Dashboard/Instrument Pod

[Northern_Paul]

Cars away at the trimmers, Wilton carpet and Mohair hood, couldn't match the vinyl for the repairs around the screen so I've bit the bullet and gone for the full leather everywhere. I've copied 'Rude_Girls' interior from the pic on her profile (thanks!!), should get it back next Friday and will post pics.

My Dashboard is an early stainless steel number but it's started to rust. I've considered replacement with Leven Technology's but I'm not convinced, I'm going to see if I can have it chromed tomorrow but again I'm not 100% sure.

Anybody got any ideas on a solution to this?? - I would prefer a metal finish as it would contrast well with the rest, whats out there?........Pics would help...I've got a week to make up my mind.

[markh]

I made a carbon fibre one if that helps, a bit less 'old school' suits my interior a bit better than the wood.

Mark

[Ballistic Banana]

markh said:

I made a carbon fibre one if that helps, a bit less 'old school' suits my interior a bit better than the wood. Mark

Me too, £96 all in see www.pistonheads.com/members/showcar.asp?carId=1086 slide down to July 2003

where abouts are you getting the roof done and how much(if you dont mind me asking), my targa bit could do with re-doing(winter job). I have info on a guy in Wheathampstead who is meant to be quite good and has competative prices.

BB

[Northern_Paul]

Wow BB - thats some write up - didn't have time to take it all in but I will revisit later - excellent work.

Carbon dash looks stunning but it's not for me - I want something in metal - but you may of encouraged me to make one out of a lump of stainless steel if everything else fails - I followed some links from your 'diary' and got to the Zertec pic - it's very thought provoking as he had changed the layout and added round air vents (must sleep on that one!).

I'm still quite keen on a chrome and then change most of the aluminium to chrome - bling-bling!!


OOOPPS nearly forgot, new soft-top £400, wilton carpet £600, full leather £1,600 (ARRGGHHH) - Mark Thomas Trimmers Lancing West Sussex - I'll post pics when finished.



>> Edited by Northern_Paul on Thursday 15th July 22:04

[stesrg]

[quote=Northern_Paul]
My Dashboard is an early stainless steel number but it's started to rust.

Stainless steel does not rust, you can actualy clean this with some polish and use a 1" orbital disc and put a nice pattern on it this will save you loads,

make sure you take the instruments out

[Northern_Paul]

stesrg said:

Stainless steel does not rust,

You'd think it wouldn't but it does! There must be different grades with different quantities of the 'stainless' ingredient.

((Quite happy with myself at the moment as I've just done my first "quote"))

[stesrg]

Yeh Made in china stuff

[Northern_Paul]

stesrg said:

Yeh Made in china stuff

I agree totally, but it's factory fit!! Can't of helped much it being off the car and in the corner of the utility for the last year. It's not all over just 'specks/flecks' of fine rust, attempted to clean but it's slightly pitted.

[stesrg]

If you can find a pice of 316 grade stainless steel around 2mm thick take it to a laser profile cutter allong with your old dash as a pattern, and they will cut an exact replica, this will probably be cheaper than buying one or see how many others who would like a new dash (post a thread) send me your pattern and i could get some cut this would have to be a minimum of around 8.

[simpo two]

What's wrong with ally? Watch out for something too shiny 'cos you'll get blinded if you have a following sun.

[catretriever]

Plenty of pics here...

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=94846&f=9&h=0&hw=dash

...of course, mines the nicest

[starmist]

Northern_Paul said:

Cars away at the trimmers, Wilton carpet and Mohair hood, couldn't match the vinyl for the repairs around the screen so I've bit the bullet and gone for the full leather everywhere.

Would be very interested in how much it cost for a full leather retrim, and the quality of the work, as this is something I would like to have done, medium term. Email me if you don't want to go public on the cost.

[Northern_Paul]

Northern_Paul said:

OOOPPS nearly forgot, new soft-top £400, wilton carpet £600, full leather £1,600 (ARRGGHHH) - Mark Thomas Trimmers Lancing West Sussex - I'll post pics when finished. >> Edited by Northern_Paul on Thursday 15th July 22:04

I'm not shy!!!

It was already mentioned above, will have pics after next weekend. I'm going for a two tone effect of Berry (maroonish) and Oatmeal plagerized from Rude_Girls pic on her profile.

[griffter]

Leven have a deal on their dashes at the moment (normal price inc. delivery of nearly £200). I picked one up from Pistonfest for the special price of...£150. I believe this offer is now extended - they must be clearing stock or something. Now this still seems a lot but according to informed opinion it's not bad when you consider the quality of material, manufacture and the fact that it does have to be LASER cut for accuracy and finish.

Re-veneering costs more than £150, and cheaper alternatives are limited to carbon tape from Halfords (not convinced I'd have got this looking very good), or using yours as a pattern to get one cut in stainless or aluminium. I took the easy route...

[mel]

stesrg said:

If you can find a pice of 316 grade stainless steel around 2mm thick take it to a laser profile cutter allong with your old dash as a pattern, and they will cut an exact replica, this will probably be cheaper than buying one or see how many others who would like a new dash (post a thread) send me your pattern and i could get some cut this would have to be a minimum of around 8.

Hmmmmm 316 stainless for a dash board is a bit of an overkill, 304 is more than adequate and about 2/3 of the price (316 is a pharmaceutical grade). As for nipping down your local laser cutters and giving them a template I think you would sruggle, laser profilers don't work like a big etch-a-sketch they would need to draw the profile first on a cad system and believe me the numerous radiuses that all flow into one another on the outer profile make this a nightmare, I would estimate you'd be looking at about 3 hours CAD work to get it right (about £100 straight off and you haven't made a thing) I know this because I've done it myself and its a shit of a job, I then ended up with about half a dozen trial profiles on thin gauge mild steel, before I was happy with what I had. I was lucky and could do this in my own time at work so it didn't cost but I think you'd be looking at a pretty big bill if you could find a profiler prepared to do it and interrupt their regular production work.

Oh yes and I do think Leven's price is a fair one for what you get, the shit from the factory should be about half what Leven charge but strangely enough is more expensive......

[simon.b]

Normal grades of stainless steel sheet will rust unless the surface has been extensively worked. It picks up microscopic impurities during the manufacturing process. If you buy any grade that has been Passivated (not sure on the number of s’s) you will be OK, the passivation process chemically cleans off the surface impurities.

Cheers,

Simon

[Northern_Paul]

Mel

Thanks for the info, it sounds to me like you may have those cad co-ordinates etc. Have you thought of making anymore????

The external radius look difficult but I fully expect to have to grind the outside profile to fit even if I bought from Leven or TVR as the fibreglass dash/pod sizes may differ/warp.

What do you know about chrome plating, can you chrome plate aluminium???? Anyone else know????

[old64er]

northern,

i may be able to get a profile scanned and waterjet cut at an aerospace steel company that i worked.

i don't know the exact size of the scanner but i think it is A3.

If its the same guys running it i dont think cost will be much (few beers).

[Northern_Paul]

old64er said:

northern, i may be able to get a profile scanned and waterjet cut at an aerospace steel company that i worked. i don't know the exact size of the scanner but i think it is A3. If its the same guys running it i dont think cost will be much (few beers).

Dude, I'll be calling you tomorrow!!!

[simpo two]

Quinny said:

Paul, I've just removed my stainless dash due to problems with glare.

Toldya!
If I was making just one dash, I'd use the original as a template and simply cut the new one with a bandsaw - or if you don't have a bandsaw, a fretsaw. Very old tech of course but costs 0p.