thejohnnyguy
Young Gun
Hey everyone, I just started making my dashboard for my Scamp, just thought I'de share with you all and take any comments or advice! or any cool ideas!
Build-a-dash!
- Thread starter thejohnnyguy
- Start date
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iggys68dart
Well-Known Member
i think i would have removed a few pieces first
momoparman
MOISMYHOME
A new dash pad would probably cost as much and would take 5 minutes to install.....that looks like a major job you got going on there....good luck
thejohnnyguy
Young Gun
That would have made it easier, but being in a very cramped apartment-garage I have run out of room! That and I tried to just remove the steering wheel but that damn thing wont budge... I'm used to doing things the hard way so in the ed as long as it looks good then it's worth the effort!
4flats
Well-Known Member
What are you using? I'm planning to make a new dash and console for one of my "brand-x" projects because the factory dash obscures some of the indicators (really poor design). I was planning to cut it and shape it out of styrofoam and cover that with fiberglass so it would still be removable.
Good luck with it. Sometimes the hard way is the best way to learn.
Good luck with it. Sometimes the hard way is the best way to learn.
rapidtransitric
LX/LC platform a body swap pioneer
the wheel. how about that windshield?:toothy10: with that out you could be all over that thing!
thejohnnyguy
Young Gun
I used metal screening sections for support, then the rest is a few thin layers of Evercoat Rage Extreme body filler, this will not be removable, but should be durable and once sanded down nice and smooth and painted, it should look pretty nice. I was thinking about painting it black, and using a satin clear coat finish on top so that it doesn't have that high-gloss cheesy look.
thejohnnyguy
Young Gun
I'm kinda trying to avoid that... bad luck with glass, I tried to take out the back glass and spent the entire afternoon vacuuming up little glass pieces...
iggys68dart
Well-Known Member
not a pro at this at all but try masking off some areas with paper just a bit i think it will help out in long run and pulling the wheel is not to hard i would say pull the whole column out on this adventure its really not bad to do
4flats
Well-Known Member
The wheel can be a stuborn sob to get out. I bent two wheel pullers, then ended up pushing up with my thighs while wailing on the shaft with a BFH. Just be sure to leave the big center nut on the end of the shaft or you will mushroom it (ask me how I know). Once you get it off that first time, it goes on and off pretty easy. When you start sanding that sucker, the wheel is really going to be in the way. You could also drop the column without completey removing it, that would give you some room. Also may want to experiment with textured paints like crackle finish. I can't wait to see some more progress!
thejohnnyguy
Young Gun
Textured paint, hmm... I will look into this and see if I like any of it better than the black satin. I'm unsure about the durability of paint like cracklepaint, do you think it would hold up?
Knock it out dude. You gotta good attitude. That alone means it's over half done already. I have never in my life had to use a steerin wheel puller. Never. Not once. Here's how you do it. Get all the horn stuff outta the way. Break the steerin wheel nut loose and back it off, but leave it on so that several threads hold it in place. Plant your feet up at the top of the floorpan just about where it meets the firewall. Grab the wheel at 3&9 o'clock and usin all your weight, rock back and forth (not TOO far) and PULL. It will pop right off and the nut will keep you from breakin any facial bones. This method has never failed me and I have been workin on cars since 1974. I've removed everything from concours restored steerin wheels to airbag wheels in this fashion and it works great.
4flats
Well-Known Member
I've never used the crackle paint myself, so I'm just sayin', but they make it for engine parts, so it should be pretty durable and heat resistant. Your biggest concern as far as paint will be UV resistance. Another thing you could try is roll-on bed liner, not spray-on-in-a-can (that stuff doesn't really have texture). I did the interior of my farm truck with roll-on bedliner (except for the dash and dash-pad). It looks good there aganst the new grey door panels, new grey upholstry and new grey carpet, but hurts a little when I rest my arm on the window opening. Im not sure how it would look on the dash, might be great, might be absolute crap, just a thought.
Dusterdude72
IN MOPAR MUSCLE MAGAZINE
Judging by the looks of things ....you have screen all over the front side of the dash. you should REALLY remove the gauge cluster and heater controls.
as mentioned above, grab a steering wheel puller and it should pop right off.
then lean under the column and loosen the support bolts that hold the column up and you can get it to drop 3 or so inches and gain some extra room.
the glass really should be out so you can get to everything good.
if I were doing the top of the dash I would probably layed something down first like seran wrap or something so that I could mold my body filler to the dash but yet also make it removable and then you could have attached it in some way rather it be by screws or velcro or whatever.....reason being, the body filler will be exposed to direct sunlight,heat,vibrations and so on and it will probably eventually crack and then you will have to go through this hole process again.
it would have been a cheap and easy fix to get a new dash pad ( I actually just seen a member had one on here for sale for really cheap).
but its always cool to have a car that stands out and is a little different too!
there are a few threads on here of guys who have smoothed there dash's over (most welded in patches over any holes in the metal) though. you could probably do a search on them and you might see a few cool ideas for your project.
good luck and remember ....if its worth doing....its worth doing right, so take your time to make a good plan and to round up the right tools and to go about it the right way and then jump after it!
as mentioned above, grab a steering wheel puller and it should pop right off.
then lean under the column and loosen the support bolts that hold the column up and you can get it to drop 3 or so inches and gain some extra room.
the glass really should be out so you can get to everything good.
if I were doing the top of the dash I would probably layed something down first like seran wrap or something so that I could mold my body filler to the dash but yet also make it removable and then you could have attached it in some way rather it be by screws or velcro or whatever.....reason being, the body filler will be exposed to direct sunlight,heat,vibrations and so on and it will probably eventually crack and then you will have to go through this hole process again.
it would have been a cheap and easy fix to get a new dash pad ( I actually just seen a member had one on here for sale for really cheap).
but its always cool to have a car that stands out and is a little different too!
there are a few threads on here of guys who have smoothed there dash's over (most welded in patches over any holes in the metal) though. you could probably do a search on them and you might see a few cool ideas for your project.
good luck and remember ....if its worth doing....its worth doing right, so take your time to make a good plan and to round up the right tools and to go about it the right way and then jump after it!
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