my winter project this year is a custom fiberglass dash and dash pad. i already have a custom dash pad, but i decided to change it due to the custom dash im doing. im pretty much cutting out the overhang that the dash has. i started today by taking the entire dash out and start cutting. heres a few pics so far.

 

Got you work cut out for ya!! ( No pun intended LOL )
I will patiently await updates!!

Good luck

 

most of the cutting is done. now its prepping for fiberglass thats going to take time.

 

Are you making it with a much shorter overhang from windshield
to gauges?

 

there will be no overhang. going to be a flush pad to dash. well maybe a 1/4" to 1/2" overhang. i want the cluster to stand out. give the interior some character

 

What are you going to do about the center vents? Are you deleting them? Why not just install a 4th gen dash?

 

the center vents will be where my radio is going. i will be making brackets and fiberglassing it all together so its 1 solid section. i dont want a 4th gen dash because its been done many times and im trying to shave off weight and make a custom dash at the same time.

 

i made a paper template that will cover the gap from the dashpad to the dash. the letters will be all cnc'ed and attached to a aluminum plate. the white background will be the plate and the letters will be raised.

 

How is the radio going to mount if you have aluminum going across the entire dash like that? Definitely interested in seeing the finished product.

 

im cutting the center section down a little more. once i have the plate made and the brackets for the dash mounted, i can start on the radio supports and fiberglass the enclosure in.

 

will you be putting gauges in the for the oil fuel and temp also?

 

those gauges are in my custom center console.

 

hey i was wondering do the small gauges fit in the gauge cluster where mph and rpms are at?

 

the gauges wont fit in the spots. im making a custom cluster out of aluminum to match the trim im making. im only keeping the tach and speedo in the cluster. i might add a yellow and a red shift light. yellow for regular shifting and the red for max redline.

 

Where are your HVAC controls going to go if you have guages in the center console?

 

i deleted everything. no heat/ac, nothing in this car except lights, wipers, directionals. this car is a spring/ summer cruiser. will be in the carport on cloudy days.....lol

 

Not a fan, but to each his own.

 

im liking it, just for the fact that it still resembles the stock dash, just with a custom setup.

the only thing i don't like is the color's, im not a huge fan of color matching the dash/console to the paint scheme, but thats just me

looks good so far though

 

the colors are not staying. im making aluminum pieces, and keeping them non painted. im just waiting on the main trim to get cnc'ed so i can start on the fiberglass.

 

This is a great thread! Any pics on the dash yet? I would love to change it all out like this, I think it will give it a real pilot feel to the controls. Great thinking!

 

thats what i thought too odecca. no new pics yet, waiting on the main trim to come back from the cnc shop so i can start on the main dash fiberglass section. i wanted something completely different, but still keep the main dash intact. the dash will be coming back again to fix a few stress cracks.

 

Have you considered cutting out the letters, then back lighting them with LEDs? Might look sweet....

 

i was thinking raised letters because the cluster already sticks out.

 

update:

the camaro wont be using this dash setup anymore. i switched the theme of the interior, and this dash/pad wasnt going to work. the same guy who did the aluminum work to my trunk will be making my aluminum dash. it will be using the metal bracket the stock one uses for support. i have a rough drawing. keeping it clean and simple. its still in the measuring stages, but this is the main design