Blank instrument panel for those with aftermarket gauges
- Thread starter mwdubs
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Thread starter
- #2
dont you hate when you hit submit rather than preview. well as you can see i deleted the turn signals, bright light indicator and both lower red indicators, cant remember what those were.
Im planning on putting leds as turn sig and bright indicator. couple more pics to show some of the detail
and the other side
Ill be putting 6 individual gauges in the panel, i have them laid out in cad. 2 (speedo and tach) @ 3.375"
2 (volts, H2O temp, oil pressure, fuel level) @ 2.125"
they fit nicely in cad, we shall see if they do the same in the actual panel. I should have it laid up this weekend, ill post the progress as i go.
Im planning on putting leds as turn sig and bright indicator. couple more pics to show some of the detail
and the other side
Ill be putting 6 individual gauges in the panel, i have them laid out in cad. 2 (speedo and tach) @ 3.375"
2 (volts, H2O temp, oil pressure, fuel level) @ 2.125"
they fit nicely in cad, we shall see if they do the same in the actual panel. I should have it laid up this weekend, ill post the progress as i go.
Great idea. Mine has a crack in it, but it's a 62..
Awesome work, dude ..
You gonna put those spring pins in the dash, too ??
Put me in line if you make more panels.
You gonna put those spring pins in the dash, too ??
Put me in line if you make more panels.
- Thread starter
- #5
thought id use the spring pins as fasteners and the band aids to hold the gauges in. If this one turns out ok id entertain making more. sould be able to update next week sometime.
I have been wanting to do the same thing, the stock gauge cluster just doesn't do it for me, especially with the V8. I'm looking for the same idea with an added trans. temp. gauge.
I'll be following this one with much interest, if you do manage to make a few please let me know!
I'll be following this one with much interest, if you do manage to make a few please let me know!
What is the panel going to be made with? what color?
Good work 
I've been waiting for you to post this up. Before I did mine I contemplated doing something like this. Instead, I wanted to wrap the fiberglass around the gauge panel, gauges included. As you will be able to see in the future, what you have done will work well, but you might have some glare issues. I didn't realize it, but the stock gauges are recessed deep in the dash for a reason. When you make a flat panel that allows the gauges to protrude from the dash hump, the will throw light onto the windshield at night. I am planning on making a 1" wide hood that wraps around the top portion of mine and bolts in place to reduce glare. I would still make a fiberglass insert like you did, that has recessed gauges, but I have 0% fiberglass working knowledge. Anyways, good job. Lets see what this looks like in the dash!
I've been waiting for you to post this up. Before I did mine I contemplated doing something like this. Instead, I wanted to wrap the fiberglass around the gauge panel, gauges included. As you will be able to see in the future, what you have done will work well, but you might have some glare issues. I didn't realize it, but the stock gauges are recessed deep in the dash for a reason. When you make a flat panel that allows the gauges to protrude from the dash hump, the will throw light onto the windshield at night. I am planning on making a 1" wide hood that wraps around the top portion of mine and bolts in place to reduce glare. I would still make a fiberglass insert like you did, that has recessed gauges, but I have 0% fiberglass working knowledge. Anyways, good job. Lets see what this looks like in the dash!
- Thread starter
- #11
for the first iteration the panel will be made from fiberglass, i was thinking of making a CF version as well. Not much more involved just a bit more attention to detail in the initial layup process. The panel could be any color. Think mine will be blue like my truck.....wait maybe someone talented with an airbrush could add some brown simulating rust as it is the secondary color of my truck
- Thread starter
- #12
Well finally got around to making the first dash IP blank. Turned out nice with only a few repairable dry spots. Think i can remedy that next time with a wetter layup. Anyways on to the photos, i took quite a few pictures trying to show just how well the origional detail was captured in the master mold. well enough chat on to the pics
first pic is of the master (female: top) and the part (male: bottom)
Next are a few pics of the part itself sorry for the lack of definition, the next pics i post will be with the part painted to show more detail.
Last pic is of the master again
I know the pictures are not great but you guys get the idea. Interrested to here what you guys have to say about it. I'll try to get some more done within the next week and post more progress pics then.
first pic is of the master (female: top) and the part (male: bottom)
Next are a few pics of the part itself sorry for the lack of definition, the next pics i post will be with the part painted to show more detail.
Last pic is of the master again
I know the pictures are not great but you guys get the idea. Interrested to here what you guys have to say about it. I'll try to get some more done within the next week and post more progress pics then.
That is just a great Idea besure to post pics when done cant wait to see how it turns out
Pretty sweet, I'd love to get my hands on one of those...
I think it's molded from the original, so it should be a copy...right?
I think it's molded from the original, so it should be a copy...right?
Nice work! This looks very interesting... 
Definitely keep us posted on the progress!
Definitely keep us posted on the progress!
- Thread starter
- #18
slight curvature
Looks good
- Thread starter
- #20
well some more progress on the ip. got it fit to the dash, that went well, then i fit the gauges. here are some pics. let me know what you think.
