HUD Question

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Feb 23, 2006 | 12:49 PM

Barrier

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 1,875

Likes: 27

From: Long Beach NY

HUD Question

I am wondering if the edge of the cut dash is visable when the HUD is installed?
On the photos of the retrofit HUD installation I noticed that the Dash Cut seems to be rough. When the Bezel and Projector is installed can the edge be seen.
I would go out and look at some but with so much salt and sand on the ground there does not seem to be many C5s around.
Barrier

Feb 23, 2006 | 12:53 PM

SpeedyZ

Drifting

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 1,384

Likes: 8

From: Southwest Virginia

If done properly you can't tell the difference from factory. The bezel is larger than the cut by about 1/2" so you can't see the cut. The main thing is to be sure to take your time and cut a little at a time until the bezel fits perfectly. The rough cut your seeing is probably before the bezel is installed, and yes, that would look a little rough on either factory or retrofit install.

Last edited by SpeedyZ; Feb 23, 2006 at 12:58 PM.

Feb 23, 2006 | 01:09 PM

Stealthy4

Burning Brakes

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 1,227

Likes: 15

St. Jude Donor '06

Instead of cutting 90° to the dash surface cut at a 45° angle from the inside to the outside so that the edge is always trailing away from your eye. This is what I did for my install 3 weekends ago. Then, just for good measure, I colored all the newly exposed foam black with a sharpie. Even when you look at it from the outside of the the windshield, you still cant see the dash thickness,

Feb 23, 2006 | 06:25 PM

Markm10431

Parrothead

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 48,231

Likes: 289

From: Margaritaville Embassy

St. Jude Donor '08-'09,'13, '14

Here are a couple photos of my factory HUD Hope it helps

Feb 23, 2006 | 06:40 PM

Barrier

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 1,875

Likes: 27

From: Long Beach NY

Hey Guys, Thanks very much, that pretty much sums it up.
Careful cutting
45 degree cut
Black Marker
Barrier

Feb 23, 2006 | 08:03 PM

dataporter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 924

Likes: 161

From: Atwater CA

2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified

Actually the dash is like 3 layers: The Top is like really thick vinyl like 1/16" then there is like a 3/8" or 1/2" layer of foam and then there is the bottom, a hard plastic shell maybe 1/8" thick that gives the dash it's shape. If you use a 1" diameter saw blade in your Dremel, you can cut the bottom of the dash without cutting the top at all! So even if you cut the bottom two layers too much you will not be able to see a problem with the bezel installed. Then I cut the top with razor knife and some aviation (tin) snips. I cut a template out of the thick paper cardboard and made it fit the bezel perfect. I used that to transfer the shape to the dash... on the back of the cut, toward you if you are in the driver seat, there is only about a 1/4" to play with, so be careful there, the lines on the bottom of the dash are too agressive (too far from the windshield) there. There is more room for error on the sides. Take your time, small adjustments. You can do this. Mine came out perfect, yours will too!

Last edited by dataporter; Feb 23, 2006 at 10:01 PM. Reason: recollection of dimensions was wrong!

Feb 23, 2006 | 08:31 PM

01vetter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 1,172

Likes: 71

From: MA

I created a templet with craft paper of the bezel flange and used this to make sure that I didn't cut the opening to large. This corresponded closely with the cut outline on the bottom of the dash pad.