for those that did custom dashboards....

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kmac33
Posts: 509
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 11:19 am
Your car is a: 1974 Spider
Location: Lilburn/Stone Mountain Georgia

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by kmac33 »

George,
To make sure the glove box door was located as accurately as possible, I put the dash wood into the dash before making the glove box door cut. I then marked the location for the threaded inserts by holding the hinges up against the back of the wood (obviously glove box removed :wink: ). Then I marked the location for the door cut and made that cut.
On my first "flat panel" version, I made the glove box door cut by placing the original glove box door onto the wood panel and located the threaded insert locations by removing the inserts from the original door, drilling the holes all the way through and using that as the marking template - also used the latch knob hole to mark that location.It ended up pretty close, but the current version is definitely more precise.
Since the contoured dash is too thick to utilize the stock latch knob, I didn't have to worry about it at all. I ended up just putting a metal strike plate on the back of the door and used a kitchen cabinet magnetic latch from Lowe's that installed in place of the stock glove box latch.
Kevin McMullen

1974 Fiat Spider - Restoration Complete! But the mods/refinements continue
1980 Fiat Spider
2013 Subaru WRX
User avatar
Kingme2
Posts: 291
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 1:04 am
Your car is a: 1980 124 Spider
Location: Calgary, Alberta

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by Kingme2 »

My glovebox was also too thick. First version, I tried to artfully carve a recess... Not very artful.

My second version will incorporate a switchable magnet (http://www.leevalley.com), and, likely a remotely located switch... Probably down by the ashtray, where I relocated the wiper switches, dimmer, fan, and the heated seat switches...

Pending the return of my sweet ride, of course, from winter's cold embrace...
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil, we have decided to turn off the light at the end of the tunnel. We apologize for any inconvenience.

1981 Fiat Spider, all black... "Corvino", italian for the Raven
scampbel98
Posts: 304
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2010 7:45 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat 124 carb
Contact:

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by scampbel98 »

Kevin, what did you cut the gauge hole with? and did you have to shorten the keepers on the back of the gauges?
How thick was the wood overall?
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toplessexpat
Posts: 1183
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:29 am
Your car is a: 1976 Spider 1800
Location: Houston, TX

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by toplessexpat »

So - I finally got the gauges back in the dash, and did the wiring. It's not as pretty as the contoured wood - but I'm liking it.

Image

The extra gauges I did a new backing for which looks ok (yes - I know "Tensione" is the wrong word, I just don't like "Batteria" and this is "custom" after all!)

Image

I did manage to break the veneer with some overzealous drilling, which is annoying and I'll need to gently fill it and touch up... my bad... "more haste, less speed"

Image

The emblem has come out pretty well though...

Image

At the same time, I've swapped all the bulbs for LEDs, with the exception of the former VDO gauges that have a different type I need to source.

This friday - fitting to the car! It will be a novelty to have a dash again!

A
---
Many classic Fiats - it's a disease!
www.mirafiori.com
fiesta54

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by fiesta54 »

toplessexpat wrote:So - I finally got the gauges back in the dash, and did the wiring. It's not as pretty as the contoured wood - but I'm liking it.

Image

The extra gauges I did a new backing for which looks ok (yes - I know "Tensione" is the wrong word, I just don't like "Batteria" and this is "custom" after all!)

Image

I did manage to break the veneer with some overzealous drilling, which is annoying and I'll need to gently fill it and touch up... my bad... "more haste, less speed"

Image

The emblem has come out pretty well though...

Image

At the same time, I've swapped all the bulbs for LEDs, with the exception of the former VDO gauges that have a different type I need to source.

This friday - fitting to the car! It will be a novelty to have a dash again!

A
That is very cool! I was thinking about doing something very similar to that. o you have any pictures of the back?
User avatar
toplessexpat
Posts: 1183
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:29 am
Your car is a: 1976 Spider 1800
Location: Houston, TX

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by toplessexpat »

I can do some - it's not very exciting.... Aircraft-grade plywood... apart from the glove box which is veneered black.

What are you looking for?

A
---
Many classic Fiats - it's a disease!
www.mirafiori.com
fiesta54

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by fiesta54 »

Oh, well I had seen some with custom dashes that had metal brackets for the added gauges and was wondering if you had done something similar.
fiesta54

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by fiesta54 »

Just curious, is that pininfarina on the glove box a stencil or an emblem?
User avatar
toplessexpat
Posts: 1183
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:29 am
Your car is a: 1976 Spider 1800
Location: Houston, TX

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by toplessexpat »

I used VDO gauges so they have a collar which mounts them on the back.

The emblem is silver veneer, cut and inlaid.

A
---
Many classic Fiats - it's a disease!
www.mirafiori.com
fiesta54

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by fiesta54 »

Oh ok thanks for the help!
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MrJD
Posts: 551
Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2013 1:23 pm
Your car is a: Looking to ask questions about a 79 2.0
Location: Laurinburg NC

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by MrJD »

I am totally impressed. Expect questions, but I have to let it soak in for now. Well done.
fiesta54

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by fiesta54 »

MrJD wrote:I am totally impressed. Expect questions, but I have to let it soak in for now. Well done.
My thoughts exactly
User avatar
toplessexpat
Posts: 1183
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:29 am
Your car is a: 1976 Spider 1800
Location: Houston, TX

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by toplessexpat »

Thanks guys - appreciate it. The veneer I'm annoyed at. My own fault and now a bunch of remediation needed!
---
Many classic Fiats - it's a disease!
www.mirafiori.com
fiesta54

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by fiesta54 »

Have you gotten it installed in the spider yet? Or are you waiting to fix the chip? I am very interested in doing something similar
User avatar
toplessexpat
Posts: 1183
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:29 am
Your car is a: 1976 Spider 1800
Location: Houston, TX

Re: for those that did custom dashboards....

Post by toplessexpat »

Not Installed yet... Probably this weekend
---
Many classic Fiats - it's a disease!
www.mirafiori.com
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