Bee Jay's Gauge Panel
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 596
Likes: 1
Yours looks alot better than mine. I used aluminum, but as you can see I don't go for the showroom look!
Oh , and the 1985 Whistler Spectrum Radar detector got retired this week after a little ***** state cop got me with laser. Running a Valentine 1 now.
Last edited by Restorod '79; Dec 1, 2006 at 07:34 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by psw5940
Bee Jay,
Do you have any pics of the enginering, cutting and building process?
I'd like to see how you did that.
Its great work
Do you have any pics of the enginering, cutting and building process?
I'd like to see how you did that.
Its great work
Me too. Why was it you decided to go with plexi?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
I tried aluminum at first. I bought a 2 5/8 bimetal hole saw, mounted in my drill press, and could not get a clean hole drilled even once. I was even entertaining ideas about engine turning the panel like the old Trans Ams. I tried it with some pexiglass, it was easy to work with and it looked great. This was my second panel, the first was a little short. I was going to cover this with faux carbon fiber, but it seems that everyone (me too) likes it like it is. Pexiglass is so cheap and easy to work with, maybe I'll do another panel, cover it with carbon fiber, and have two. I didn't take pictures in the process, but after you make the panel, it's very easy to see what you need to do with the stock panel to get the instruments to fit. Next time I have it out, I'll take a picture of the backside. Maybe someone with fantastic metal working skills (Norval, TT) can make one out of aluminum for me.
PS, Plexiglass save a few ounces I think. I'm always looking for ways to improve the power to weight ratio.
PS, Plexiglass save a few ounces I think. I'm always looking for ways to improve the power to weight ratio.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by Bee Jay
I tried aluminum at first. I bought a 2 5/8 bimetal hole saw, mounted in my drill press, and could not get a clean hole drilled even once. I was even entertaining ideas about engine turning the panel like the old Trans Ams. I tried it with some pexiglass, it was easy to work with and it looked great. This was my second panel, the first was a little short. I was going to cover this with faux carbon fiber, but it seems that everyone (me too) likes it like it is. Pexiglass is so cheap and easy to work with, maybe I'll do another panel, cover it with carbon fiber, and have two. I didn't take pictures in the process, but after you make the panel, it's very easy to see what you need to do with the stock panel to get the instruments to fit. Next time I have it out, I'll take a picture of the backside. Maybe someone with fantastic metal working skills (Norval, TT) can make one out of aluminum for me.
PS, Plexiglass save a few ounces I think. I'm always looking for ways to improve the power to weight ratio.
PS, Plexiglass save a few ounces I think. I'm always looking for ways to improve the power to weight ratio.
Was the aluminum the only other material you tried besides plexi? I was thinking a thin sheet of S/S would work great, and should be easy to work with.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
Was the aluminum the only other material you tried besides plexi? I was thinking a thin sheet of S/S would work great, and should be easy to work with.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by Bee Jay
I've got some Stainless Steel sheets laying around from my kitchen remodel and outdoor kitchen build. I guess I could try it.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by noonie
Here is a free file hosting site that handles pdf of up to 60mb
http://www.savefile.com/
http://www.savefile.com/
Good one. I found one too...
http://mediamax.com/
...that hosts everything from video, PDF type files...everything. I think the free users get something like a GIG of storage, but I can't remember. I've been messing with it and so far I like it. It's a bit slow, and you have to add your own tags...but it has a ton of free storage.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by Bee Jay
Thanks for the warning. I won't even attempt it.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
I built a 4x8 double-sided sign for my dad's office when I was in college with stainless letters. That was NOT a fun job. It still looks good, though.
Why is it so hard to cut? What makes it such a pain?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
It's very hard...harder than regular sheet steel. Aluminum is nice and soft. 
Hmm...I' have always just used a good jig saw, a grinder, or a break/shear to cut that stuff.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland FL
Hi Bee Jay!
Wow! I love what you did with the instrument cluster. Could you email me the file you created to kirk.toune@yahoo.com ? This is exactly the kind of mods (improvements) I want to make to the interior of my '75 Coupe.
One more question. Where did you find the plexiglass and what thickness did you use?
Thanks for posting.
Wow! I love what you did with the instrument cluster. Could you email me the file you created to kirk.toune@yahoo.com ? This is exactly the kind of mods (improvements) I want to make to the interior of my '75 Coupe.
One more question. Where did you find the plexiglass and what thickness did you use?
Thanks for posting.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
Likes: 378
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
But where does the electric fuel pressure gauge go? Or a vacuum gage?
Panel looks great BJ.
But i vote for the carbon fiber look.
U could sell them plenty of them in carbon fiber here. So many good ideas here on this forum but its a shame most don't get into production.
Thx for sharing,
cardo0
But i vote for the carbon fiber look. U could sell them plenty of them in carbon fiber here. So many good ideas here on this forum but its a shame most don't get into production.Thx for sharing,
cardo0
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
I've got the pattern I used for the panel on computer. It is an exact 1:1 pattern for the shape, hole centerpoints and DIN radio cutout. You just print it out, cut it out, and trace onto the pexiglass, aluminum, or stainless. I can send it via email if anyone is interested. It would work for any 2 5/8" gauges. I put my stock gauge panel with gauges in a box, and gutted another I found here on the forum. Hydra boost is my next project.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Hi Bee Jay!
Wow! I love what you did with the instrument cluster. Could you email me the file you created to kirk.toune@yahoo.com ? This is exactly the kind of mods (improvements) I want to make to the interior of my '75 Coupe.
One more question. Where did you find the plexiglass and what thickness did you use?
Thanks for posting.
Wow! I love what you did with the instrument cluster. Could you email me the file you created to kirk.toune@yahoo.com ? This is exactly the kind of mods (improvements) I want to make to the interior of my '75 Coupe.
One more question. Where did you find the plexiglass and what thickness did you use?
Thanks for posting.
Bee Jay