Custom Interior for a 1970 Chevelle

[David LaBuda]

I've been working on building a new interior that I designed for my Chevelle. The center console is designed around the raised driveshaft tunnel I installed and the new dash ties into it. So far I've built part of the skeleton out of 1/4 inch steel rod and built a panel for the gauges. I am kind of at a crossroads for how I want to finish off the parts and I was hoping for some input. For the sides of the console and dash I have been trying to decide whether I want to "skin" the skeleton in sheet metal or fiberglass. I don't have any experience with using fiberglass, bit I'm sure I could teach myself how. I would either paint the sides (if I use sheet metal) or wrap them in leather (I could do this over metal or fiberglass.) What are your thoughts?

Here are some pictures of the Sketchup model I made what I've done so far:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/Console34View_zps94ee93b6-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/Console34View_zps94ee93b6.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/Dash34View_zpsb24f3cf8-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/Dash34View_zpsb24f3cf8.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/DashFrontView_zps27fd70b7-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DashFrontView_zps27fd70b7.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/InteriorShot_zps7b2c7976-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/InteriorShot_zps7b2c7976.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/DSC_01401-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_01401.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/DSC_0146-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0146.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/DSC_0147-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0147.jpg.html)

(http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0160.jpg.html)https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/036_zps79a1e04a-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/036_zps79a1e04a.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/DSC_0160-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/DSC_0161-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0161.jpg.html)

[raustinss]

I'd like to see some pictures of those gto seats mounted,factory gto mounts or Chevelle?..what about wrapping the console in carbon fiber

[David LaBuda]

I used the GTO tracks and welded tabs to them to bolt to the floor. I had to do a couple modifications to the floor pan to get them to sit as low as possible. When I pull the interior apart next week I can try and get a couple pictures.

I'm not really going for the carbon fiber look in the interior. I'm trying to stick with leather, painted metal, and brushed aluminum.

[Jariv06]

I have been kicking around the same idea for my 2nd gen Camaro. I am gonna keep an eye on your thread, my idea was to use expanding foam inside my metal skeleton so I can get the contours I am looking for, and then wrap in leather, or fiberglass. I love your design, and cant wait to see the finished product.
Good luck with the build.

[raustinss]

Awesome thanks for the seat info...feel free to pm me any info and pictures, like I said I am going to be crossing that bridge real soon and was thinking about dropping the floor pans down but, now I will wait to see how you've done it
Thanks Ryan Austin

[David LaBuda]

I decided I would go ahead and use sheet metal for it's simplicity and the fact that I can just paint it if I want to. I added a bar that follows the curve of the windshield and started on the passenger side of the dash which will contain the glove box. I also added kick/knee panels (not sure what to call them.) The driver’s side has a removable access panel like the factory dash has. The place I get sheet metal from only has 18 gauge so all of the interior panels I build will be quite sturdy (and heavy, unfortunately.)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0049_zps5559b3fa-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0049_zps5559b3fa.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0048_zps67e49748-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0048_zps67e49748.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0053_zpsc9fff625-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0053_zpsc9fff625.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0054_zps2248b98a-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0054_zps2248b98a.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0055_zpsc9a3bbf9-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0055_zpsc9a3bbf9.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0057_zps8139d780-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0057_zps8139d780.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0059_zps1974d1cd-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0059_zps1974d1cd.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0060_zps44a58525-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0060_zps44a58525.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0063_zpsbbd76d27-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0063_zpsbbd76d27.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0062_zps256afaab-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0062_zps256afaab.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0064_zps2d8653d1-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0064_zps2d8653d1.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0068_zps526737fa-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0068_zps526737fa.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0070_zpsb52b6033-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0070_zpsb52b6033.jpg.html)

[David LaBuda]

That’s about as far as I could get with the dash until I decide what air vents I am going to use. I am leaning towards the round vents found in newer F-150s. At that point, I started on the console. I based the front of the console off of the setup from a Subaru Legacy. That’s the car the parking brake handle is from, so using the console deign means the handle will fit like it should. I made a cardboard template for the front insert and used that to build the real metal one. I also skinned the sides of the console with the 18 gauge sheet metal.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0072_zpsd7179740-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0072_zpsd7179740.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0066_zpsda0a14a6-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0066_zpsda0a14a6.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0065_zpse46b23c1-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0065_zpse46b23c1.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0069_zpsfb73b70a-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0069_zpsfb73b70a.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0049_zps45634d59-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0049_zps45634d59.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0050_zps194f8234-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0050_zps194f8234.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0052_zps76bcb643-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0052_zps76bcb643.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0051_zps05de95b2-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0051_zps05de95b2.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/DSC_0053_zps5ea46ef9-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/DSC_0053_zps5ea46ef9.jpg.html)

[David LaBuda]

Here are some pictures of how I mounted the seats:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/IMG_0923_zps017e1fd7-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/IMG_0923_zps017e1fd7.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/IMG_0924_zps36460fef-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/IMG_0924_zps36460fef.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/IMG_0925_zps2899cc13-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/IMG_0925_zps2899cc13.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/01/IMG_0926_zps7f3f1e7a-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/dlabooda/media/1970%20Chevelle/IMG_0926_zps7f3f1e7a.jpg.html)

I basically cut off and rotated one of the rear "feet" 90 degrees so that it would be parallel with the floor and on the other side, I think I just cut off whatever was there and made my own mount. It's been so long that I don't really remember how the seat mounts were originally.

[LowNfast]

your doing a great job on the design follow thru. fab skills/patience are much better than mine.