Aren't you a bit biased being one of the only ones to complete a firebird dash swap?
This is something you can swap in an afternoon. Something else to consider is this isn't fiberglass work. Once we complete the tooling, which will cost very little as ABS has a low forming temp compared to say the polyc we use for valve covers, we can make the molds out of mdf and get hundreds of pulls. If I ran both my machines all day, I could easily pump out 10 complete console and gauge housing kits, packaged and ready to ship per day. Not that it would be needed but it's just a point to make. I won't say how much a whole kit will cost to produce, but it isn't much.
Fair, I have no idea what your costs are, and I am a bit biased, but I do know that a Firebird dash can be done in a weekend for a couple hundred dollars in parts and labor.
If you can produce the dash for $600 then great! We need new products for the community, I support 100%. But the main reason I did a swap was to update the gauges, I just have never been a fan of dash swaps that use the old 80s gauges. But that's just my personal opinion. Not a criticism of what your doing.
It's good criticism, I appreciate it! Really what it comes down to is availability and compatibility. We'd have to source everything and make sure it'd work with swaps and the complexity increases cost. Then there is trouble shooting for customers if something doesn't work right, it is all just a lot at the price we are shooting for.
Added a little bit to it
[This message has been edited by Slammed (edited 11-02-2016).]
... what it comes down to is availability and compatibility. We'd have to source everything and make sure it'd work with swaps and the complexity increases cost. Then there is trouble shooting for customers if something doesn't work right, it is all just a lot at the price we are shooting for.
Good point... I know how to hook up the Firebird gauges and make them plug and play 100% and troubleshoot if something doesn't work right, but I couldn't make a dash like that to save my life. It is a very nice looking setup. Keeping with the stock gauges makes it easier.
In addition to Firebird gauges, I've had a couple of folks send me their Sunbird Turbo tachs for calibration.... that kind of stuff is easy for me to do. Maybe sourcing gauges as an upgrade would be easier than you realize?
Definitely look into something to update the ac controls. That's my biggest catch right now trying to figure out how to update my interior. I also agree with ditching the factory gauges but I don't want 90s gm gauges, either, so an option for a blank gauge panel to mount your own gauges would be great. I think going with a Speed Hut 6 gauge set.
I also agree with ditching the factory gauges but I don't want 90s gm gauges, either, so an option for a blank gauge panel to mount your own gauges would be great. I think going with a Speed Hut 6 gauge set.
That's a fair criticism... I've been rocking the 90s Firebird gauges since 2002 and I'm getting tired of them. If I had a modern OBD2 engine there would be tons of options. But for old school analog systems there isn't much I like that are that much better.
The gauge cluster tooling is going to be cast aluminum then machined but the rest is mdf and fiberglass. Still a lot to do. Working on a compartment and pop out cupholders in the rear wall portion
[This message has been edited by Slammed (edited 11-15-2016).]
Should be zero. It'll come right out of the vacuum former to the exact same size every single time. We'll pre cut all the holes and fillet all the edges. Install should be a couple hours at most, totally plug and play
[This message has been edited by Slammed (edited 11-15-2016).]
Could you do me a favor, and measure the width of the inside of the console, in the area that the white material is located. I am installing a touchscreen in my car, and if this console will accommodate the width of it, you have sold a console already
This is a PhotoShop rendidtion I did 5 years ago:
I actually started to try to fabricate it, and never finished. Here I was getting the dimensions and shapes using cardboard:
It it 7.25". Big enough for a standard double din with 1/8" bezel
Wow, that is really narrow.... The stock Fiero console width is 10 inches. 7.25" is just an inch wider than the length of a dollar bill for comparison.
Will that leave enough room for a standard radio and bezel? The radio I have has a pretty thin bezel, and it would just barely fit, leaving just about the thickness of a piece of paper on each side.
All din type radios are 7.09" wide. The majority of which have a face that is not wider than that. The bezel will be a permanently molded in raised section of the console and the stereo will install from the back, not slide in through the front. All 8 of the stereos I have here fit
Hey Slammed, with your plastic capabilities, would you consider doing some custom work? I've been trying to find a solution for using the Firebird door panels, but everyone that's already tried it doesn't really want to try it again (and most didn't quite get it right). I'd rather have it done right than to try hacking it up myself. Interested?
Hey Slammed, with your plastic capabilities, would you consider doing some custom work? I've been trying to find a solution for using the Firebird door panels, but everyone that's already tried it doesn't really want to try it again (and most didn't quite get it right). I'd rather have it done right than to try hacking it up myself. Interested?
I have door panels in the works right now that are based off the firebird and camaro 4th gen panels. Bolt on as well aside from a bit of drilling to relocate the door handles and lock levers
I have door panels in the works right now that are based off the firebird and camaro 4th gen panels. Bolt on as well aside from a bit of drilling to relocate the door handles and lock levers
If you're looking for a test subject, I'm your guy. Let me know what I can do to help out. ALso, still looking for the notchback lense replacements.
Slammed , Just my preference , but all gauges should be at one level for the driver. Anything that takes away the drivers attention from the road is just asking for trouble. To many times these days people are playing with the new toys that todays car have and loose control of their car. Other than that, the design looks great.
New member here! I would definitely be interested in this upgrade as I will be starting my AD355 build in early 2017. I have been looking at options for a interior change as I don't want to stay with the stock Fiero but may not go full 355 interior either as it gets quite pricey. This design may be just the ticket. Looking forward to your finished product and if it looks as good as the renderings I may want a complete interior package.
Welll, I know where my tax return is going. I absolutely want a set. As for the options for finish, I would like Alcantara that matches the stock '88's two tone. Think we can figure that out and or get a rendering?
Any "upholstery" option would be vinyl thermoformed over the parts. Actual upholstery work is something I'm not capable of doing and would make this very expensive
and maybe interested depending on how much finish work it would be for me to do during install.
