Wood dash templates or High-res images...

[Raze]

Does anyone have templates for all the wood pieces of the dash, or panels for the center and lower consoles? If no templates, pictures? I'm going to be making my own wood dash and since I'm missing most of all the panels (car had a homemade custom dash when I bought it and this is my first Fiat so I'm learning as I go).

Thanks!

Edit: it's for a 72...

[azruss]

need to know what year. 5 or 6 gage.

[kmac33]

Jeff,
I've got a template for the dash that you are welcome to borrow. The shifter surround is easy to template.
I just got done redoing all of my wood prior to FFO this year. I'll be happy to help you fabricate new pieces.
Have you decided exactly what you are going to do? Go back to "stock" dash? Another "custom" dash?

Here is my latest version.

[donerehart]

Your dash looks superb! Fantastic job!

[IndyMark]

Kevin, I think I met you at FFO. Can you help me fabricate a dash just like yours?
Mark

[kmac33]

Mark,
We did meet at FFO. I'll be happy to help you fabricate a new dash. PM me your number and I'll give you a call and we can go over some details.

[Raze]

Jeff,
I've got a template for the dash that you are welcome to borrow. The shifter surround is easy to template.
I just got done redoing all of my wood prior to FFO this year. I'll be happy to help you fabricate new pieces.
Have you decided exactly what you are going to do? Go back to "stock" dash? Another "custom" dash?

WOW Kevin! Amazing, simply amazing. I don't know if you remember but I'm the Jeff that bought that overflow coolant bottle from you a while back. Progress on my spider has been slow but steady. I just got done replacing all the gaskets and seals on the top end of the engine and doing a paint job of the engine bay. It was prompted due to a leaking radiator and failing HG. The radiator is going to get an all aluminum replacement methinks given the price of recoring the original, and the old fan is just about toast as well. This is what she looked like before the rad and HG went:




I finally got an old dash to put in but it's missing all the panels. First off is to do a restoration of the dash (cracked) which will be fun and interesting. Then I know this sounds cheesy and cheap but I'm going to take some leftover plywood (1" thick) that I used to build a workbench in my garage cut it to shape, sand her down and stain/laquer it. I've basically decided I can get away with making templates for it out of cardboard and then adjusting to fit. I was going to go fancier, beveled edge, etc sort of like what you've got there but in the end, my desire for low-buck fun won out.

[kmac33]

Jeff,
Of course I remember who you are . If you want to borrow the plywood template I've got, just let me know - you're welcome to drop by and pick it up. The offer still stands if you need any help creating the new wood parts.
Keep in touch!

[Raze]

Kevin,

How did you hide your mounting screws/bolts for the wood dash, while at the same time be able to hook up all your gauges? I'll take some pictures of my dash I finished refurbing at home this weekend, along with the wood dash I made (yet to cut out the gauge holes, but I bought some hole saws to make it painless). I deleted the glovebox since I'm missing the lock mechanism and don't really care or need it for now. Instead I've installed some L-brackets to support the passenger side of the wood. Right now it's a single piece but I'm happy with how it turned out for some spare plywood and leftover stain/varnish.

-Jeff

[Raze]

As promised, here are some pics of the dash refurb:









Only spot I need to hit one more time with truck bedliner is right up front between the two vents, When I sanded it between coats it changed color to look more 'wet'. Another coat and it will disappear as it had before I sanded it. Overall I'm happy, it was a very inexpensive job and fun, and that's all I'm going for. I didn't take before pics, but it looked like most cracked and split open dashes. I sanded the splits down with 80 grit, then 150 grit. I used bondo to fill the cracks. I then sanded 80-150. Once I got it close, I used 2.5 cans of Duplicolor bedliner to build up a thick new poly-vinyl surface that's tough and not going to warp right away. I used 3/4" plywood and a jigsaw to cut a dash panel. I have a 4" and a 2" hole saw for the gauges, I'm working on mounting the wood panel now. Final install should be in a week or so.

Next up, upper console

[kmac33]

Jeff,
Wow, the dash refurbishing turned out great! I look forward to seeing it in person.
To secure the latest version of my dash, I used a couple of "U" shaped brackets that I made out of aluminum - I have one located on the edge by the gauges and one next to the glove box. The bracket simply "pulls" the wood into the dash - much like the brackets that hold the gauges to the dash wood. This pull is accomplished with a basic wood screw that screws directly into the dash wood (through a hole in the center of the bracket). Since my new dash is "contoured" the wood is thick enough in these locations for the screw to get deep enough without the risk of it coming through.
Due to the thickness of the glove box door and the contour, I got rid of the stock glove box latch and went with the simple solution of a cabinet door magnetic catch installed in the glove box and simple strike plate on the door.

[Raze]

Clever! I like the idea of the U-brackets, I'm still deciding how I wan to mount the wood, I used 3/4" plywood so I have alot of thickness to play with when it comes to fixing the wood panel.

And if your sig is true and you're building a Chump/Lemons car, let me know if you need some help

[kmac33]

Jeff,
At this point, I need to change my signature to say "sometime in the far off, distant future" regarding the Chump/Lemons car. Since I don't have the space to keep this "extra" toy at my house, my friend that did the final paint work on my car is keeping it at his place. He moved his body shop to an out building on his property and has the room for it. Unfortunately it is in Jefferson - about 45 minutes away, so is very hard to find the time to go work on it. I'm currently trying to decide if I am ever going to actually get going with it or should just part it out or sell it.

[jetboy]

Jeff,
I've got a template for the dash that you are welcome to borrow. The shifter surround is easy to template.
I just got done redoing all of my wood prior to FFO this year. I'll be happy to help you fabricate new pieces.
Have you decided exactly what you are going to do? Go back to "stock" dash? Another "custom" dash?

Here is my latest version.

now that looks firiggin fantastic. I was thinking to cut my own wood panels as well, as it does not seem that difficult, but yours looks way nicer that stock. so you have scale drawings in PDF or anything?

[brackie1]

Hey Kevin where did you get your steering wheel. I am looking for a 13" and one that I can mount my fiat horn button to. Also where did you get the hub. I have a 78 124 and am having a hard time.