My Dash/Console Upgrad Pics

What sets your Spider apart from the rest?
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fiasco
Posts: 885
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:10 am
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
Location: Ontario, CA

My Dash/Console Upgrad Pics

Post by fiasco »

Just wanted to share some pics of my dash/console with the new covers, inserts, shorter shifter,shift boot, and stereo.

Before:
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After. Dash cover from Vicks. It's a little wavy on top, but the look is greatly improved, and will certainly do just fine until I have enough cash to do a new reproduction dash. New dash inserts are plywood with mahogany veneer and a bunch of coats of poly. The center insert is custom. After fitting the dash cover and my new inserts, my old, scratched, flaky-chrome center insert piece wouldn't fit, so I fabbed one out of wood, veneer, a little black krinkle paint and some chrome trim tape. Not stock looking, but does the job. Oh, and yes, I deleted all six of the warning lights, and the dimmer dial.
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New mahogany steering wheel. Yes, I get a little sun glare off the chrome at certain times of day, but other than the temporary blindness, it's totally worth it.
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Center console with new cover and new wood inserts. Upper insert has two 2" tweeters that are connected as the rear speakers. The shifter is the world renowned Michigan Shorter Shifter from Mike Bouse (if you don't have one, you must buy one right now - seriously), with a new boot. Veneered the ash-trays too.
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Steve Eubanks
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1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
kristoj
Posts: 909
Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:26 am
Your car is a: 1982 Fiat Spider 2000 Turbo
Location: Ohio

Re: My Dash/Console Upgrad Pics

Post by kristoj »

Wow, what an improvement. Looks great!
John
'82 Fiat Spider Turbo
'56 Abarth 750 GT Corsa MM
'59 Lancia Appia GTE Zagato
'62 Lancia Flaminia 2.5 3C Convertible
'68 Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato
'70 Moretti Sportiva S2
'12 Abarth 500
'59 MV Agusta 250 Raid


Pictures of my baby!
racydave

Re: My Dash/Console Upgrad Pics

Post by racydave »

Good job, very clean!
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TulsaSpider
Posts: 1547
Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:33 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Spyder 124 2L
Location: Tulsa, Ok

Re: My Dash/Console Upgrad Pics

Post by TulsaSpider »

Sweet! looks great! So you just glued veneer onto the plywood and then drilled the holes? I'd get a new rubber for my clutch pedal if I were you! That can be dangerous!
1978 Spyder 1800 make that 2L! Finally making real progress!
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ga.spyder
Posts: 3478
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:19 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Blairsville ,Ga.

Re: My Dash/Console Upgrad Pics

Post by ga.spyder »

Nice work,Steve. That really has freshened up the look of the car.My pedal pads were worn out and I opted for MOMO pedal covers. I like the look and feel of them,and they are inexpensive.
Craig
Craig Nelson

1982 Spider 2000...pride and joy
1981 Fiat X1/9..gone but not forgotten
1976 124 Spider..the self-healer
2001 BMW 328ci daily driver and track car
Fling It Around Turns !
rlux4
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Posts: 4211
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:32 pm
Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
Location: Granite Falls, Wa

Re: My Dash/Console Upgrad Pics

Post by rlux4 »

I'm looking forward to seeing your new and improved Spider at the coming run.
Ron
Ron Luxmore
rlux2n2@gmail.com
'82 2000 Spider: after 26 years between Spiders.
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fiasco
Posts: 885
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:10 am
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
Location: Ontario, CA

Re: My Dash/Console Upgrad Pics

Post by fiasco »

Thanks all.

Tulsa - I used the old inserts as templates and cut new ones from plywood, and drilled the holes for gauges. Then painted the wood to seal it up and make the edges black. Then put on the veneer with contact cement (like the stuff you put on countertop veneers with), and trimmed the veneer to match the plywood. Finished off with lots of poly.

Looking forward to getting some opinions and comparing to some other cars at the run on the first, as well as meeting a bunch of you guys.

-- se
Steve Eubanks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
WarbirdAL
Posts: 214
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:02 am
Your car is a: 2 1977 124 Spiders 1969 124 Coupe
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Re: My Dash/Console Upgrad Pics

Post by WarbirdAL »

how does that short shifter feel? and was it difficult to install? any special tools needed etc
thanks for the pics, looks nice
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ga.spyder
Posts: 3478
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:19 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Blairsville ,Ga.

Re: My Dash/Console Upgrad Pics

Post by ga.spyder »

If you look in the 'Fiat Related' forum ,I did a road test on the shorter shifter.I like the feel of it,and the shifts are much more positive.It isnt too short at all,only an allen wrench needed for the install.Great,inexpensive upgrade.
Craig
Craig Nelson

1982 Spider 2000...pride and joy
1981 Fiat X1/9..gone but not forgotten
1976 124 Spider..the self-healer
2001 BMW 328ci daily driver and track car
Fling It Around Turns !
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fiasco
Posts: 885
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:10 am
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
Location: Ontario, CA

Re: My Dash/Console Upgrad Pics

Post by fiasco »

Here's a link to Craig's review:

http://www.fiatspider.com:16080/f08/vie ... f=3&t=4740

It's a great write up, and I second all his conclusions. Very easy installation, much improved feel and look. I would recommend this as a must-have to any Spider owner.

-- se
Steve Eubanks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
mbouse

Re: My Dash/Console Upgrad Pics

Post by mbouse »

Steve,

Very nice refurbishing job... i especially like the red stitching in the shifter boot. and, of course, any use of krinkle paint is a welcome sound!!
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