Any of you know who can fabricate a blank FC dash?
 

I need a blank. No radio surround, no glove box and no stock gauges. Just a blank copy of an FC dash that I can cut up any way I want. Fitment is important since I'd need a way to permanently and securely install it on the car.

Material is not important (CF or FG, although i'm leaning towards FG to keep costs down). It must weight as much as stock or lighter (which isn't very much).


http://rotarycarclub.com/attachment....1&d=1211483014

Part number 8 would be separately copied as a blank also (this would allow GAUGES to be installed behind the surround (#8) and then could be used as a cover when parked to keep looky-loos from seeing anything interesting.)

As far as the gauges(tachometer): well, I haven't figured it out yet. Simplicity makes me want to stick with the stock cluster but if I'm rewiring everything (with the standalone) I could try and see if it's possible to use another cluster (aftermarket FD ones or something) But I have not researched this into detail. SO this should be blank too...

I was going to build a dash myself but I don't have the space to do it. The most important aspects of this request are that the dash maintain it's stock look ( I could go with an aluminum sheets but that attracts too much unwanted attention) and stock mounting locations, weight as much or LESS than stock and reasonable PRICE.


Any thoughts on this would be great. I'll look around for local fabricators but I figured you would know someone as well. One of the concerns I have about making my own is that since I have little-to-NO experience I'll end up making a HEAVY FG piece (like the guy on the evil forum) and I don't want to ADD weight...Just want it to look stock.

I really only need part #1 in the image....2-11 are not important to me....I don't need vents or glove box...

I'd say the simplest way to do it would be take a standard dash and make a mold from it, but omit the cutouts and indentations. I like your idea, it has potential. I would love my own custom dash.

yup, That way I can see all the guages, I need to see, while driving and cover them when the car is parked at home/mall/anywhere. Who wants an old FC with nothing in it?

I've had all my FCs broken into in the past all for a sound system. Imagine if they see a bunch of guages: "OMG this thing is decked out, just take the whole car instead."

I'm also preparing for the inevitability of getting pulled over (even though this car won't be Daily driven unless the NA is getting worked on). If the cop doesn't see gauges or anything that may lead him/her to believe the car is "modified" then I can just say: "thanks for the speeding ticket" and drive off.

If I went with some universal dash kit it would:
1. not look stock
2. look pretty nasty (not a fan of the minimalist style)
3. no way to cover the gauges.

Wait, you mean a temporary dash cover? Or a blank dash to use to mount your own gauges and such into?

I can donate a stock dash from an 86 base.

Its chillin in my attic. Might as well go to good use.

a full, replacement dash. Remove the stock one, install the new one, cut out holes for gauges and such.

No need for vents but it must accommodate the stock shifter surround.

I'd love a replacement dash. I tried to convince my body & FG guy to make me one. I told him I could get more buyers but he didn't want to bother with it. :(

Let me see what we can squeeze in. Two of my guys are composite craftsmen. I hired one away from GE Aviation where he was laying CF molds for aircraft parts, and the other one has been working with FB and CF and a whole bunch of other composites for the past several years. We are loaded with work for the moment, but let me see what we can do.

DJ, would you be willing to ship that spare dash to me if I pay the shipping?

Todd B.
No Limit Ind.
www.nolimitindustries.com
www.turbobuickmods.com
www.evopowermods.com

:party: sounds great. Just let us know when you get some time and how many people you need. I'll do my best to gather interest.

I'm interested, just broke. I like where this is going, I just hope I won't have to pay $800 for one when I finally have more money.

:dunno: I'd rather not pay up the wazoo but sometimes it can't be helped in order to get what you want. I don't know how much it costs to make a dash so :dunno:

Well, after fiberglassing a new deck (floor) in my boat this weekend, I don't think I want to mess with that shit ever again.

But I will still donate the dash :)

f/g is definately not fun to play with. did you f/g over plywood, dj?

Yep. We had to replace the entire floor in a Bayliner Capri 20'. Bought it totally rotted, except for the stringers and transom. Two weeks ago me and my father in law ripped out the old floor. This weekend we cut and installed the new floor (3/4" plywood), and fiberglass resined it in. Then we cut and laid new carpet. Looks great, but what a PITA.

PS- The boat wails, first time I have had it on the water, and first time I have ever driven a boat. Weeeeee!!!!!!!

I know my first boat trip was a blast. Of course I'm like the black thumb of fishing. The only thing I ever catch is the trees on the bank and stuff on the bottom.

I don't fish, but when I do I always catch something. I don't even eat fish.

This is more for pulling wake boards and tubes, and just floating around!

Fun!!

I have a spare dash (or two) you can have if you want. Let me know.

It might be cheaper for me to ship him a dash. I'm in TN and he is in AL. Also, I can ship for stupid cheap since I work at a distribution center.

Hey DJ, you think that maybe when the next DGRR happens, ?I could chill at your place or something for a couple of days? :D

PS: good luck on the dash, I really want a STACK gauge pod setup, like this:

http://www.wrc-cosworth.org/tech/gauges/GGR-Stack1.jpg

and as far as the vents: you could locate the HVAC unit in the glove box, put the stereo in it's place, and install the gauges in the stock stereo location.

The whole glove box really doesnt weigh that much. I took my dash out, btw, took me 3 hrs. REALLY dont feel like putting it back in once the car is done.

Sure, that wouldn't be a problem. Although by next year, I don't know if I will be here in the Boro, or in Chattanooga. Either way, it is on the way for you.

Cool. Well, let's see how this dash thing goes.

Can you squeeze us in? I need an FG dash!!!!

Maybe we can work on this in about 2 weeks. We are slammed with orders for our undercarriage cleaners (dealers are ordering, we are on backorder, and doing a production run of a few hundred now), then we have to pump out a new Evo turbo outlet that we developed that lays out almost 15AWHP/14AWTQ on a stock Evo (all for $250....so one can imagine what Evo owners are jumping for right now). Not to mention, we are trying to build on to expand our current location because we are buldging at our seems right now.

DJ, I'll send a PM with our UPS info if you want to go ahead and ship. Actually, let me get into the office tomorrow and I'll send our Yellow Freight info as that will probably be the best way to ship this.

Do you folks prefer FB, or would you prefer carbon fiber, or maybe even aluminum???? Post up your preferences.

I'd love CF for durability but I prefer FG for price.

I'd be for the interior so I would think FG would work.

Would you be able to make it out of either once you have a mold?

Recently I saw an FD in the process of having a CF dash put in with a twill weave. In my opinion the CF twill weave doesn't seem like a good idea to use for a dash. That pattern will be reflected somewhat onto the windshied and every time you get out of your car you will be seeing lines in your vision for a min or two before they go away due to the pattern being in your vision for extended periods and your eyes needing to readjust. If the dash was gone over with a flat clear it may help to alleviate that. Thats what the owner of the FD was going to do, I saw it before the flat clear. The dash I saw was constructed of multiple flat carbon pieces, perhaps a carbon dash made from a curved mold wouldn't have quite the same effect but I dunno. Plain weave may work better for a dash than twill weave.

I think I'd prefer FG though.

By the way, I want one of your heavy duty undercarriage cleaning systems for my driveway!!

Just send me what I will need for Yellow Freight. I can get a quote here too from our preferred carriers. Whichever end is cheaper!!

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/310/bellybumpdn0.gif

So, did a dash get sent yet? Must have new dash!! Go Go Go!!!

I have not been given the address yet. If he still wants to do it I will get it there!

I just sent dj a PM with all the information.

Juice, that bump image is hilarious!

all right, One step closer!

It will go out to nolimit next week. I will get it out of the attic this weekend and hopefully send it out in Monday. I am only a state away, so he should get it quick.

I like giving stuff away for a good cause. It makes me feel like a good little rotorhead!!

watch out for bat guano and inhaling any dust. Thanks for helping this idea get off the ground. I've been wanting one of these for a long time (you may/may not find early attempts like this on the evil forum) and it looks like it'll finally get made.

Maybe so, Phoenix. We seem to be making a name for ourselves for developing items like this for enthusiasts that want companies to make them, but the big boys are too busy to care. We are now shipping some of our Evo turbo outlets that we started developing earlier this year....and Evo owners had been begging for this part since 2003. We are also developing a few other items for the Grand Nationals/Turbo Buicks.

Anyway, to get back on the thread topic, I will look forward to seeing the dash arrive next week. It will take about a week to work it in, but I should have some costs/labor soon, so then I can determine a price for the dash and see if we need to move forward with this.

Todd B.
Owner.

Shouldn't be a problem!

and for $250 I bet they're flying off the shelves. They're divorced DP/WG?

Yup...big 3" exhaust side with atmospheric dump. No turbulence with the exhaust now. The turbo spools fast and hard and holds boost longer, all without any creep.

pretty cool. I've been checking out your links, very diverse product line.

I Want A Fg Dash!

ok, I'm ready for one. I just bolted the interior in and the dash is toast (90% of the mounting points are broken).