Interesting Wood Dash Panels

[htchevyii]

Man, you guys are nuts! The only time I get up that early is hunting season and I usually feel like I'm going to puke for a few hours!

[azygoustoyou]

I'm just going to bed at 4am. I was thinking of leaving the two large gauges and moving the small ones to the right. I will probably make a mold first then cast it in carbon fiber to give it that clean look with the carbon integrated into the dash. No need for a covering then. I think I might change my dash color to the color of my carpet to enhance the look of the carbon. I do like the color of that dash though. I have to think this out. Now I'm going to start polishing my valve covers.

[SpiderJim]

Just finished making the sexy compound curved dash and glove box plug as in the picture at the beginning of this thread. Thought it would be difficult but it really is a matter of making a template and watching the curves. Started at 1pm and took 3 hrs to the point where I have just coated in sealer before I mark up the gage placement dimples and add a few details. Lots and lots of sanding and shaping though. Pics in a couple of days when I have it cleaned up. Biggest issue is the size of our stock instruments especially the speedo and tach. Due to the curved edges space around the gage rings is very tight. I don't think you could use this dash if you fitted those chrome ring overlays? I'm still thinking of carbon fiber with a burl insert for the gages as this area is actually flat with a slight bow to follow the lines of the dash. The hard part will be to create a recessed lip for the wood. Anyone else attempted this yet?

[azygoustoyou]

What, No pic

[SpiderJim]

What, No pic

Laughing.... Just sealed the back side so cannot take a pic until I flip it over to do the front.

[azygoustoyou]

After seeing the dash in the car Wachuko was looking at. I'll pass on the carbon fiber look.

[SpiderJim]

This pic does not look very clear due to the white sealer. Also the pic makes it look like it is curving the wrong way. When I have color applied and a little cleanup done I will post a good one. I think I will try a vinyl carbon fiber and also wood grain then a mixture of both and see what suits the best. After actually making this thing I cannot see how the original one is actually real wood? When you have one in your hands the spacing around the gages would be so weak if it was a hard wood!. I think it must have been glass with a covering or similar. However if the wood was laminated to aluminum skin or similar it may work?

[Kingme2]

I also had fallen in love with that original photo...

here's mine that I made to copy it. Full pictures at this link... http://myfiat.weebly.com/upgrades-done.html

I'll try to jam a picture in, will see...

[SpiderJim]

Looks very nice. Good to see someone actually aligned the grain. I really like the fact your using the P badge rather than the original. I will make a mold of that and apply to my curvy panel when done.

[Kingme2]

This is how she looked when I parker her for the season...