Glass interior started

[DjLunchbox]

Originally Posted by HARDEIGHT

Jim, I'm using foam sheets that I bonded together using GREAT STUFF expandable foam . I took a number of dimentions off the orig. dash and now that its out of the truck I was able to see what my clearances are for the new one.

There are a lot of diffrent ways to go about this ,I feel I can carve the foam close enough to the shape I want .After I get it close I plan on fleecing it then glassing it,then cf.

You can make your shapes out of mdf then fleece them for some really cool curves .

Another tip ! If you use foam check to make sure the resin woun't melt the foam . So far it seems epoxy resin is safe for most foams but polyester melts some and is ok for others . Epoxy =$80 gal ,poly=$40 gal

good luck hope it works out

Dave

well, any updates??? i'm hungry for more

[HARDEIGHT]

DJ I just popped it off the plug yesterday ,it was a little thin in spots so I added some macho fabric to the top today and have to do some cutting and grinding before I test fit it .
All that said it came out great,Far from finished yet . Also changed my mind on gauge placement. I'll post some pics 2night.
Let me know what u think

Dave

[HARDEIGHT]

Here are a few updated pics. I think i'm doing the gauges diffrent than in the pic.

Dave

[DjLunchbox]

Originally Posted by HARDEIGHT

Here are a few updated pics. I think i'm doing the gauges diffrent than in the pic.

Dave

good progress. i like the guages the way you have it, classy looking IMO.

will the dash shade be glassed to the lower dash or is it a stand alone piece?

good work so far. question on the foam though, did you jsut pull out the old dash and line the foam up in the truck to get the measurements for it? i have a dash that's pulled out now that i can use , but i'm not sure how to go about it..

[HARDEIGHT]

Hey dj, I took a bunch of measurments with the stock dash in and made lots of templates out of cardboard where everything should end up at. I still havent decided how I'm going to attach the top "shade" to the dash yet. I made everything a little short so I can add material to it to get it to fit tight.

I also took a bunch of measurements off the stock dash.

gauges will be diffrent though.

Dave

[thekl0wn]

HARDEIGHT, I love the dash. One quick question....what do you use to fleece?

[HARDEIGHT]

I was going to stretch fleece over the plug to smooth out any irregularitys then resin it,but I finished it off pretty flat. I did cover it with 2" tape . I will be adding some detail areas for the gauges that will need to be covered with fleece then resined in.

Dave

[cxpcman]

news ?

[HARDEIGHT]

Had it in the truck last week , fit was good but it was still too flexable so I mounted it on a jig to keep the correct shape ,and layed 4 more layers on it . I'll trim it later today and put it in and snap a few pics .

Thanks for your interest

Dave

[DjLunchbox]

Originally Posted by HARDEIGHT

Had it in the truck last week , fit was good but it was still too flexable so I mounted it on a jig to keep the correct shape ,and layed 4 more layers on it . I'll trim it later today and put it in and snap a few pics .

Thanks for your interest

Dave

can't wait !

[HARDEIGHT]

Here it is for the first fitting.In very basic form, sim to other glass dashes I've seen. I still need to add some cloth to the top but the fit is pretty good. Have to trim for the steering colum, but at least now I can start to add the detail, (gauge pods, attached center console ect... )

Dave

[thekl0wn]

Nice

[AirSchatz]

nice work. This would be a great how-to write up. At least the process of glassing. I would like to learn that but don't know where to start.

[DjLunchbox]

wow man, that's really coming along looks great!

do you think the windshield needs to come out in order to get it in there?

never heard of doing that but it looks awsome. cant wait to see the finished product

[HARDEIGHT]

Thanks for all the kind words.

DJ i can get it in and out from inside but its wayyyy eaiser to access everything with the glass out.

I took the glass out a while ago to put a roof skin on so its pretty much stayin out till the end. I have to do all new glass on this truck cuz it sat outside for 10 years and the sun burned all the black trim out that borders the glass. The most expensive glass are the 2 ext cab windows .1 is almost as much as a windshield .

Take care Dave

One thing DJ you will prob. have to pull the colum if you dont remove the windsheild.I'm taking mine out as soon as I get the dash mounted solid ,need it in now to get the proper clearance for the colum.

[DjLunchbox]

Originally Posted by HARDEIGHT

Thanks for all the kind words.

DJ i can get it in and out from inside but its wayyyy eaiser to access everything with the glass out.

I took the glass out a while ago to put a roof skin on so its pretty much stayin out till the end. I have to do all new glass on this truck cuz it sat outside for 10 years and the sun burned all the black trim out that borders the glass. The most expensive glass are the 2 ext cab windows .1 is almost as much as a windshield .

Take care Dave

One thing DJ you will prob. have to pull the colum if you dont remove the windsheild.I'm taking mine out as soon as I get the dash mounted solid ,need it in now to get the proper clearance for the colum.

hmmm. i wonder if i can work off my stock dash and do the heavier glass work around where the stock guages are. you can cut the stock one to look like yours ,all one piece across...... ima have to go look at my spare one

that would be easier to mount and work with, support wise ...

[HARDEIGHT]

Couple updated pics for you guys . Made a gauge cluster out of mdf ,this will get glassed in this weekend . Also I'm going to cut the oval out on the pass side and recess it into the dash and put a nice grabrail in front of it. The cluster and the grab bar will then be covered in cf. The large gauge in the center of the dash will get set at the correct angle and also get glassed in.

Directly under that center gauge will be a molded in center counsel running to the back wall. I'm 99% sure I'm doing 4 buckets in the truck so that should work out well. (hope I can get this whole mess back in the truck once its built) lol

Any suggestions let em fly

Dave

[BigBlue35]

one word... CUSTOM. haha

[DjLunchbox]

well, i like the guages the other way, but that's just me. i'd also leave off the dash shade, i think it looks cleaner without it. just my opinions though, either way, it's very nice work and will look good no matter what you do.

i really want to get started on mine. i think i'll work off a stock dash and recess my guages in that. hmmmm...