71 Javelin Trans Am Clone - Dash Fabrication?

[Bulletpruf]

Fellas -

New guy here. I have a 71 Javelin that's going to get the Trans Am clone treatment. Interior will be purpose built - no radio, no A/C, two lightweight racing seats, no back seat, roll cage, etc. I just need a bare-bones dash with a plethora of gauges, toggle switches, etc.

I'd like to ditch my factory dashpad and all the plastic trim, etc. I'd like to sell it all (dashpad, console, rally gauges, etc) to finance a custom-built one. Will probably totally rewire the car, too, or at least from the dash forward, with a Painless kit or something similar.

My questions - is fabricating a new dash something that a reputable shop can do without too much trouble or expense? Also, what do I need to keep from my factory dash? Nothing? Vents? Defroster? Any ideas on cost? How difficult is this to fabricate? I'm a do it yourself kind of guy, but have never tackled anything like this.

Thanks!

Scott

[Mathius]

Fellas -

New guy here. I have a 71 Javelin that's going to get the Trans Am clone treatment. Interior will be purpose built - no radio, no A/C, two lightweight racing seats, no back seat, roll cage, etc. I just need a bare-bones dash with a plethora of gauges, toggle switches, etc.

I'd like to ditch my factory dashpad and all the plastic trim, etc. I'd like to sell it all (dashpad, console, rally gauges, etc) to finance a custom-built one. Will probably totally rewire the car, too, or at least from the dash forward, with a Painless kit or something similar.

My questions - is fabricating a new dash something that a reputable shop can do without too much trouble or expense? Also, what do I need to keep from my factory dash? Nothing? Vents? Defroster? Any ideas on cost? How difficult is this to fabricate? I'm a do it yourself kind of guy, but have never tackled anything like this.

Thanks!

Scott

Any decent body shop should be able to fab you a dash, even if they source out some of it to an upholestry shop.

You can build a nice dash out of wood and have it covered or fiberglassed, or you can make it out of steel. There's a common misconception that a steel dash or console is going to be heavier than fiberglass, but 9/10 that isn't the case.

As for what you need out of your stock dash, that depends a lot on what your intentions are. If you're going to use the stock ac/heating components, then yes, you're probably going to want your ducts and whatnot. Worse case scenario you'll at least need your stock ducts if you're gonna use the stock heating components. You can buy aftermarket grilles if you want to spend the money.

If you go with an aftermarket a/c unit, a lot of that stuff is mounted under the dash. As far as vents and stuff goes, a lot of them use rubber hoses. In which case you'll just need a grille, be it your stock grilles or an aftermarket one.

Then you have to consider your gauges. Gonna use the stock cluster? Save it. Gonna use some autometer pieces? (nice but not original anymore) then at least write down your mileage and information from your stock gauges.

Also, if you're using any of the stock switches, such as headlight switch, radio, anything, make sure you save the switches and the wiring. Try not to hack up the wiring too much, it will save you time later.

If you're really interested in doing this yourself, I can provide you some links. Sport truck sites are absolutely wealths of information on this sort of thing as they are always on the cutting edge of customization. They're not afraid to NOT go stock. You'd also be surprised at how many neat things you can find on an import site. Even if you don't think putting a turbo unit on a Civic is a worthwhile expensive for your money, that doesn't mean they don't know some neat interior tricks.

Personally? I'd go totally custom. Search the junk yards and/or ebay and find some grilles and gauges you think look good, that will work with your engine.

I absolutely applaud you for going the stock route instead of doing a restore. Restorations are nice if you have a lot of extra money, or your car is worth something and you look at it as an investment. If you're going to actually drive it, make it as comfortable and personalized as possible.

Mathius

[rockytopper]

I can hook you up. I have 3d cad and water jet on hand. This is the dash I created for my LS1 F-85 project with autometer gauges. Let me know if I can help.
Rocky


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/dashx1-1.jpg


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/ptc-1.jpg

[fastback]

Damn. How cool is that?

[IMPALAMAN1]

ROCKTOP! BADa$$

[Damn True]

I can hook you up. I have 3d cad and water jet on hand. This is the dash I created for my LS1 F-85 project with autometer gauges. Let me know if I can help.
Rocky


Hmm, so if someone were to send you a cardboard template could you reproduce it?

[rockytopper]

Hmm, so if someone were to send you a cardboard template could you reproduce it?

For sure, I'll redraw it in cad, insure it is identical to what has been sent, send to jet and ship you a custom dash to your specs. Logo's etc.. etc..

I can do any flat pattern up to 6 inchs thick with the jet. Billet brackets , trans mounts, engine covers. Check out my PT garage you'll see some other work I have done on my LS1 F-85 project

[Damn True]

Can you do bends as well?

[rockytopper]

Can you do bends as well?


Yes but our brake is only a small hand job, any serious stuff I will have to ship out. The engine cover was formed by hand using a rubber hammer and a piece of thick walled tubing that had a .50 radii to form around. If parts are to be bent I use 5052 which is easier to form than 6061 t6. It is much cheaper on the pocket book too. For a dash you would need to send the original so that the bends could be matched.

[Bulletpruf]

Any decent body shop should be able to fab you a dash, even if they source out some of it to an upholestry shop.

You can build a nice dash out of wood and have it covered or fiberglassed, or you can make it out of steel. There's a common misconception that a steel dash or console is going to be heavier than fiberglass, but 9/10 that isn't the case.

As for what you need out of your stock dash, that depends a lot on what your intentions are. If you're going to use the stock ac/heating components, then yes, you're probably going to want your ducts and whatnot. Worse case scenario you'll at least need your stock ducts if you're gonna use the stock heating components. You can buy aftermarket grilles if you want to spend the money.

If you go with an aftermarket a/c unit, a lot of that stuff is mounted under the dash. As far as vents and stuff goes, a lot of them use rubber hoses. In which case you'll just need a grille, be it your stock grilles or an aftermarket one.

Then you have to consider your gauges. Gonna use the stock cluster? Save it. Gonna use some autometer pieces? (nice but not original anymore) then at least write down your mileage and information from your stock gauges.

Also, if you're using any of the stock switches, such as headlight switch, radio, anything, make sure you save the switches and the wiring. Try not to hack up the wiring too much, it will save you time later.

If you're really interested in doing this yourself, I can provide you some links. Sport truck sites are absolutely wealths of information on this sort of thing as they are always on the cutting edge of customization. They're not afraid to NOT go stock. You'd also be surprised at how many neat things you can find on an import site. Even if you don't think putting a turbo unit on a Civic is a worthwhile expensive for your money, that doesn't mean they don't know some neat interior tricks.

Personally? I'd go totally custom. Search the junk yards and/or ebay and find some grilles and gauges you think look good, that will work with your engine.

I absolutely applaud you for going the stock route instead of doing a restore. Restorations are nice if you have a lot of extra money, or your car is worth something and you look at it as an investment. If you're going to actually drive it, make it as comfortable and personalized as possible.

Mathius

Mathius,

Thanks for the info. Will have heat, but not A/C. Aftermarket gauges. No radio. Minimal use of stock switches, I think. More of a bare bones racer, lightweight piece.

Please send links.

Thanks!

Scott

[Bulletpruf]

I can hook you up. I have 3d cad and water jet on hand. This is the dash I created for my LS1 F-85 project with autometer gauges. Let me know if I can help.
Rocky



Beautiful handiwork, Rocky. One thing, though - I intend to ditch my stock dash entirely - - no dashpad, just start from scratch. Think that would take a few bends. What do you think? Guess I need to pull the rest of the stuff out and take some pictures.

Thanks,

Scott

[jackfrost]

I would go fiberglass. lightweight and easy to work with. build a plug out of a combination of wood and foam, then pull a part from it. or, you could pull parts from a junkyard and mold them together.

check out this site:
http://www.fiberglassforums.com
you have to join to see the posts, but a bunch of guys have done custom dashes.

[Mathius]

Mathius,

Thanks for the info. Will have heat, but not A/C. Aftermarket gauges. No radio. Minimal use of stock switches, I think. More of a bare bones racer, lightweight piece.

Please send links.

Thanks!

Scott

Well, I gotta tell you for fiberglass, jackfrost's link is great. Those are great forums. They also cover acrylic, and just about anything else that might have to do with custom audio show cars.

Here's a few examples from that site...

This guy chose to build his dash from scrap using wood and fiberglassing it:
http://www.fiberglassforums.com/showthread.php?t=7302

This guy actually made his dash from a bunch of different junkyard components that he just liked the look of:
http://www.fiberglassforums.com/showthread.php?t=8462

Also, like I said, the custom truck and import scene is where it's at for creative DIY'ers:

Here's a complete guide on fiberglassing written up at Fullsizechevy.com:
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/general-discussion/tech-articles2/280959-fiberglassing-guide.html

I would supplement that link with the forum that Jackfrost entered.

Here's another build from FSC where he chose to keep the frame of his dash and glass the rest:
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/general-discussion/interior-tech/310817-fiberglass-dash-build.html

This guy built his from wood, using the stock components he wanted to keep:
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/general-discussion/interior-tech/294399-finish-custom-dash-yes-no.html

And don't overlook the idea of just taking a tape measure to the yard and picking a dash that fits and making it work. This guy took a 2000 Chevy Dash and put it in his '85 pickup:
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/general-discussion/interior-tech/325561-dash-swap-2000-85-a.html

This guy chose to make a custom console and keep his stock dash, but he smoothed it, painted it, and put flames on it. You can also go back and look at this entire truck build:
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/general-discussion/projects-builds-restorations/330215-project-lowrnu-5.html

This guy chose to build his dash from steel. He built a frame and then welded the sheet steel in place. That's probably how I'd do it as well:
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/general-discussion/interior-tech/334577-custom-dash-materials.html

Speaking of working with metal, this is a great place for ANY type of metal project: http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/index.php

Here's a guy grafting in a new section to his steel dash:
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7817&highlight=dashboard

Lastly, I could have swore I read that you wanted to go with a real bare bones feel? This guy made a very simple sheet metal dash, pretty much flat rectangular sheet with just a few bends:
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6263&highlight=dashboard

Hope those help, and I definitely encourage you to be unique in your choices.

Mathius


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/Image774-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/DashInstall021-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/interior014-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/P1000535-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/m54621566-1.jpg

[Mathius]

Oh yeah, this one is good too. Not really a how to, exactly, but has some good step by step photos at least. http://www.hotrodscustomstuff.com/inferno_camaro-04.html https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif Mathius

[Bulletpruf]

I would go fiberglass. lightweight and easy to work with. build a plug out of a combination of wood and foam, then pull a part from it. or, you could pull parts from a junkyard and mold them together.

check out this site:
http://www.fiberglassforums.com
you have to join to see the posts, but a bunch of guys have done custom dashes.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

Scott

[Bulletpruf]

Well, I gotta tell you for fiberglass, jackfrost's link is great. Those are great forums. They also cover acrylic, and just about anything else that might have to do with custom audio show cars.

Here's a few examples from that site...

This guy chose to build his dash from scrap using wood and fiberglassing it:
http://www.fiberglassforums.com/showthread.php?t=7302

This guy actually made his dash from a bunch of different junkyard components that he just liked the look of:
http://www.fiberglassforums.com/showthread.php?t=8462

Also, like I said, the custom truck and import scene is where it's at for creative DIY'ers:

Here's a complete guide on fiberglassing written up at Fullsizechevy.com:
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/general-discussion/tech-articles2/280959-fiberglassing-guide.html

I would supplement that link with the forum that Jackfrost entered.

Here's another build from FSC where he chose to keep the frame of his dash and glass the rest:
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/general-discussion/interior-tech/310817-fiberglass-dash-build.html

This guy built his from wood, using the stock components he wanted to keep:
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/general-discussion/interior-tech/294399-finish-custom-dash-yes-no.html

And don't overlook the idea of just taking a tape measure to the yard and picking a dash that fits and making it work. This guy took a 2000 Chevy Dash and put it in his '85 pickup:
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/general-discussion/interior-tech/325561-dash-swap-2000-85-a.html

This guy chose to make a custom console and keep his stock dash, but he smoothed it, painted it, and put flames on it. You can also go back and look at this entire truck build:
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/general-discussion/projects-builds-restorations/330215-project-lowrnu-5.html

This guy chose to build his dash from steel. He built a frame and then welded the sheet steel in place. That's probably how I'd do it as well:
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/general-discussion/interior-tech/334577-custom-dash-materials.html

Speaking of working with metal, this is a great place for ANY type of metal project: http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/index.php

Here's a guy grafting in a new section to his steel dash:
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7817&highlight=dashboard

Lastly, I could have swore I read that you wanted to go with a real bare bones feel? This guy made a very simple sheet metal dash, pretty much flat rectangular sheet with just a few bends:
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6263&highlight=dashboard

Hope those help, and I definitely encourage you to be unique in your choices.

Mathius


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/Image774-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/DashInstall021-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/interior014-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/P1000535-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/m54621566-1.jpg


Mathius -

Really appreciate the info. This is extremely helpful.

Thanks,

Scott

[asifnyc]

hey, how's the trans-am javelin project coming? I'm a little late to the party but I wanted to mention a couple things. First, the real trans-am javelins kept the dash PAD and just fab'd a gauge cluster. here's a pic of the #2 RWR (roy woods racing) javelin dash.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/2rwr_dashJPG-1.jpg

second, I've reconfigured my stock dash and loaded it with auto meter gauges. might give you some ideas if you haven't already completed a custom dash. here's a pic and you can check out more pics and info on my javelin blog http://asifnyc.com

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/dash_after-1.jpg

My Javelin is yellow with black stripes inspired by the '71 roy woods racing TA javelins. Also, I have a bunch of detail shots of the #2 RWR red/white and blue javelin. depending on how accurate you want to take the clone concept they might answer some questions for you.

good luck and post some updates.