Crayz9000

I've been thinking about the best way to put a computer into my car, and eventually decided that since I need to pull the dash to gain access to the heater core (and the steering column has a busted windshield wiper control ****), I may as well build the computer into a custom dash, and store my stock dash away (it has some cracks in the supports and I may as well repair it anyway).

So in brainstorming, I sketched the following:

Dash Concept

The top one is my rendition of the stock dash (wow, no wonder it's called the kitchen table), the middle is my idea of how to build my own, and the bottom has the custom dash when all the panels are open.

I want it to emulate the stock dash as closely as possible, and generally "fit" into the car's looks so that someone unfamiliar with the Camaro wouldn't know that it concealed a computer or anything else for that matter.

I plan on getting an older wrecking yard steering column that doesn't have the control **** on the turn signal, in other words a pre-1980 one. Since I think it's a standard GM column, it should fit right?

Anyway, just wanted some ideas / suggestions on my concept. The computer, by the way, is a Pentium 3 Thinkpad with a busted screen that I've already removed. As for the screen, I would probably get a 14" LCD monitor and remove its case, then shock-mount it into the dash.

WILL85IROC

im in the process of designing a custom dash also.... ours is just plain...... for me, its easy to draw up but still trying to find out what material to use....... your sketches look great, ill try and post mine....

Crayz9000

I'm thinking that I'll basically just bolt together a frame from angle steel or aluminum. Once I have the basic frame, I can mount stuff inside it with shock mounts where appropriate, and the exterior will be dremel-beveled ABS plastic that I'll just secure with torx or allen sheet metal screws.

WILL85IROC

im gonna try and do it out of cardboard 1st for the overall shape and see where i wanna put stuff then try some fiberglass or have it covered in some form of fabric.... really dont like plastics.....

NEEDforSPEED

i thot about doing a custom dash, i still might but im difanlty doing a fibberglass center

Crayz9000

Bringing this back from the dead...

I decided that a more cost-effective route would be to get a 4th gen instrument cluster, and doing that necessitated a design rewrite.

I'm going to get some hard foam blocks (similar to what the movie industry uses to create "real" sculptures) and place them in there once the old dash is removed. I'll then carve the blocks into the appropriate shape, measure them, and use the measurements to create blueprints.

Or I could model them in 3-D, but I only have 3dsmax and not a CAD program.

At any rate, I've been collecting the components I need to build this. It's taking a while since I don't have a surplus of cash on hand, don't we all love that?

Crayz9000

And here's the new front view:

dennisbernal91z

iTrader: (2)

Interesting idea. I made a cutom guage set up for my autometers. Then i covered the rest in fabric. Looks pretty custom. Tons of pics on my site. (click www )

Crayz9000

By the way, once I make the foam template and the blueprints, depending on how the actual dash and console turn out, I may make some additional ones for sale if there's interest.

The best part is that the base dash would be basically modular: the gauge cluster will be a simple bolt-in, meaning that using Autometer instead of 4th gen gauges will be trivial. There should be room to install a custom-built computer with a keyboard instead of the screenless laptop I'm going to be using. Also, those two circles on either side of the dash are mounting points for 6.5" round speakers, which would replace the 6x4s in the stock dash.

So I'm just kind of curious to see if anybody would be interested in getting one down the road.

dennisbernal91z

iTrader: (2)

All really depends how it looks and the finish. Also how it flows with the look of thirdgens.

Crayz9000

Yeah, that's true... I know what you mean, I have an intense dislike of hackjobs. At any rate, I want to make this fit as seamlessly as possible, so I'm going to be using textured ABS plastic on the flat parts to match the factory finish. The dashboard top will have a fiberglass base, covered with foam and vinyl or leather to make it look like the stock dashboard.

So anyway, whenever I make more progress I'll post it here.

TJfive0

Question for you WILL85IROC, do you mean having the whole dash fiberglass and not plastic? Wouldn't this be a bit fragile? I mean doesn't plastic absorb shock and what not a bit better or is my thought process off?

I would do it, but I am scared it would be too fragile, plus I am not too good with fiberglass. lol

83 Crossfire TA

iTrader: (2)

Modern dashes are designed to have no sharp edges and to crumple on impact… they’re not very strong…

Building this stuff out of cardboard, masonite or MDF and then giving it a coat of FG is pretty much standard procedure.

Oh, and fiberglass is referred to as FRP (fiber reinforced plastic)… IE, it is plastic.

Angelis83LT

One thing to note (through talking with a police officer while waiting for a tow truck last night) is that if you put a computer in the ca.. make it so you can turn the screen on and off. Apparently it is Illegal to have a computer screen that faces the driver or that can distract the driver... My reply was "what about all those LCD tv's and Navigation systems in the stock vehicles, in which i never got a reply.. so i anything I would just make the screen a hideaway.. which is not that hard to do.

Crayz9000

The screen will be a hideaway. Most of the time, there'll be a panel which hinges down covering up the monitor. I'm writing some software atm to make the computer recognize voice commands (it already has the voice recog software, I just need to tie it in to everything else). This way, I can drive and just tell the computer to start playing songs.

TJfive0

Interesting, good to know.

What exactly FG? I am new to all this and pretty stupid with this. I was just thinking about how much it would take to go custom like crazy on a car.

Codename 47

iTrader: (4)

coolest thing about that is the damn cup holders

Mathius

You can add a cup holder in about 5 minutes with a hole saw if you drop in one of these:



This is just one place you can get them from:
http://casino4you.com/casinogamblingsupplies.htm

I think a brushed aluminum one wouldn't look bad with the stock interior especially in a firebird.

Mathius

Crayz9000

I'm actually planning on using some of the black plastic ones from Ebay. Though stainless might work...

padmos

I was thinking the exact same thing at you but after having come as far as I have I would definitely recommend modification over fabrication. You can check out how far I am a long here:

my thread

If you haven’t done a lot of interior stuff before fiberglass is going to be a lot of work especially for something this large.
If I could do it over again I would have just modified the original dash or taken one out of another car and wedged it in there. There are a lot of overhangs and sharp corners on the stock dash and after all the time it took to make my dashboard I have realized it would have been much easier and just as effective to cut out parts of the old dash and build up other areas with foam and then coat the entire thing in a few layers of glass.
Unless you are a fiberglass pro using an existing dash and making a fiberglass section to hold the computer and display is definitely the way to go. As for the center section since that doesn’t have to line up with as many bolt holes so it shouldn’t be a problem for anyone as long as you take your time making the frame work.
Anyway that’s my 2 cents good luck with your project.

fitbmxseries1

fiberglass has alot of flex in it the more layers the stronger, i really wouldnt be worried about cracking.

Merlin

If you are considering a 14" monitor, make sure it will withstand the colder temperatures. Most TFTs are O.K., but some monitors will actually freeze and be useless thereafter.

Crayz9000

Living in Southern California, I'm generally more worried about the heat

82flamedZ

I thought I would add my .02 on the legality. I'm just watching out for you guys when it comes to this stuff by the way. Not trying to be a d*ck. Anyway, someone mentioned they talked to a cop about whether they can have screens in their car or not. Every state is different. You should be able to look up your states motor vehicle codes on the internet, just type a search. As a police officer, having worked in the state of Virginia I can tell you that the navigation stuff is all good if it is used for navigational purposes only. Once you put in a DVD it's considered against the law(this is VA law). If it is registered in VA and operated in VA, you can't even mount a monitor from the driver's headrest forward. If not registered in VA then you can have one, but you can't have it on. Mind you this is an example of VA state law, like I said it's best to research your state laws. It can get very detailed sometimes. One last bit of advice from my experience: for small and petty stuff like this, "out of sight, out of mind" Just my .02

Crayz9000

Oh, it'll definitely be "out of sight, out of mind"...

xlwhellraiser

iTrader: (1)

I think that using the existing dash and building on it with foam is the way to go.
Check my knight rider post on the fabrication forum and I am kinda asking the same question.

After many hours of research and reading I figured out that unless you plan on selling many pieces you are probably better off building it with foam (MDF or so, I forgot its name now). Than coat it in fiberglass and once it dries it gets very sturdy.
So, i would recomend that over very expensive female molds. (what da ya know, female and expensive in same sentence J/K)

Enigma_valar

if im nto mistaken i thought youcan have monitor for navigation or to watch car vitalies ?(l;ik odomet volt meter crap like that ) dont remember where i heard it but all well

Angelis83LT

I know in my state that you can not legally have any lcd screen On (except for headunit ones) that are not OEM from the factory. Alot like the tint laws.. everything OEM is exempt from laws like that. But in this case it has something to do with being a distration or whatnot (and I specifically asked about the engine vitals part) Seems pretty one sided if you ask me.

CamarosRUS

looks good!

HighSpeed63B

Im looking to get my whole dash and center piece fiberglassed...does anybody know a rough estimate of what this is gonna cost?

ryan91rs

iTrader: (1)

alot. probably 200 bucks just for the supplies.

HighSpeed63B

would it be safe to just figure $1000 for it, or is that too much?

mellis09

if it turns out good.. i would be interested in buying one for my 85 bird.. i was planning on putting a computer into my car but wasnt sure where to put the monitor.. i will be watching this post for updates

Crayz9000

oooh, another victim appears... *sound of vampire rising from ashes* (j/k)

Anyway, yeah, the passenger side seemed to be the best spot for the monitor, especially since it can't be a distraction for the driver. Better yet, the keyboard rest can fold up in front of it, making it look like a stock dashboard to the non-3rd gen owner...

If you have a small screen and only plan on using it for navigation, you can actually build a little mount for it in the center of the stock dash (I forgot who did it -- but another board member DEFINITELY did that... actually, that was one of the inspirations for the design of the center of my dash design).

Anyway, the reason I haven't updated this in a while is that my Camaro is currently out for the count. It's non-op right now and I'm trying to get some free space to work on it. (My driver in the meantime is an '87 Volvo, also known as a brick...)

Mind-Freak

You should deff post some pics up if you are even started I mean, I dont know. But your design sounds good and I will buy one if it turns out the way you describe.

Crayz9000

Jeez, 3 years since I started this thread. Where the kriff does time go?

Car's still non-op, haven't driven it much, but I do finally have a garage now to work on it in. Unfortunately I don't have much of either money or time left to actually do the work, so... I'd love to put some pics up, but don't see what point that would be as I haven't done anything.

To all the people earlier in the thread who commented about how much easier it is to start with the existing dash, the underlying structure has several large cracks in it (mostly in the middle) and there are a lot of torn out screw points, plus it has a lot of accumulated grit that I've tried very hard to get rid of but can't. The car's prior owner wasn't very gentle, did I ever mention that when the rear hatch gearbox cracked, they jammed a screwdriver into the motor slide area (cracking and trashing the plastic trim) to try and make it latch?

However, I do know of a plastic wholesaler nearby that carries textured ABS plastic sheets, which I can form in the oven to whatever shape I desire, and afterward they'll still look very much like the original plastic paneling. Of course that means working on the molds, but the same has to be done with fiberglass.

I have a lot of gimmicks in mind to build into this, a VFD or OLED HUD would be a really nice addon (and I'd easily be able to tie into the OBD-II provided by the LSx engine I'd like to drop in). Of course, the more complicated I want it to be, the longer it'll take... *sigh*

mfaust

Sounds like were pretty much in the same boat, no money or time and a interior that needs work.
I have just pulled mine in the garage after years of sitting in a field, someone tried to steal it but the battery was dead haha! bad part is they destroyed the dash/radio/center console in the process.
I have fiberglassed the dashpad, and just started taking apart the dash.
I plan on using some microcontrollers to drive lcd's instead of guages - we'll see how that goes...