Soooo, while going through my interior pieces to see what was salvageable, i noticed that my dash is developing a crack. this pissed me off because as im sure many of you know, dashes are not cheap. so i have decided to do a fiberglass mold of my dash and custom mount gauges and the like. i am also going to paint the dash and possibly the center console prowler orange to match the car. i just wanted to hear opinions and even more important, ideas!

If its an opinion along the lines of "Keep it original!" or an insult because im going so custom, please keep it to yourself, or at least try and keep it constructive. i hear enough crap about wanting 18" wheels and the sound system im doing in it. but i do need ideas!

 

Since your dash is black plastic, I assume your referring to the top dash pad. I think it could look very trick, just take note of how your goes in and out and make sure you don't have to flex it to get it in and out and if so, how can you get a rigid piece of painted fiberglass in place without damaging it in the process?

If you go with black trim on the outside and an orange and black theme on the interior, I think ti could be awesome!!!!!!

Good luck and let us know.

 

Sounds very interesting. Are you thinking of custom mounting the tach and speedo different or leaving it like it is. If you want a really customize it maybe have a look at the "echos" with the center mounted everythings. I know of alot of people who don't like them, some who like it.. maybe that could be something to do?!?! who knows

 

74-Roadster: I worked on a 74 roadster at the shop oneday and i know that our dashes are pretty difftrent. yours has 3 pieces while mine is one, so i would be doing the whole dash. instrument panel, gauge cluster, speedo and tach area, and probably the center console.

Justin, i would probably mount the gauges in a werid spot, or make them have eyebrows, or something strange, so that it would really catch the eye. i think that the only car center mounted stuff should be on is the mclaren F1. and thats because you sit in the middle. i like having my gauges right in front of me. i would probably switch to autometer gauges because i want the white face gauges. i was thinking of making it more like 1st generation talons and eclipses. i love those dashes because they are so driver oriented.

i also decided that rather than ghost flames i am going to do a hood stripe. i have the l-88 hood and it will basicall accent the buldge. i cant really describe the stripe but it will be black, so it will go perfectly with my interior. the cool thing about fiberglass is that anything can be done. i was also toying with the idea of throwing my rear "corvette" emblem up on the dash. maybe flush mounting it, or even making a light that lights up corvette. something cool and unusual. the great part is that i work at a car stereo shop and the install manager is extremely talented when it comes to this stuff so he will be helping me. plus it will only cost me 1 arm. no legs!

 

I really like this idea! Do you think glass could make the squeek/rattle problems worse? The vinyl dash has a lot of 'give' to it. It would look very :cool: though :yesnod:

 

if you mount it solid it shouldnt squeek at all, and if it does all i would have to do is put a litlle sound deadner mat on the sposts its rubbing. im thinking of a round theme now. sort of like 98+ Trans ams, but a little more faced twords the driver. i think i would still use the same heater vents and locations, just because that would be alot easier.

 

That a great idea and something I've been thinking about doing too. I think I would still keep the stock dash lines though. I think there was one go here a while ago who was getting ready to make one for his late model. I asked if he could make me on as well, but that didn't go anywhere, so I'm currently stuck with my original dash.

 

I have decided to do this is because i think that since the C3 is such a curve-happy car, the dash should be no-diffrent. i think that the original looks dated and very square. i was also considering putting the CDplayer where the speedo and the tach area is, and put all of the gauges in the center, still facing me. it just seems weird to me, and also keep the passenger from screwing with my tunes! :lol: but i dont know if i want to alter it that much. I know there are some more great custom minds out there! where is your sage-like advice?