I don't know why the favorite tools of Previous Owners are smoke wrenches and chruch keys but they sure seem to love to use them to make custom radio openings in our old trucks......AAAGH.

I've had a huge gaping hole in the center of my dash for awhile now and as I've been driving the truck around I've been trying to find something cool to cover it up. I was just about to break down and try my hand at fabricating a grill for it when the solution came. Actually the solution has been hanging on the garage wall next to my tool box for a couple of years and somehow I never put it all together. Here it is, its a speaker grill from the rear seat of a late 50's Pontiac. The curvature is almost perfect for my dash. I think I'll replace the Pontiac emblem with an early Ford V8 emblem.



Its hard to see in the pics but there is about a 1/4" gap between the grill and the dash along the top side. I'm not sure what to do to fill it in, maybe I can tweak the grill a bit

Bobby

 

Very nice! Looks like it came that way! Save the Pontiac emblem anyways, but that's easily rectifiable.

What's that gauge hanging under your dash?

 

Bobby -

That looks way cool!!! I'd try to find a speaker to put behind it also. I don't see why you could just tweak the grill a little to lay down on the dash top.

(As Borat would say): NIIIICE.

BTW, I'd consider leaving the Pontiac emblem. It looks nice and goes with the truck where darn little of it is still Ford anyway.

 

Looks good bobby. Sometimes we all overlook whats directing in our face. Glad you found it.

 

Bobby,

That's got to be the most cobbled together truck I have ever seen, and one of the coolest

I still vote for not painting it, I love the patina.

One suggestion I have for the speaker grill, why not hinge it at the bottom and hide a kick butt stereo system behind it? I saw this kind of set up in a '48 COE some years back and by doing this the guy was able to keep the stock appearance of the dash. He bolted the stock grill to a piece of sheet metal the followed the contour of the dash and used a spring loaded key chain.

 

Thanks everyone!

RangerPilot, Thats a small Sun tach hanging under the dash.

Randy, by the time I'm done I'll probably have a piece from all the major manufacturers representing the decades from the 40's on up to today......Frankenstien lives!

.....and they called me mad at the academy MWAAHH HA HA MWAAAAAHHHHHAHAHA...

Bob, Great idea!! I was thinking of building an overhead console to put a radio in but I like your idea better. Its really cool because a new fanangled radio head would look out of place in my cobbled together ride. Thanks for the tip

Bobby

 

Bobby, I like it! but I think if you hinge it, you need to put a 2-can frosty compartment in it

 

Hey..he stole my idea for the stereo...that's a terrific idea...go with the big "thumpety" subwoofer....

 

Just don't try to bend the potmetal it will likely break.
You could try making a black plexiglass filler. Mark the grill where the opening ends. cut a piece of 1/4" opaque black plexi a little larger than needed cut any center cutouts needed for clearance. Lay the plexi on a smooth piece of metal or baking sheet. place on oven rack at 275 degrees for about five minutes. Pick up now flexible plastic with heavy gloves and lay into back of grill pressing it into the curve. Reheat sheet until flexible and refit if it doesn't fit right the first time.
Now the fun part! shape the back of the plastic with sanding and/or filing, tapering and curving as needed until it fills the gap. Now glue it to the back of the grill with thick or gap filling superglue or "shoe goo". Sand and polish the edge with 600 grit wet or dry paper used wet. If you want the edge to be shiny final polish it with extra fine rubbing compound used with a piece of felt or similar fabric wrapped around a flat stick.

 

Bobby, I hope you're cataloging all the parts you're putting in the truck. If you ever sell it I would love to see the new owner trying to find a part for it at the local AutoZone.

 

I sometimes wonder if he hasn't had the "Two Can Frostie" before he starts these improvements. It seems to work for him however he does it.

 

You know, Bobby, the swing down beverage holder could also be made into a snack tray for those long road trips with you and the missus. Kinda like a drive in tray, but you don't lose your food when you drive away.

 

AX,

Good point about the pot metal, great tips for the plexiglass too. I might even have a bit left over from fabricating my instrument gauge bezel. I'll do some experimenting

Bob, I had started a list at one point and was updating it failry regular until I got the truck driveable. Since then I've been kind of lax on it. I'll see if I can find my file and do some updating.....The local Autozone guys always look at me funny when I start asking for parts...lol

Dick, The "2 can frosty" is a great way to boost the courage and start drilling holes to try and mount things. Actually, as my metal skills get better I'm not so hesitant about drilling holes, I figure I can always weld them back up.

If it were a swing down beverage tray all it would need then is the little plastic animals that Sonic used to hang on the sides of the glasses way back when

Bobby