OK. Here it is... The first mockup as promised.

I did it out of foamcore because that's what I have lying around here mostly. The only thing that sucks about it is that makes getting a good picture almost impossible. That said, here are a few.



This is approximately what you'll see from the driver's seat.




I haven't tested this in the truck yet because it's my daily driver and I need it tomorrow. However, when I'm done running around in the afternoon I'll be coming home to tear apart my dash and I'll put this in and get some more pics and do some fine tuning.

What do you guys think?

 

Picture came out fine - and finally someone who not only knows what foam core is but has more if it "lying around" than me


That setup looks good, and similar to what I envisioned mine would be.


You are now to the tricky part - figureing out how to attach it to the dash. Maybe you aren't as picky as I am and you will screw it into the face of the dash board. I was trying to use the factory mounting holes for the plastic insert and it was getting tricky having the angles work right.

I can't wait to see how yours compares to stock.

 

I'm very interested in seeing it too....looking great!!

 

Well, I was thinking of face mounting it, but now you've made me wonder...

I'll get a better idea tomorrow when I pull my existing dash and start trying to fit this one. Maybe I'll be able to use the factory mounting holes, but I really don't mind the exposed fasteners if they're needed.

On another note, I'd love to go with aluminum, but my welding skills aren't that good. However, I do have a buddy who is a welder and would probably do it for a 18 pack of cold, frosty beverages. I think I'll be giving him a call before I make that decision.

 

Looks great!!! And very curious to see how it looks in the truck. Another great idea that will generate alot of interest. Custom dashes seem to be the thing nowadays. Not only will it accept custom gauges, but also a CD player.

 

Looks great Sean. I really like that you are keeping it factory looking but it is quite custom.

I cut mine out of aluminum and had a friend tig weld it. I took the easy way out and attached it to the factory shell. It has the necessities and is powdercoated.

 

Now I know how to mount my Pyrometer and Boost gauges. When you get all practiced up, you can build mine

 

You never know, I might start a side business making dash panels if the market is there.

Here's a couple other ideas for those who want a larger 5" tach and/or speedo (mine are 3-3/8").



There are quite a few more variations of this design in the back of my mind that could work too (such as moving the radio out of there and installing gauges in its place).

 

I dig the design, but it's time to get this puppy done. With all the tech behind this one, I gotta see what it turns out like.

Here's what mine looks like today:


I let Oldsmobile do the lion share, but the brackets all had to be fabed, the dash lengthened, the defrost tubes and vents have to be swapped for the Olds ones, the heater controls got chopped, the dash pad has to be glassed, and I'm putting the Ford gauges into homemade pods w/ custom faces that fit the dash holes. Still a few weeks of on and off tinkering away from being done.

 

I'd love to. Wanna loan me a pickup to work on? I don't have a truck just sitting around that I can work on, as mine is the only transportation for both me and my girlfriend at the moment. That really limits the time I can have my truck in the shop pulled apart. So the "tech" you speak of (AutoCAD is really just a glorified pencil and other than that I've so far used a straight edge and an Exacto knife, I wouldn't really call that "tech") is just because I want to have it pretty much figured out before I start really tearing the dash apart and don't have a vehicle to drive.

While I like and appreciate what you're doing with your dash and know how much work goes into something like that, I don't have that option. Trial and error and tinkering doesn't go well with the gf when I can't get her to work in the morning.

So instead of working on my truck and getting it done immediately, I'm playing on the computer tweaking designs in a realm where the worse that happens is not losing a job, but rather is boring you guys with my endless versioning...

I promise tomorrow night or Sunday morning I'll get pictures of the mock-up in the actual dash posted. I'll have worked some stuff out in reality and will be ready to start building (provided I can fund it immediately, as I've got a couple other projects going on right now too (my cafe racer is under construction, as is hers, and summer is here already), not to mention that I'm out of Argon for the welder, of course).

Hang on, it's coming!

 

I love the design with the 5" tach, but what that needs is a spot to put a shift light in there as well! Maybe if you spread out the blinker and high beam lights and stuck it right in the middle! I am very interested if you can make a few of these!! I would love to get a hold of these CAD files and play around with them. I am nowhere near as good as you are though.

 

Ask and you shall receive!



How's that work for you? That's a 1-1/2" diameter shift light. Ought to be big enough to do the job...

 

Lots to reply to here. I guess I better get started...


Even when using stainless, button head fasteners in an application like this - face mounted, exposed fasteners look like someone got too "lazy" to do it right to me. Few (very few) people understand the amount of extra fab time it takes to use the factory mount holes in something like this, but it is in the end what sets certain trucks apart from others. As everybody here knows - I am a major fab snob, and will take the extra time to set my truck apart from the pack.

As for the test fit - I looked at my pile of cardboard templates and the stock plastic gauge surround again today and it definitely does taper down in size toward the driver side door. I am interested to see how your foam core piece fits.



Nice dash! Please share pics when it is done!



Just so you know - the plastic gauge surround can be EASILY removed while leaving the gauges and switches in the dash in and fully functioning. Removing the plastic surround and messing with it should allow you to make more progress without loosing the driveability of the truck!


Once I see how the foam core piece compares to the stock plastic piece's shape I'll ask for the cad file. I'm sure I could draw the cad file in 1 minute if I had all the dims. in front of me - but if yours works it'll save the time of taking the dims. or scanning the cardboard pieces I have made.

All this talk reminds me that I might have started a cad file of my own before. I will have to look when I get back to the home computer on Monday. Since I'm almost done with my seat mounts and my axle isn't here yet I might have to start messing with this again. I have a LOT of gauges to fit though, plus a stereo, heater controls and the "water in fuel"/"wait to start" light stuff as well. Therefore I plan to remove all the vertical bars that I can from this thing...

 

Oh yeah!! I am drooling now! LOL

 

Very Nice Dash!
I have always wanted a Tachometer in my truck being a 4-Speed Manual and a High Performance V-8 and all...