67 center dash

[mroth]

Can anyone give any suggestions for the center dash. I like the newer controls that ac companies have for their units. Therefore, I would like to have a nice setup to achieve this. I would like to still locate the stereo near the same location also. Show me your ideas.

Thanks

Mike

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

I assume you have a 67 f-body. Covan used to make a blank center panel. But I don't see it on their new site. I can't think of anyone who makes a new center panel.

[676869addict]

i made mine with aluminum. i that point you could cut out any size hole for radio, ac controls ect take a look

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

i made mine with aluminum. i that point you could cut out any size hole for radio, ac controls ect take a look


I like what you did. Making me rethink using the Covan 4-gauge panel I bought and making my own. There's no space with the Covan panel for a stereo to be mounted.

Another idea I've been giving thought to is to completely cut out the center section and weld in a new piece of sheet metal that smooths out that area. Then there would be plent of room for my gauges and my head unit. Would like to see if any one has done this before. I'm sure they have.

[XLexusTech]

check out Dale Jrs car done by DSE

[Jim Nilsen]

Check out Bad Penny and see if you like it.

The thought of a radio these days is kind of, well oversized outdated and limited for form and function. Unless you really want the look for nastalgia or asthetics you can do much better with less space and better form and function.

Plus you can reduce the weight of your car.

I am going to go completely toward the boombox theory. I plan on just plugging something in that plays music both in and outside of my car that is totally remove and replace when I want it. That way I have something for the paddock area when I take everything out of the car.

Just a little something to get you thinking outside of the box or is it inside the box, boombox that is.

[mroth]

I have seen Dale JR's before and even called DSE to see if they could do one up for me also. It was REALLY pricey. I was hoping to get something nice for under $500.00. I don't need gauges since I bought Classic Instruments all in one Instrument cluster. I don't have the talent like some of you to make up one on my own. I am still trying to find a pic with bad Penny to see what she has.

Mike

[Jim Nilsen]

I have seen Dale JR's before and even called DSE to see if they could do one up for me also. I was REALLY pricey. I was hoping to get something nice for under $500.00. I don't need gauges since I bought Classic Instruments all in one Instrument cluster. I don't have the talent like some of you to make up one on my own. I am still trying to find a pic with bad Penny to see what she has.

Mike

do a search with the words Bad Penny and I pod. that should get you plenty.

[mroth]

Nice ideas on the center console. I have all of my gauges on the dash. I am looking to mainly have AC controls and a stereo unit in that area.

Mike

[jski67]

I like what you did. Making me rethink using the Covan 4-gauge panel I bought and making my own. There's no space with the Covan panel for a stereo to be mounted.

Another idea I've been giving thought to is to completely cut out the center section and weld in a new piece of sheet metal that smooths out that area. Then there would be plent of room for my gauges and my head unit. Would like to see if any one has done this before. I'm sure they have.


Hey Mark,

I did this to my car...I'll post pics later.
Jason

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Hey Mark,

I did this to my car...I'll post pics later.
Jason


Thanks Jason. Looking forward to them.

[Jim Nilsen]

you can make a cover that hooks on the top and is held in place with 2 screws on the bottom. I have this and so does Bad Penny.

Here is a pic to get you started with the idea of how much frontal area you can get.

[mroth]

Pretty interesting Jim. I am picking up a custom center consloe and I will see how much room I have in that area. I have a good sheetmetal guy who did all of my work so far on the car and I will see if he can fab something up nice.

Mike

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Different approach than what I was considering Jim. But gives me another alternative to consider. My thought was to make the dash completely smooth between the ignition switch and the glove box area. But I was concerned about mounting stuff on slightly curved surface. Your way makes me rethink my plan a little. I'd like to get all my gauges and my stereo mounted in the dash. Then make a custom console and sell my extra stuff. I also like what you did to your glove box. Interesting touch.

[mroth]

I was referred to Camaro Central and he has a blank center piece that is just like the original without any cutouts. It is a new product that is due in Friday. I will post pics once I get it in.

Mike

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Nice!!! Very anxious to see this.

[zuess4u]

I was referred to Camaro Central and he has a blank center piece that is just like the original without any cutouts. It is a new product that is due in Friday. I will post pics once I get it in.

Mike

Mike they also carry a custom center console that could be promising, the piece your getting seems to be a bit pricey, but in the long run it may be cheaper then making one. We made one, and counter sunk the gauges, looked real nice matched the contours of the main gauges and all,....lol...then we mounted it....gauges were facing down due to the angle....duh! it took a few days to build and now its useless....so maybe 60.00 is worth it....:idea:

[jski67]

Hey everyone,

Here's my attempt to fill the center dash in my 67...it's not finished yet, but you get the idea. The nice, completed version at the bottom is from a Banks project car I found on the web years ago...all the fabrication was awesome. They have nice radiuses where mine...well, not so nice. LOL

Anyway, it looks pretty good in person although now I wish I would have went with 2 1/16" gauges. Oh well, I may redo it yet.

Zeuss, thanks for pointing out that blank trim piece from Camaro Central...I may use that yet (or at least the outside trim).

For my interior, I want some custom touches but still maintain that 67 feel (if that makes sense), so trimming out the pebble center and having that chrome trim piece around the edge could work well. Just a thought anyway...

Jason

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/DSC01672_2-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/DSC01673_2-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/Dash2-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/Dash-1.jpg

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

They must have just added that to their site. It wasn't listed a cpl of days ago. This looks to be just what I was looking for. If my old measurements are correct you can mount 4 2 1/16 gauges and a DIN size radio with no problems. And $60 ain't too bad considering the Covan piece is twice that and can only hold 4 gauges. The Covan is a nice piece though if you don't care about a radio. I'll be putting mine up for sale as soon as I can get home and get some pics to go with it so I can buy this one.

[Jim Nilsen]

you can make a cover that hooks on the top and is held in place with 2 screws on the bottom. I have this and so does Bad Penny.

Here is a pic to get you started with the idea of how much frontal area you can get.

I had a couple of request for more pics of my setup and this is a good place to let everyone see how many ways to do the same thing differently.

here are some pics while building it to make it easier to see. There is a piece of rubber edging that keep it looking nice at the edge to the dash.

[Jim Nilsen]

Hey everyone,

Here's my attempt to fill the center dash in my 67...it's not finished yet, but you get the idea. The nice, completed version at the bottom is from a Banks project car I found on the web years ago...all the fabrication was awesome. They have nice radiuses where mine...well, not so nice. LOL

Anyway, it looks pretty good in person although now I wish I would have went with 2 1/16" gauges. Oh well, I may redo it yet.

Zeuss, thanks for pointing out that blank trim piece from Camaro Central...I may use that yet (or at least the outside trim).

For my interior, I want some custom touches but still maintain that 67 feel (if that makes sense), so trimming out the pebble center and having that chrome trim piece around the edge could work well. Just a thought anyway...

Jason

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/DSC01672_2-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/DSC01673_2-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/Dash2-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/Dash-1.jpg

I thought about doing this so many times and then to reverse the gauges from being sunk in to beveled out. I like the beveled out way so you can see the gauges better. Both ways are a lot of work to do.

Nice job!!

[zuess4u]

Hey everyone,

Here's my attempt to fill the center dash in my 67...it's not finished yet, but you get the idea. The nice, completed version at the bottom is from a Banks project car I found on the web years ago...all the fabrication was awesome. They have nice radiuses where mine...well, not so nice. LOL

Anyway, it looks pretty good in person although now I wish I would have went with 2 1/16" gauges. Oh well, I may redo it yet.

Zeuss, thanks for pointing out that blank trim piece from Camaro Central...I may use that yet (or at least the outside trim).

For my interior, I want some custom touches but still maintain that 67 feel (if that makes sense), so trimming out the pebble center and having that chrome trim piece around the edge could work well. Just a thought anyway...

Jason

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/DSC01672_2-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/DSC01673_2-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/Dash2-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/Dash-1.jpg

Thats pretty much how we had ours, but what we did different was use the trim and cut enough of the original to fit all 4 gauges. Then we cut and fabbed a in-lay peice using 3m steel adhesive, with gauge bezels already attached....It really looked good, kept the stock 67 appeal, but like I said...lol..once we mounted it all the gauges were at too much of a downward angle to be functional....you are on the right track for sure. Thought: if you just want the trim around that area, I would go with something cheap to test and cut, then spending 60$ on the delete item...just my .02

Keep up the progress I think it looks great.

[zuess4u]

Do you guys remember, there was a company who made a dash with the counter sunk bezels built into it?

Draw back of course was the cost and they only had 3 gauge holes, but other then that it looked pretty nice. I think they wanted 1k for the dash....

[mroth]

I believe Covan's has a 4 hole one and also a 4 hole blank that you can cut out for your own specialty gauges

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

I believe Covan's has a 4 hole one and also a 4 hole blank that you can cut out for your own specialty gauges


I have a "simulated cf" version I have for sale in the classified section here and on ebay and will either make my own or buy the stock blank from Camaro Central. The Covan item is a nice piece if you only want to have 4 gauges in your center dash. They are angled towards the driver for easy reading.

I took a small portion of the top chrome trim off a beat up factory panel and epoxied it to the top center back of the Covan panel. It will use the original stock upper mount and just needs to be screwed into the dash at the bottom.

[Cdog]

I've been planning on running a 67 console with the gauge cluster. Putting fuel, fuel pressure and volt gauge in the factory holes. Then modifying the dash at the ashtray to take 3 gauges straight across for water temp, oil pressure and oil temp.

I'd rather have a radio than an ash tray.

[Irnmike]

I made a metal bracket to take a modern stereo that bolts to the dash and then used a stock bezel with a piece of textured abs plastic glued in
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/IMG_1692-1.jpg

[mroth]

Good job Michael. Is that the center piece from Camaro Central? I am still waiting to get mine.

Mike

[Irnmike]

No, it's a stock piece with abs glued into the recess. easy to add to later.

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Good job Michael. Is that the center piece from Camaro Central? I am still waiting to get mine.

Mike


Did you get your panel yet?? I plan to order one but am waiting to see what your feedback was on this panel.

[mroth]

Yes, I got both both pieces in. They seem to be made of good quality. I tried to fit the center console in but it won't fit underneath the dash because I raised the tunnel up to get my T-56 tranny to fit. I am trying to figure out what my next game plan is. The shifter sits back about 3 inches from stock so it might look funny with it. If everything is stock in it I think it is a great value. I need to find the piece to hold up the center piece for the center gauge cover. I am working overtime for the next couple weeks at work so it may be a while to posts pics. It looks just like stock without the cutouts.

Mike

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Thanks for the feedback. I was just curious how it fit verses the stock piece before I ordered one for myself.

[zuess4u]

I had mentioned this earlier in the thread, but I think everyone thought I was talking about the Covan insert......

But has anyone tried that dash pad that has the 3 gauge pods molded into the DASH PAD itself...I forget who makes them...

What I do remember is that the pad was around 1k.

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

I just got my Camaro Central panel today. Here are some quick pics of it. The first is a front view. You can see the grain. The second is the back. The third is a mock up I did with 4 2-5/8" gauges and a mount for the radio from a guy up in Canada makes. It's a really nice headunit mount. So it looks like you can mount 4 gauges and a radio. The radio needs to have a support of it's own because this panel is a little thin. It can probably hold the gauges but not a radio. For $60 it's a nice piece to use for custom applications and make it look stock.

BTW - the headunit mount guys web site is

http://www.humount.com/

[zuess4u]

Thanks for posting the pics, looks like this panel can work out well for those who dont want to horse with a bunch of fabbing or that plastic insert. Good stuff.

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Thanks for posting the pics, looks like this panel can work out well for those who dont want to horse with a bunch of fabbing or that plastic insert. Good stuff.

Definitely opens up a lot of options and still maintain a stock look. Now the question is to leave it black or paint it the same color as the rest of the dash and interior.... Right now I'm 50-50

[zuess4u]

Definitely opens up a lot of options and still maintain a stock look. Now the question is to leave it black or paint it the same color as the rest of the dash and interior.... Right now I'm 50-50


Im having the same issues, leaning more to the black.