[updated:LAST EDITED ON 14-Mar-02 AT 04:24 PM (EST)]I've been thinking of re-doing my interior with a stained wood and polished aluminum look. Lots of custom work I'm sure, but I was wondering if anyone knew of some good places to look for aftermarket pieces that work well with the older trucks, AKA replacement gauges, faceplates, and such.

Thanks in advance!

 

Are you looking for the kit applications, or are you going to build the wood and aluminum plates yourself?

And which ride are you talking about - the truck or the X?

 

I was thinking about the truck. I'm still in the very early concept stage as I need to get the body rust free first thing, but I like to think ahead.

My first thoughts are to remove the inside door panels and replace them with aluminum or steel, and accent it with a custom carved wooden armrests that I am working on, and possibly do window ***** with wood accents rather than the current black plastic.

I've also had an idea about replacing the gauge cluster with new circular ones, and either making the housing out of wood (to match the doors and steering wheel) or out of the same metal as the doors.

The dash is a different story, the current definitely needs replacing, but I am not sure what I would want to do with it. In my head, I see the interior as a mix of color (to match the paint and fabric) polished metal, and stained wood. So I could probably replace the dash as a color section easier than anything else.

In theory, I think it will look good, but I can't recall ever seeing anything quite like that. I'm not going for show quality, just something that I can be proud of as a long term project.

Thanks!

 

Well brother, you got one big project I think. Nice idea though. Have never thought of doing that. I think I would go with a wood dash upper (the metal would get some kind of hot from the sun beating down on it), and do a polished steel dash panel plate with either Autometer gauges, or something like them. Then do the glove box facing and the areas around it in wood with the steel dash.

Do you like the carbon fiber look? I noticed in the new Summit magazine Autometer has started making their gauges with a carbon fiber face, not just black and white.

I wonder if they make a column (like on front porches) that are about the diameter of the steering column?!?! That would look different to have it like a sleave over it and cut out for the turn signals, etc.

Well, this is a project you have me thinking about now... Gotta see this when you get it done. Make sure to take pics of the process too!

Any help, let me know...

 

Took a hard look at it this weekend, and I definitely think that this project is doable.

I've got a neighbor who runs a metal fab shop, and I'll possibly get a decent price for the metal parts.

Its long term, but I got a digital camcorder for christmas and will be documenting the entire conversion, So I'll start posting pics in my gallery as they come along.

Thanks again for the input!

 

I did a custom wood insert for another car and it turned out great. I used mahogony and routered the edges then stained and gloss finished it. It was made to go around the tape deck in a center console.

I'd take some time looking at the wood, some of expensive woods look so good, you'd think it was a bently. Excellent idea.