2nd gen Firebird dashboard

[jp455]

Hello all,

I'm working on a dashboard project for my Firebird and was wondering if anyone out there has a template and/or measurements of what the gauge panel is like. Thanks!

[NOT A TA]

I probably have whatever you need Manuel, or can measure whatever you want. I work on 2nd gen bird dashes fairly often and have facias, gauge pods and a dash section handy. Not sure what you might be doing but you can look here for info about the dash and one way of modifying it. https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62487

[70fireturd]

Do you not have the original to measure or are you looking for a pre-made setup? I would just hack up one of those cheesy wood grain esprit one's that's what I plan on doing.

[jp455]

John-I'm making a whole new dash actually so basically what I would love to have would be the outline of the fascia, and the depth of the surrounding dash. Its sort of 3D work I'm doing so I need both of those measurements, kinda like working in a shoe box. Quick question BTW...is that cut out over the steering column completely necessary? It would help my idea if it wasn't! Saw that car at SEMA last year...looked great! A render of my project was there too, I can post it if you're curious.

Zach-Yes, I have a complete interior, but right now I'm working on something pretty involved which is going to take time and I don't want to take the dash apart. Plus I'm in Europe right now and my Firebird is in Florida:banghead:

[NOT A TA]

Yes, you can eliminate the cutout over the column if you're using an aftermarket steering column. You'd need some measurements to be sure the column tapers down before going under the facia. Pic below taken while setting up Tys car shows the gap.

I can send you an outline of the facia easy enough. It sits roughly 2 1/2" into the dash srurround. The dash and facia are concave. I have 2nd gen bird stuff out now to do an aftermarket gauge instal in a custom panel so I can send you outlines easily enough. PM me your address and I'll get it out to you

When you really start to measure and fabricate stuff for them you realize the designer set it all up to look "correct" from the drivers seat. Figuring it would have been drafted on paper at the time it was designed, the designer would have to have been very talented with the use of three point perspectives. I think they must have mocked it up in clay then measured everything. It's just too good to have only been done on paper.

While it looks like an oblong rectangular flat panel it is much more complex. I don't know how exact you're trying to get with your 3D modeling but if you're trying to do it in Solidworks or something you'll really need a dash and facia to take measurements from to get close.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/FirebirdTAdashbuild2431-1.jpg

[NOT A TA]

Do you not have the original to measure or are you looking for a pre-made setup? I would just hack up one of those cheesy wood grain esprit one's that's what I plan on doing.

If you have the original 70 wood facia and trim rings that came in your 70 and they're in good condition I wouldn't be too quick to destroy them. They're different than the later ones and will be hunted down by people restoring Formulas to original (even if they were non gauge package facias originally). If you're looking for ones to hack up use the mid year dark woodgrain ones without the raised edge around the gauges. They're a dime a dozen and easier to modify. If you want to use original wiper/lights lighted lettering on the left side you'll need to use the correct optical path and lense piece to go with whatever facia you use. They changed that piece and the facia opening for it also a couple times over the 11 year run.

[jp455]

Thanks for all that info John! My car is a 73, but I wasn't planning on hacking the dash anyway. If what I'm thinking of works out I'll just take the dash out and save it.

It looks like the curve over the column could be straight. At least from that angle in the picture it looks like it could go straight across and not hit the column. When I said 3D I meant physical 3D, not CAD. The idea is to make a piece in clay, carbon mold etc etc. Thats why I need to know the depth of the surrounding dash in relation to the fascia. The only stock piece I'll keep is the light switch, and maybe the cigarette lighter, but even those I'm not sure about. I'll share once I have more of a solid foundation, I think you'll like it!

I would really appreciate a template of the whole thing! Problem is I'm in Spain and don't really know when I'l be getting back. If you have paypal I could pay for packing/shipping over here of the cardboard template if thats not too much of a pain.

[70fireturd]

[QUOTE=NOT A TA;676817]If you have the original 70 wood facia and trim rings that came in your 70 and they're in good condition I wouldn't be too quick to destroy them.

I agree destroying perfectly good original parts should be avoided. Although, I know many people that would consider the builds on this forum to be committing treason by "hacking up" classic cars. Completely changing everything that made these cars what they are is not treason to me. People chop,cut,swap,implant, and convert these classic cars out of appreciation for the car. It would probably be cheaper and easier to just build a GTM kit car than re-engineer some of these old cars, but it wouldn't be the same. So which is more severe chopping the top of a perfectly good 30's coupe(for lack of better example) or modifying a dash? ............... Stepping down from my soap box now.

[jp455]

I can sort of understand that view irf we're talking about a super rare model or something, but this way most of our cars keep on running as ooposed to rotting away. I'd rather that than not "hacking" them up.

Anywho...back on track. Like I mentioned John, if you want to make some sort of arrangement I would greatly appreciate it!

[NOT A TA]

[QUOTE=NOT A TA;676817]If you have the original 70 wood facia and trim rings that came in your 70 and they're in good condition I wouldn't be too quick to destroy them.

I agree destroying perfectly good original parts should be avoided. Although, I know many people that would consider the builds on this forum to be committing treason by "hacking up" classic cars. Completely changing everything that made these cars what they are is not treason to me. People chop,cut,swap,implant, and convert these classic cars out of appreciation for the car. It would probably be cheaper and easier to just build a GTM kit car than re-engineer some of these old cars, but it wouldn't be the same. So which is more severe chopping the top of a perfectly good 30's coupe(for lack of better example) or modifying a dash? ............... Stepping down from my soap box now.

Zach, You're preaching to the choir. I modify dashes. I wasn't saying not to hack up stuff, I've modified almost every part on my 70 clone. I know you're new here so I'll include a couple pics of my car below as inspiration for your clone project. I just wanted to point out that using a sought after part to hack up doesn't make sense when there are so many less desireable substitute parts available that are actually easier to modify than an original early 2nd gen piece. A lot of people think the facias for the 2nd gen bird dash are all the same and thats not the case so I wanted to point it out for anyone reading. If one of us has a desireable one that the resto guys are dieing for, why not make someones day by selling it and using a common one to hack for our enjoyment? Then put the money toward our own projects. The common ones are free to 30 bucks each while some of the harder to find facias can sell for hundreds of dollars. The resto guys can help fund our builds! LOL

2nd gens are on a fast rise in popularity right now so the value of some of the "one year only" parts that would have been installed on your 70 as well as some of the early 2nd gen parts it also came with will be going up in value quickly. Check before you throw away or hack up ANY parts or sections of parts because you might be very surprised how much some of them might be worth to the restoration crowd. Take a look at your seatbelt holders on the console, heater controls, or interior sail panels, and then look at later birds as examples.

Even the door jamb section of your 70 quarter panels, inner fender mount section of the front fenders, and hood stamping are not like later years so, all I'm saying, is think twice. Even if the bottom of your fenders or quarters is completely rusted someone would probably cut the other sections of the panel to graft on to later year fenders and quarters to get the correct look for an early car. There's a lot of parts we don't care if the "correct" piece is used but the resto guys do. You might be able to fund a lot of your modifications by selling off parts or sections of parts.

Back on topic:
I can send a cardboard template but paper rolled up and stuck in a tube would be a lot cheaper to ship. Either way PM me your address and let me know which you'd like.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/Sebring10309057-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/05/The14Carinterior518-1.jpg

[jp455]

Looking at Tys dash again I see the column necks down just before the dash and yours doesn't. Is that because Tys is an aftermarket column, and yours isn't, or cause of year differences? Man I haaate not having my Firebird available to look at all these things!

[NOT A TA]

Yes, Ty's is aftermarket and mine is factory. Thats why I showed the pic of Ty's. I think I've got a couple other pics with aftermarket columns, I'll check and send them if I can find them. Got your PM's will get on it.

[jp455]

Thanks for that!

As for columns I would love to drive a car with those new electrically assited Ididit columns! Although I get the feeling it wouldn't fit in a Firebird.