Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

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Docdawg
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Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:00 am
Your car is a: 1981 Fiat Spider 124 FI

Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby Docdawg » Mon Nov 20, 2017 8:06 pm

Does anyone know where I can get the wood dash panels for my 81 Fiat or know a source that makes these panels?

SeattleSpider
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Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2015 2:19 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider
Location: Seattle, WA

Re: Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby SeattleSpider » Mon Nov 20, 2017 11:29 pm

Check out Allison's Automotive:

allisonsautomotive.com

In the "Interior" section he has a number of options for new dash panels in a number of different woods (or at least stains).

SeattleSpider
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Your car is a: 1980 Spider
Location: Seattle, WA

Re: Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby SeattleSpider » Mon Nov 20, 2017 11:35 pm

I see that Spider Point Parts in Germany has them as well . . . but . . . being Germany, they are more expensive and shipping is more. Just in case you are interested:

http://www.spider-point.com/fiat-spider ... r.html?p=5

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joelittel
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Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 FI
Location: Evanston, IL

Re: Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby joelittel » Tue Nov 21, 2017 9:23 am

I got mine from Gary at CGWoodcraft.

http://www.cgwoodcraft.com/vintage.html

The site says British automotive interior pieces but he makes FIAT bits as well.

Very high quality product.

PhillySpider
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Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000
Location: New Hope, PA

Re: Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby PhillySpider » Tue Nov 21, 2017 9:35 am

Docdawg wrote:Does anyone know where I can get the wood dash panels for my 81 Fiat or know a source that makes these panels?

Craigslist or Ebay always have them. Location?

DieselSpider
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Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel

Re: Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby DieselSpider » Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:04 pm

Have you considered making them yourself?

Anyone with some basic wood working tools and ability should be able to make them with hand tools such as a coping saw, bit brace and sanding block.

They are just veneered/laminated flat sheet stock with a few holes cut/drilled in them after all and nothing really all that fancy. Many would probably be able to pick up the less exotic woods locally for less than the cost of shipping.

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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
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Re: Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby RRoller123 » Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:43 pm

It isn't that difficult, and there are a couple of very detailed threads here on veneering them yourself. veneersupplies.com is excellent, and you can use regular Titebond II glue (NOT III) and a simple home made plywood press. I did mine in Madrone Burl. Cost about 50 bucks total. The one trick you need to know is to Exacto close, but SAND to the edge, carefully. "Chipping is the enemy of veneer."

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=30180&hilit=veneer

The pics in the above link have been trashed by photobucket, but I will add a few new ones.

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'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
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2003 Jaguar XKR
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spider2081
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Re: Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby spider2081 » Wed Nov 22, 2017 10:35 am

Great do it yourself post RRoller
Part of owning these cars is doing the work ourselves. I did something similar to yours accept I tried self adhesive veneer. I think the sheet of walnut was about $35 and used a spar varnish on it. I did purchase the hard rubber roller recommended for install and installed it on the original dash panels. Sorry I don't have photos but it came pretty good. I am pleased with the outcome. Will have to see how it holds up in the car.

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RRoller123
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Re: Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby RRoller123 » Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:31 am

Thanks, this was one of the best projects for the car, in terms of return for the effort. It really isn't that hard, just takes a little patience.

Spar Varnish YES! Multiple coats, and after it was "dried" (as far as it will dry) I added a coating of hard "Butcher's" wax, applied with a 220 sandpaper, and it smoothed it right out.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

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Yadkin
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Your car is a: 1974 Spider
Location: Pisgah National Forest, NC

Re: Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby Yadkin » Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:35 am

Here's mine so far. I got the idea from another thread on this forum. I made a jig to "carve" right to left to make a concave shape centered at the steering wheel, then a second jig to carve the convex up to down. After experimenting on a piece of poplar I made the piece from American Walnut. I epoxied an aluminum sheet behind the speedo-tach area because the wood is very thin there. Then drilled the holes.

To fasten to the structure, I chose mounting points then used a Fostner bit to set the locations for nuts, and set those in with epoxy.


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joelittel
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Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 FI
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Re: Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby joelittel » Mon Feb 19, 2018 10:13 am

Yadkin,

This is really nice. I know which post you’ve taken your inspiration from and have always admired this look/style of dash.

I love what you’ve done. Keep the pictures coming.

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joelittel
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Re: Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby joelittel » Mon Feb 19, 2018 10:15 am

I see you’ve added two usb jacks, but what is on the lower left corner, a switch?

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Yadkin
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Your car is a: 1974 Spider
Location: Pisgah National Forest, NC

Re: Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby Yadkin » Mon Feb 19, 2018 7:35 pm

The USB jacks are part of a generic digital voltmeter (inexpensive). The rectangular thing on the lower left is a dash light dimmer. My OEM does not work so I found one from a modern VW bug, tested it and it works.

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nelsonj
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Your car is a: 1972 Spider 124

Re: Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby nelsonj » Wed Feb 21, 2018 1:20 am

Very, very nice Yadkin. Please post more pics when installed.
Image
Simi Valley, California
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wetminkey
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Your car is a: 1979 2000 Spider
Location: Ault, Colorado

Re: Dash wood panels for my 81 Fiat Spider FI

Postby wetminkey » Fri Feb 23, 2018 1:43 am

Gosh! Both dashes are just beautiful. VERY nice wood work, RRoller and Yadkin, both.
Todd.
1988 Mazda RX-7
1979 Fiat Spider 2000
1978 3/4 ton Chev 4x4 P/U "FRANKENTRUCK"
1976 Camaro
1972 VW Superbeetle
1969 Ford F100
1968 Mustang coupe


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