Chevelle with custom 67 corvette dash

[Rucumn]

This week I started undertaking a dash project on my 67 PT chevelle. I actually have 2 '67 projects, so some of the pictures I will share depict the other car. Handy to have another car for mock up!

First, I just used some 1/4" hardboard that I had in the attic of my shop which was left over from when the shop was added. You can buy the hardboard at just about any major hardware/lumber store.

I started with a 12" wide piece and I used the lower windshield molding to trace the profile of the dash cowl area. To do this you have to have the stock dash panel removed. I chose to cut the spotwelds out from underneath in case I ever needed to put the dash back to original.


Then, I placed a mid 60's corvette dash pad at about the right position and I traced around the back of the pad. This gave me the area to cut out.

[Rucumn]

Here are some more pictures. Note from the previous pictures that the lower lip for the windshield is missing. This is my other car that needs the new lower windshield lip... you do not need to cut this out to do this. I will show my other car in later pictures.

Next, I started fabbing up the center piece which helped support the dash up better.



Since the chevelle is wider than the '67 corvette, I have a bigger space to fill.


Here are some first mock ups.

[Rucumn]

My intention is to fabricate the dash structure out of 20 ga steel. I am going to try and lay the majority out onto a flat sheet of steel and then I can bend the center section down to the tunnel and I can bend the sides down and under to attach to the factory dash brackets.

My inspiration comes from the prodigy camaro. I believe he used a stock fiberglass dash to start. I considered doing this, but I couldn't find a dash housing for under $500 and then I was going to have to modify everything on it.



Here are the gauges I will be using. I already have all the harnesses built, just waiting for a bezel and a permanent home.

[Bryce]

should be pretty cool!

[Rucumn]

Here are some pictures showing how I removed the factory dash panel, leaving behind the lower windshield lip.



Here is a shot from underneath where I center punched the spot welds and then drilled them out.



Here is the dash top removed.



And here is the final lip.

[Rucumn]

I also worked on laying out the gages and the AC control panel. I haven't purchased the AC vents yet. If anyone has ideas and sources on AC vents, please share.





This second picture shows the gages mounted in a piece of the hardboard. I think I need to bring the speedo and tach closer to the center and up a bit. I don't have LED's for the turn signals and highbeam yet, but they won't take up much space.

[TMIproducts]

I also worked on laying out the gages and the AC control panel. I haven't purchased the AC vents yet. If anyone has ideas and sources on AC vents, please share.





This second picture shows the gages mounted in a piece of the hardboard. I think I need to bring the speedo and tach closer to the center and up a bit. I don't have LED's for the turn signals and highbeam yet, but they won't take up much space.

I like your build! definitely something different. For some neat aftermarket vents contact Classic Auto Air. www.classicautoair.com Their booth was next to ours at SEMA and they had some real nice vents. They had a bunch of A/C stuff that was really trick looking, the point was to show off the A/C stuff instead of hide it. I didn't get a chance to go over to their booth, but did see they had a bunch of cool stuff sitting out on display.

[Rucumn]

They have some cool vents - Thanks for the link! Now I need to determine if I have enough space to fit vents that big! And I am not too sure about spending $750 for 3 vents. I might be able to make my own vents by taking the articulating ball out of an existing vent and then having my own surrounds machined. Wish I had 3D CAD and knew how to use it.

Picking up sheetmetal tonight to start tracing out my template and cutting! Need to work on a few more measurements. Hope to have this thing mocked up with metal by the end of the weekend.

I like your build! definitely something different. For some neat aftermarket vents contact Classic Auto Air. www.classicautoair.com Their booth was next to ours at SEMA and they had some real nice vents. They had a bunch of A/C stuff that was really trick looking, the point was to show off the A/C stuff instead of hide it. I didn't get a chance to go over to their booth, but did see they had a bunch of cool stuff sitting out on display.

[ChevelleNV]

Just out of curiosity what are you doing with the original 67 dash? looking to sell it maybe?

[AintQik]

That looks really cool.

[Rucumn]

Just out of curiosity what are you doing with the original 67 dash? looking to sell it maybe?

Well, I need to hold onto it until I know that this project is going to work out, but I will consider selling it. Shoot me an offer that is worth my time boxing it up, etc...

[Rucumn]

I picked up 18 ga metal sheet and I have laid the pattern out on it plus some minor adjustments. I am taking pictures, but didn't bring the camera in to upload. Will do so this weekend.

I am looking into the billet oval style vents and also looking into aluminum aircraft eyeball vents. I have about 3.5" in width to work with, so the ovals are probably not going to work.

[Rucumn]

Last night I got the template etched out onto the sheetmetal and I cut it all out. Took about 2 hours to cut out because I had to do a little more measuring near the pillars.

[Rucumn]

Then, I also started mocking up the dash in the car. My template worked very good, I didn't have to make any additional cuts at the windshield area or near the pillars. Once I had it in position, I used some wire to tie up the opposite side to the pillar and I used the center piece of hardboard from my template to wedge up the center.

I then welded 6 metal tabs that I bent to the shape of the cowl and used self tapping screws to screw to the underneath of the cowl.

[Rucumn]

Finally, I worked on bending the metal to shape. This is easier said than done when you are trying not to crease the metal. I still have some finishing touches so that the housing holds its shape, but you can get the idea from these pictures. A little more tweaking and then I will pull it out and cut out the area for A/C control panel.

[jon72vega]

Excellent work!!!!!

[DirkDiggler]

I'm impressed inspiring work.

[TheBull]

If you are still looking for AC vents, I got some ford vents for my truck dash I'm working on. It was a while ago so not sure who I got them from on envy, but this link is the same style vent:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HEAT-AC-VENT...d43e1f&vxp=mtr

Only difference is mine have a chrome style ring. I believe 05-09 mustangs have the same vents as well. Mine were listed for a cobra I think. The new Camaro has similar style vents.

[Rucumn]

Well, I just ended up ordering some vents this week. They are made by Vintage Air and here is a picture:



I was really constrained on the size of the vents based on the amount of dash I will have near the doors. I only have about 4 inches of room, so I needed a vent that was under 3 inches in diameter. Do you know what size those Ford vents are in outside diameter?

I am moving slow on the project now, but hope to get some time in this weekend. I bought high density foam to cover the dash, but first need to fab up supports and other inner structure for mounting dash pads, etc...

If you are still looking for AC vents, I got some ford vents for my truck dash I'm working on. It was a while ago so not sure who I got them from on envy, but this link is the same style vent:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HEAT-AC-VENT...d43e1f&vxp=mtr

Only difference is mine have a chrome style ring. I believe 05-09 mustangs have the same vents as well. Mine were listed for a cobra I think. The new Camaro has similar style vents.

[TheBull]

Sorry, I didn't get a email on the response. Need to change my settings.

I believe they are 3 1/8" outside of the chrome, but I'll double check. Mine are a press fit into a wood support and that part was just a tad over 3". I'll double check when I get home tonight.