Dash build (Page 21/28)
TXGOOD MAR 09, 08:14 PM
This afternoon I cut out the console sides and just put some cardboard filler to see how it would look.
Mike
IVANNATINKLE MAR 10, 12:59 AM
i have a quick question and by witch i mean no offense! your last dash was very round this one is kind of uhh "lumpy" idk if thats the right word but round some areas and flat others, may i ask why? do you just like this look or is it easier to reproduce if it has that little flat section at the front where your knees would go?

edit: either way this dash looks awesome again another one off sweet product!

[This message has been edited by IVANNATINKLE (edited 03-10-2010).]

TommyRocker MAR 10, 04:06 AM
That's great work. I really like your method of using cardboard. I had the same basic idea but hadn't seen it done so I assumed it wouldn't work. I'm glad I found your thread! Quick question if you don't mind... What vinyl do you recommend for best blend ofdurability, ease of use, and looks? Thanks!
grkboy707 MAR 10, 06:45 AM
Very nice! The only thing I'm concerned about is; since your prior update, you didn't use duct tape???
TXGOOD MAR 10, 07:46 AM
The front is flattened because I have something that will go on there, but I`m not showing that until I upholster the dash.
This project is not really a "one off" because I`m making molds and templates of everything I`m doing in case I want to reproduce
this dash. I stuck cardboard in there just to see how it would look filled in. I will probably make a mold for that piece this weekend.
I was waiting for the "duct tape" comment. I don`t have any screws on the cluster housing yet, so that`s holding it up.
On my first dash, the way the vents were for the ac they pointed up at the windshield and there wasn`t much air flow out
toward the cabin, but on this I am going to use some square vents and they will mount on that flat part at both ends on
the front of the dash.
About the vinyl, on my last dash I used Mr Mikes vinyl, but with this one I`m using Mellohide Allante because it stretches
4 ways and with the color chart I got I have found matches for the dark and light grey and one of the tan colors. Those are
the only colors I have samples of from a Fiero. I hope to make it to the Round-up here in Texas this year and I`m going
to take my color chart and hopefully catalog all of the colors including the 88 Beechwood.

[This message has been edited by TXGOOD (edited 03-10-2010).]

TommyRocker MAR 10, 04:51 PM
Awesome, thanks for the info. Its really cool to see the changes you're making to the design based on what you didn't like about the previous dash. I'll be checking this thread often. Another question, how well do those materials manage the look of leather? Do the have the right level of gloss and what not or is it pretty obvious they are plastic?
TXGOOD MAR 10, 04:59 PM
Allante is a faily dull material and I think it does feel similar to leather.
I was wondering about using a dull material on the dash, but after asking a few people the consensus was
that a shiny dash and the sun reflecting off of it was not a good thing.
Mike
TommyRocker MAR 10, 05:25 PM
Good to know. I looked it up and its very reasonably priced as well. Just gotta find info on uv resistance n so on. Thanks again for answering my questions. And thanks for posting your projects on here, I'm really impressed with your work, and it has given me inspiration and confidence to get back to designing and building my own.
TXGOOD MAR 16, 06:48 PM
I got my mold made for the console top this weekend and I pulled one out today and clamped it together.
Fits pretty well.
Mike
TXGOOD MAR 22, 11:44 AM
I think I`m going to have to shorten the arched middle section because as you can see from the above picture the
plate for the radio surround is not the same across the top as it is across the bottom, so the console will be narrower
across the top, but just by 1/4" or so.
Not much done this weekend.
I did get a template made for cutting out the glove box opening.
I ordered more fiberglass materials and some vinyl, so I will be laying up another dash, as the one I have is basically
been for mock up and I pretty much know what I need to cut and what I don`t.
Next will be the mould made for the AC ductwork.
For that I`m going to do as much solid as I can before switching to flexible hose.

On another note, I wanted to get some opinions on the console.
I am going to be covering the main part of it with Charcoal color to match the dash and shifter cover, but I was thinking
of doing the middle curved part in the light grey.
I guess when I get my material in, I can just lay some up there and see which looks the best.

[This message has been edited by TXGOOD (edited 03-22-2010).]