Custom Interior for a 1970 Chevelle

[David LaBuda]

I've been working on building a new interior that I designed for my Chevelle. The center console is designed around the raised driveshaft tunnel I installed and the new dash ties into it. So far I've built part of the skeleton out of 1/4 inch steel rod and built a panel for the gauges. I am kind of at a crossroads for how I want to finish off the parts and I was hoping for some input. For the sides of the console and dash I have been trying to decide whether I want to "skin" the skeleton in sheet metal or fiberglass. I don't have any experience with using fiberglass, bit I'm sure I could teach myself how. I would either paint the sides (if I use sheet metal) or wrap them in leather (I could do this over metal or fiberglass.) What are your thoughts?



Here are some pictures of the Sketchup model I made what I've done so far:

[raustinss]

I'd like to see some pictures of those gto seats mounted,factory gto mounts or Chevelle?..what about wrapping the console in carbon fiber

[David LaBuda]

I used the GTO tracks and welded tabs to them to bolt to the floor. I had to do a couple modifications to the floor pan to get them to sit as low as possible. When I pull the interior apart next week I can try and get a couple pictures.

I'm not really going for the carbon fiber look in the interior. I'm trying to stick with leather, painted metal, and brushed aluminum.

[Jariv06]

I have been kicking around the same idea for my 2nd gen Camaro. I am gonna keep an eye on your thread, my idea was to use expanding foam inside my metal skeleton so I can get the contours I am looking for, and then wrap in leather, or fiberglass. I love your design, and cant wait to see the finished product.
Good luck with the build.

[raustinss]

Awesome thanks for the seat info...feel free to pm me any info and pictures, like I said I am going to be crossing that bridge real soon and was thinking about dropping the floor pans down but, now I will wait to see how you've done it
Thanks Ryan Austin

[David LaBuda]

I decided I would go ahead and use sheet metal for it's simplicity and the fact that I can just paint it if I want to. I added a bar that follows the curve of the windshield and started on the passenger side of the dash which will contain the glove box. I also added kick/knee panels (not sure what to call them.) The driver’s side has a removable access panel like the factory dash has. The place I get sheet metal from only has 18 gauge so all of the interior panels I build will be quite sturdy (and heavy, unfortunately.)

[David LaBuda]

That’s about as far as I could get with the dash until I decide what air vents I am going to use. I am leaning towards the round vents found in newer F-150s. At that point, I started on the console. I based the front of the console off of the setup from a Subaru Legacy. That’s the car the parking brake handle is from, so using the console deign means the handle will fit like it should. I made a cardboard template for the front insert and used that to build the real metal one. I also skinned the sides of the console with the 18 gauge sheet metal.

[David LaBuda]

Here are some pictures of how I mounted the seats:






I basically cut off and rotated one of the rear "feet" 90 degrees so that it would be parallel with the floor and on the other side, I think I just cut off whatever was there and made my own mount. It's been so long that I don't really remember how the seat mounts were originally.

[LowNfast]

your doing a great job on the design follow thru. fab skills/patience are much better than mine.