Dashboard ideas please
Discussion
Hi all,
Jo's dash veneer on her Griff500 has finally given up the ghost and is in serveral places split and hanging off.
We are exploring other more imaginative options for a replacement.
If anyone has any suggestions, photos of completed projects or recommendations for companies that can supply or convert, we would be delighted to hear from you.
We are considering maybe covering in leather (??)
Definately not a metal dash.
Thanks for any assistance.
All the best
Adrian and jo
Jo's dash veneer on her Griff500 has finally given up the ghost and is in serveral places split and hanging off.
We are exploring other more imaginative options for a replacement.
If anyone has any suggestions, photos of completed projects or recommendations for companies that can supply or convert, we would be delighted to hear from you.
We are considering maybe covering in leather (??)
Definately not a metal dash.
Thanks for any assistance.
All the best
Adrian and jo
I've been considering the dash on mine as its starting to show the wear and tear of 14+ years but I don't like the alloy either.....
Being a furniture maker myself I'm going to stay with the veneer but I'll probably experiment and go with something other than the heavily lacqured Walnut Burr and probably opt for something lighter, such as a burr like Mirtle, Ash or Birds Eye Maple....
Plz dont wait for any pics though cause it may be sometime before I get around to it; unless someone else wants to be a guinea pig.....
Being a furniture maker myself I'm going to stay with the veneer but I'll probably experiment and go with something other than the heavily lacqured Walnut Burr and probably opt for something lighter, such as a burr like Mirtle, Ash or Birds Eye Maple....
Plz dont wait for any pics though cause it may be sometime before I get around to it; unless someone else wants to be a guinea pig.....
Covering the panels in a material of some sort (leather/suede) is probably the simplest solution. I think I'd stick to wood veneer. It just seems to fit/look right in the cabin layout and style, but having said that if the cars had originally been fitted with ally dashes we'd all be saying that was the traditional route to take.
I think there's a picture on here somewhere of a dash panel in a lighter wood. Another alternative is to strip off the old veneer, clean up the steel backing plate and have it sprayed the same colour as the body work ,(or other contrasting colour) as is done with some Italian cars.
I think there's a picture on here somewhere of a dash panel in a lighter wood. Another alternative is to strip off the old veneer, clean up the steel backing plate and have it sprayed the same colour as the body work ,(or other contrasting colour) as is done with some Italian cars.
Excellent! Thank you very much.
Have spoken to Willie Ramsay, Edinburgh today. He reckons covering the dash with a vinyl or leather to match the the paintwork (Paradise Purple) could be done but is concerned about whether the dials will reseat due to the thickness of the material.
I am assuming the whole dash has to come out for this, but we will see.
Look forward to the images, many thanks.
Adrian
Have spoken to Willie Ramsay, Edinburgh today. He reckons covering the dash with a vinyl or leather to match the the paintwork (Paradise Purple) could be done but is concerned about whether the dials will reseat due to the thickness of the material.
I am assuming the whole dash has to come out for this, but we will see.
Look forward to the images, many thanks.
Adrian
I think there is a guide on how to remove the instrument and heater panels on TGP's.
Not that I have any experience of this, but I don't think there would a problem fitting the main instruments back onto a panel covered in leather as they have surrounds that would hide the edges of the leather. But the holes cut in the steel backing plate for the LED's on both the instrument and heater panel are presumably only just big enough to fit the LED's. This might be a problem ?
It might be worth keeping the original backing plate as it is (in case you ever went back to wood) and having another backing plate cut, only with slightly bigger holes to allow for the leather.
Not that I have any experience of this, but I don't think there would a problem fitting the main instruments back onto a panel covered in leather as they have surrounds that would hide the edges of the leather. But the holes cut in the steel backing plate for the LED's on both the instrument and heater panel are presumably only just big enough to fit the LED's. This might be a problem ?
It might be worth keeping the original backing plate as it is (in case you ever went back to wood) and having another backing plate cut, only with slightly bigger holes to allow for the leather.
Edited by GJR on Monday 5th October 12:57
I changed mine for a CF a few years back, and took the opportunity to ditch the old BL vents.
Seems to have held up pretty well so far, and not too much of a nightmare to changeover.
Can't remember the details of the guy I got it off, but I am sure you could get one made by most CF companies.
Seems to have held up pretty well so far, and not too much of a nightmare to changeover.
Can't remember the details of the guy I got it off, but I am sure you could get one made by most CF companies.
I posted on the Griff forum because this is for my partner's (Jo) Griff 500. She is so busy at the moment that she would never get around to posting.
She is most worried about reflections as she gets a migrain if she sees moving reflections for any period in time.
I think that is one of the reasons why she is wanting to move away from the veneer. The veneer she has is very glossy and now that bits have come loose they shimmer in sunlight.
I have a feeling the CF might be too glossy too. Perhaps a matt or satin resin finish is possible.
The painted dash could be matt'd down a bit I suppose but I have a feeling that leather is going to win the day.
Certianly the images here give an idea of what is possible.
The Griff is currently at Hexham having a bit done to it but the dash will be the next thing upon it's return.
Will post before and after pics when complete.
In the meantime, any more images would be gratefully recieved.
Adrian (and Jo)
She is most worried about reflections as she gets a migrain if she sees moving reflections for any period in time.
I think that is one of the reasons why she is wanting to move away from the veneer. The veneer she has is very glossy and now that bits have come loose they shimmer in sunlight.
I have a feeling the CF might be too glossy too. Perhaps a matt or satin resin finish is possible.
The painted dash could be matt'd down a bit I suppose but I have a feeling that leather is going to win the day.
Certianly the images here give an idea of what is possible.
The Griff is currently at Hexham having a bit done to it but the dash will be the next thing upon it's return.
Will post before and after pics when complete.
In the meantime, any more images would be gratefully recieved.
Adrian (and Jo)
I don't have any problems with reflections, but as said - you could go for a matt finish. Not sure about a leather dash - I'd have to see one first, but my initial thought would be 'Kit Car'.
Another option that would be worth considering (and I did at one point) is an aluminium dash, but instead of the 'swirl pattern' get it anodised with a matt silver finish.
Another option that would be worth considering (and I did at one point) is an aluminium dash, but instead of the 'swirl pattern' get it anodised with a matt silver finish.
Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff