Sheet metal dash input

[corvettekid1973]

I recently got my pro touring project, its a 69 camaro that was being done up as a street/strip car with the usual drag racing stuff like a fuel cell, 8 point cage and sheet metal dash. I bought the car without motor and trans so that is the most important thing on my todo list. but until i get the cash for the motor im doing small projects like changing the door bars on the cage to a lower style bar ect..

Ive always hated when cars had a sheet metal dash, well the dang thing is starting to grow on me. I have a new stock dash that im sure ill put in one day but until then id like to get some different ideas on making it a more street friendly dash or even just help with the looks , other than the obvious speedo and tach. it may be a longer short term thing as installing the stock dash gets pushed further down the list.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/11/IMAG07461-1.jpg

[72nova]

Just a quick thought, you could play around with raised or recessed panels for the guages and switches. Maybe add a lower section for a stereo. Just some ideas. If you get bored you could always come over and work on my car, since it seems i never have time for mine anymore. Haha.

[corvettekid1973]

Hmmm a recessed area for the gauges sounds nice. That's the type of input I'm looking for

[jlcustomz]

You could try to get a little more (shape ) into it, Which Is pretty much the same line of thought as raising or recessing areas. Look at pics of older cool dashes such as the 59' chevys, etc for inspiration. Or look at other custom versions , such as round pipes protruding from steep angles to mount gauges in.
Also plan for some cool air duct vents, I took the basic round billet specialties model & drilled dimples into them with a wooden indexing jig I made to spin them in on a drill press. Made them my own.
Whatever you plan out try to make it have a uniform flowing look.
No reason sheetmetal has to look boring, other than time inspiration & skill.

[72nova]

Go to speedtech website and look at Tonys 69 Nova in the photo gallery. That is kind of what i am thinking would give you some ideas.

[corvettekid1973]

You could try to get a little more (shape ) into it, Which Is pretty much the same line of thought as raising or recessing areas. Look at pics of older cool dashes such as the 59' chevys, etc for inspiration. Or look at other custom versions , such as round pipes protruding from steep angles to mount gauges in.
Also plan for some cool air duct vents, I took the basic round billet specialties model & drilled dimples into them with a wooden indexing jig I made to spin them in on a drill press. Made them my own.
Whatever you plan out try to make it have a uniform flowing look.
No reason sheetmetal has to look boring, other than time inspiration & skill.

boring was a good word to describe how i felt about sheet a sheet metal dash. would you happen to have any pics of your air ducts?

[corvettekid1973]

Go to speedtech website and look at Tonys 69 Nova in the photo gallery. That is kind of what i am thinking would give you some ideas.

Cool I'll check that out. I googled sheet metal dash a few different way's but I didn't find much.

[JohnUlaszek]

While I think its hard to beat the DSE dash insert for a sheet metal piece, there's no reason not to give it a go. I took a run at it on a Firebird Project a while back.
http://www.gmhightechperformance.com/tech/miscellaneous/ghtp_1107_third_gen_interior_upgrades/viewall.html

67067

[corvettekid1973]

thanks guys I'm getting some thoughts now. I just needed a little nudge.

[jlcustomz]

Don't have any close up pics, my inspiration for the dimples came from the Audi TT approx 6 to8 years ago. The main thought here is using fabrication skills to make something more interesting looking.If I were to be doing a custom dash over again now, I'd most likely use steel.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
Try google images yet??? NUDGE ,NUDGE
http://www.google.com/search?num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1920&bih=954&q=custom+sheetmatal+dash&oq=custom+sheetmatal+dash&gs_l=img.12...2206.11291.0.13939.22.9.0.13.13.0.69 .576.9.9.0...0.0...1ac.1.VFEdseHwYy0

[corvettekid1973]

thats Cool but I'm not anywhere near that skill level. I'm still reading the pro touring for dummies book lol

Yeah I did try Google but mainly found more complex dash builds like yours. I looked at some NASCAR pics and I'm thinking keep it simple and functional looking but maybe have some flat aluminum bezels cut out for the gauges and then screw that to the dash with black Allen bolts. kind of a mechanical look.

[corvettekid1973]

Now that my seats are mounted I really like the plan of a road race theme, so I def think I'm just going to add some simple aluminum bezels and attach them with the Allen head bolts. How clean of a cut can I get with a jigsaw? Or any other suggestions??

[jlcustomz]

If a jigsaw is your tool of choice, cut almost to where you want & sand the edges. Choose a proper blade, such as Bosch general metal cutting( medium tooth) & be sure to hold tightly to avoid chattering or binding & jumping & bending the metal. Spray aluminum wax lube can help, among others, to keep it cool & avoid the soft aluminum gumming up the blade.
Aluminum is pretty easy to cut with the right methods with a number of tools such as a table saw with a good sharp carbide blade with a high tooth count. But what do I know about cutting aluminum?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/10/DSC00653_zps9c5faedc-1.jpg

[Daren]

I recently got my pro touring project, its a 69 camaro that was being done up as a street/strip car with the usual drag racing stuff like a fuel cell, 8 point cage and sheet metal dash. I bought the car without motor and trans so that is the most important thing on my todo list. but until i get the cash for the motor im doing small projects like changing the door bars on the cage to a lower style bar ect..

Ive always hated when cars had a sheet metal dash, well the dang thing is starting to grow on me. I have a new stock dash that im sure ill put in one day but until then id like to get some different ideas on making it a more street friendly dash or even just help with the looks , other than the obvious speedo and tach. it may be a longer short term thing as installing the stock dash gets pushed further down the list.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/11/IMAG07461-1.jpg

I guess it depends on the overall theme of car. A sheet metal dash would be at home in a low, mean, striped and flat paint finished street/track machine. Not so much in a beautiful, high gloss show car.

I'd throw a digital gauge cluster at it if you were to keep the dash.

[corvettekid1973]

sorry Im just now seeing this but OK thank you for the input. That's the type of advice I was looking for. I just want the cut very clean. My friend says that he may have access to a water jet. Maybe that will also be an option

[corvettekid1973]

Oh trust me I'm totally loving the idea of going with the street fighter theme like Vengeance has going on. I want the satin black paint but I feel it's used alot so I'm unsure of my color choices. I've even thought about Maybe a satin titanium body with satin black accent's. I don't remember who's car this was but it's looks are really talking to me

[Daren]

Oh trust me I'm totally loving the idea of going with the street fighter theme like Vengeance has going on. I want the satin black paint but I feel it's used alot so I'm unsure of my color choices. I've even thought about Maybe a satin titanium body with satin black accent's. I don't remember who's car this was but it's looks are really talking to me

A sheet metal dash is very streetfighter. Agree, satin black is overdone IMO.

Don't forget about satin or flat colors. I'm a big fan of a flat medium blue with a heavy, i mean heavy, metallic or pearl.

Like this: http://www.4btswaps.com/forum/showthread.php?10384-Hot-Rod-Flatz-anyone

You can flatten most any paint. It can be as simple as nabbing a paint code off a newer car, say Space Gray, and then adding a flattening agent or a flat finished clear over a color coat for a B/C paint.

[corvettekid1973]

That's pretty interesting. It's kind of like the titanium I was thinking about. I saw it on a forgeline wheel.

I have my seats and door bars in. So I'm committing to my plan.

[Daren]

That's pretty interesting. It's kind of like the titanium I was thinking about. I saw it on a forgeline wheel.

I have my seats and door bars in. So I'm committing to my plan.

Sounds like you have a build in your head. Good to hear. To return to the original question armed with this knowledge, yes keep and modify the sheet metal dash. It should fit in nicely with your project's theme.

Not diggin the analog gauges myself. It reminds me too much of a utilitarian work vehicle dash you'd see in a 60s International Scout. A digital gauge cluster would give that dash a contemporary, purpose-built, performance machine vibe.

Satin titanium sounds like a good paint choice although satin clear coat can be difficult to maintain.