of you to hit me in my fists with your faces.