New Dash Update….

New Dash Update….

Author
Discussion

PeteGriff

Original Poster:

1,262 posts

156 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Hi all, at last my new dash update after a couple of months!!

As mentioned in a post a few weeks back, I have been developing a new dash concept to eliminate A) the crap way gauges and switches were fitted from new, B) the poorly design veneered piece of 1.5mm steel sheet, which flexed and twisted in use causing the veneer to crack regularly!

So, my design is a laminated dash concept; meaning that I have an aluminium backing of 1.5mm that holds all the gauges via bezel mount and has 'press studs' to provide fixing capability, then a front bonded layer of 4mm ply veneered with the wood of your choice (in my case burl walnut). This design produces a nice relatively flex free surface and allows all the switches and gauges to be properly mounted rather than using mastic or araldited little bracket!

It all started with a digital CAD file of the dash outline (Dave - V8Griff, kindly supplied me with a file he produced a few years back), which I then produced a paper 1:1, then modified the file to follow as accurately my original profile. Then, I had produced two layers; 1 the aluminium with gauge holes the size of the case and 2 the wood with gauge holes a clearance fit for the bezel. I also designed switch and indicator lamp mounting brackets to all fit onto the aluminium layer. Finally I had both the wood and aluminium water jet cut from the CAD files, then the veneered wood layer was bonded to the aluminium. Lastly the veneer was coated with 7 coats of lacquer to give a deep shine.

The following are photographs showing the stages and finished items:

Water Jet Cutting 1:



The Cut Pieces:






Assembly of finished dash:





Fitted into car:





It may appear like marks on the finished dash but they are reflections.

Oh and by the way, my Griff came back from a complete interior retrim at the end of July, so the new dash finished it of very nicely!

Hope you liked my post, regards, Pete

black and green

650 posts

190 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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That looks like it should have been done that way in the first place - excellent work!! clap

What would be the cost to replicate?

simonwedge

743 posts

179 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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Really neat, looks great. Any pics of the new interior?

Pete Mac

755 posts

136 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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PeteGriff said:
Hope you liked my post, regards, Pete
Well that's a silly question for a start Pete - Fantastic.

What's the chances of producing more (except I need a couple for a 500) or at least giving us some tips for production? Pete

Pete Mac

755 posts

136 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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PeteGriff said:
Finally I had both the wood and aluminium water jet cut.....
Pretty ignorant on water jets but doesn't the water jet affect the wood veneer? Clearly not by the finished article. Pete

Precat

266 posts

224 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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Well done, quality
Precat

carsy

3,018 posts

164 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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Yes very nice Pete. Looks a top job thumbup

MPoxon

5,329 posts

172 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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That looks great Pete. I am sick of my dash buttons disappearing into my dash and you have addressed that issue.

davep

1,141 posts

283 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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That's impressive. I like the way the dimensioning of the bezel recesses has allowed the instruments to remain flush with the dash face.

PeteGriff

Original Poster:

1,262 posts

156 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
Hi Guys, many thanks for the comments. I have been to a local show today with the Mid Essex TVR Club. Had a lot of interest in the dash, from not only us pre-cat owners but you 500 boys as well. In answer to questions, yes it would be easy for me to produce a '500' variant as there is very little to change and it is as simple as modifying a CAD file. I would be prepared to look into producing kits, for home assembly and fitting! They would require carefully trimming to size as every Griff is slightly different, but this is only a careful use of a file, or if you live close enough I could do it for you. By the way I only made one fixing point in the centre of the bit that goes down in front of the steering column as opposed to the two originals, just having a central one means you cannot easily see it. The other fixing point is a 'press stud' in the top L/H corner as per original.

In answer to the question re water jet cutting - the process uses a high pressure water and fine abrasive jet at 27,000 bar! The machine that was used to cut my parts will cut through 200mm thick Titanium! Anyway, though the wooden parts do get wet it soon dries off and did not effect my panels at all, in fact this process is widely used to cut intricately shaped parts out of plywood and other sheet wood materials.

I am willing to discuss further if you PM me!

Oh, by the way, will make a post soon in respect of my new re-trimmed interior. Regards, Pete

cavebloke

640 posts

226 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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Looks stunning Pete! I'll PM you.

Pete Mac

755 posts

136 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Pete, I think what you have done is amazing and combined with what dnb is doing there is real potential for turning out some fantastic dash boards. This is way beyond my capabilities I am afraid and I really don't have access to this level of engineering expertise. What a pity the market isn't larger for this sort of thing.

I am very interested in a couple of dash boards for my 500's. I am a wood veneer man rather than an aluminium or any other finish. In my 500 that I am renovating a have a carbon fibre finish dash, which I am happy to sacrifice for the good of producing new dash boards to your spec, if that is necessary.

As usual I am away in Kazakhstan right now, not to return to Blighty until 19th September at the earliest (got to pay for the Griffs somehow, plus two daughters at University of course).

I will PM you. Perhaps we can work out a way forward on this. I am not sure if anyone on this forum has a CAD drawing of a 500 dash board already. Pete


Colin RedGriff

2,525 posts

256 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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That looks stunning. Well done.

My dash is looking a bit tired so I'm contemplating getting the veneer redone - this looks like a permanent solution to the problem. I'd like to register an interest for a 500 dash


PeteGriff

Original Poster:

1,262 posts

156 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Pete Mac said:
Pete, I think what you have done is amazing and combined with what dnb is doing there is real potential for turning out some fantastic dash boards. This is way beyond my capabilities I am afraid and I really don't have access to this level of engineering expertise. What a pity the market isn't larger for this sort of thing.

I am very interested in a couple of dash boards for my 500's. I am a wood veneer man rather than an aluminium or any other finish. In my 500 that I am renovating a have a carbon fibre finish dash, which I am happy to sacrifice for the good of producing new dash boards to your spec, if that is necessary.

As usual I am away in Kazakhstan right now, not to return to Blighty until 19th September at the earliest (got to pay for the Griffs somehow, plus two daughters at University of course).

I will PM you. Perhaps we can work out a way forward on this. I am not sure if anyone on this forum has a CAD drawing of a 500 dash board already. Pete
Hi Pete, if you could let me borrow a 500 dash it would be very easy to modify the 'precat' CAD file to suit, therefore enabling me to potentially be able to look at producing '500' dashes also! PM me some time, perhaps we can have a chat when you are next home? Regards, Pete

Hedgehopper

1,537 posts

243 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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That is a really fantastic result..absolutey stunning.

As your finished dash is 5.5mm thick how did you bend it to fit into place? I've always thought that the bending may have been one of the reasons that the factory dash veneers came loose, i.e. veneered flat then bent to fit afterwards.

Do you mind passing on details of where you bought your veneer and what lacquer did you use?

V8 GRF

7,294 posts

209 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Pete Mac said:
Pete, I think what you have done is amazing and combined with what dnb is doing there is real potential for turning out some fantastic dash boards.
That was exactly my thinking.... could you two guys keep me in the loop on this? I have some ideas biggrin

PeteGriff

Original Poster:

1,262 posts

156 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Hedgehopper said:
That is a really fantastic result..absolutey stunning.

As your finished dash is 5.5mm thick how did you bend it to fit into place? I've always thought that the bending may have been one of the reasons that the factory dash veneers came loose, i.e. veneered flat then bent to fit afterwards.

Do you mind passing on details of where you bought your veneer and what lacquer did you use?
Hi HH, I was initially concerned regarding the bend or bow required in the Griff dashboards, but after making a thorough assessment I cam to the conclusion that it did not require to be bowed or bent that much! My new dash was processed completely flat, on fitting I gently pushed it into place forming a gently curve, it fitted well with only a 5mm gap in the middle when viewed through the radio opening. It is firmly fixed using an M5 stud on the top L/H side as per original, and one black panel screw with recessed cup washer in the section that goes down behind the steering column cover. I gently pushed the dash into teh recess when screwing it up an it then forms the gentle curve. Being a laminated concept and thicker it is really secure and firm to any pressure, so the truth is don't worry too much about the curve it can be made to fit nicely and firmlly, even though it is not curved as much as original.

I obtained the veneer from a small internet company called 'The Vine Tree', they have a shop on eBay and I contacted them to discuss my requirement, they keep some stunning burl/figured walnut veneers like I used.

The main build lacquer is an industrial 2 pack product, finished off with a coat of UV resistant lacquer for the best durable finish. Unfortunately these products are not freely available to 'joe public' as they are a professional product. Sorry I cannot be more helpful. Best regards, Pete


Pete Mac

755 posts

136 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
V8 GRF said:
That was exactly my thinking.... could you two guys keep me in the loop on this? I have some ideas biggrin
Absolutely, as far as I am concerned and I am sure the other Pete agrees. Anything to improve our Griffs and this looks a cracker.... Pete

Moycie

536 posts

196 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Great work Pete. It looks fantastic. I think a few 500 people could be interested in one of these, myself included!

Look forward to seeing the full interior shots.


MPoxon

5,329 posts

172 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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I just had a proper look at those photos and I must say I am really impressed with that. These are the kind of modifications that I really like, something that looks original but is reengineered to provide a benefit. I bought a new dash for mine a couple of years ago, I am very pleased with it, the veneer was handpicked so was nice a dark with a really nice grain in it. Unfortunately it suffers from the same issues as my previous dash where it is bendy and the glue holding the buttons in fails in the height of summer and the buttons fall into the dash.

Myself like many others have looked at the dash and thought well that is a crap design. But kudos to you for having the same thought but then actually doing something about it. From what I can see on the pictures the new design looks absolutely quality. The veneer looks brilliant as well and I am very picky with that. I cannot wait to see it in the flesh and I would be very interested in a 500 version. I may still have my old dash in the loft if you need a template.

Is that a new interior I spy there Pete. From what little I can see that looks superb in the two tone grey.

With the new paint job, all the epic work you have done under the bonnet and now the interior and dash I reckon you have one of the best condition TVRs in the country. thumbup