msweb
Bronco Guru
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2003
- Messages
- 2,377
Since I'm redoing my dash myself, I figured I'd start documenting it here and sharing with ya'll. No, not going to be an exciting thread to follow but maybe someone will get some ideas from what they see or learn by my mistakes and trust me, I'm sure there will be a lot of lessons... lol ;D My metal working skills are limited so it won't be fancy but it'll look better than before and be functional.
My plan is to basiclly gut the dash with the exception of the far left side (steering column and speedo holes). With everything out of the middle, I'll be free to arrange things as I wish. I've already figured out that the heater controls and speedo can't be moved far at all so they will stay within a few inches of their original positions.
The plan is to make a overlay out of 1/8" diamondplate that will tuck under the lip of the dash pad and wrap down to the bottom of the dash where it will attach via piano hinge. That way I'll be able to flip the dash down to access wiring, fuses etc. once everything is done. The speedo and heater control sections of the dash won't have the room to flip down because of the cables so they will be mounted rigid. The aluminum I'm using is actually scrap I've had laying around for just such an occasion. If I splurge on anything, I'll have it powdercoated black when I finish it.
I've got plans in my head for a glove box and don't plan to use the factory one but I've cut out and saved the frame just in case. Same for the cell phone holder/coin tray (ashtray).
After removing the dash I marked a line for reference while cutting. I cut out the glove box frame and kept the mounting holes for the factory switches and controls in tact for reference to spacing, size, etc. My trusty angle grinder/cutoff wheel was the tool of destruction.
To get an idea of what will go where, I made a template out of cardboard the same size as the face of the dash. With moveable pieces, I can rearrange as much as I like until I find the configuration I want.
Ignition (not shown) will be moved in closer to the column with the headlight and wiper switches above it. The black frames on the bottom/center will be the bezels for my rocker switches. The plastic Jagermeister cups represent my oil and water temp gauges. Quarters are heater controls. The radio locationa hasn't been decided for sure yet, it may go in the glove box or be replaced with a MP3 player since I wouldn't be able to reach it way over there while driving. The 12v outlet will go either to the right of the heater controls or at the top of the dash next to the speedo - or one in each location so I have one for general use and then one out of the way for my GPS.
Ideas or suggestions?
My plan is to basiclly gut the dash with the exception of the far left side (steering column and speedo holes). With everything out of the middle, I'll be free to arrange things as I wish. I've already figured out that the heater controls and speedo can't be moved far at all so they will stay within a few inches of their original positions.
The plan is to make a overlay out of 1/8" diamondplate that will tuck under the lip of the dash pad and wrap down to the bottom of the dash where it will attach via piano hinge. That way I'll be able to flip the dash down to access wiring, fuses etc. once everything is done. The speedo and heater control sections of the dash won't have the room to flip down because of the cables so they will be mounted rigid. The aluminum I'm using is actually scrap I've had laying around for just such an occasion. If I splurge on anything, I'll have it powdercoated black when I finish it.
I've got plans in my head for a glove box and don't plan to use the factory one but I've cut out and saved the frame just in case. Same for the cell phone holder/coin tray (ashtray).
After removing the dash I marked a line for reference while cutting. I cut out the glove box frame and kept the mounting holes for the factory switches and controls in tact for reference to spacing, size, etc. My trusty angle grinder/cutoff wheel was the tool of destruction.
To get an idea of what will go where, I made a template out of cardboard the same size as the face of the dash. With moveable pieces, I can rearrange as much as I like until I find the configuration I want.
Ignition (not shown) will be moved in closer to the column with the headlight and wiper switches above it. The black frames on the bottom/center will be the bezels for my rocker switches. The plastic Jagermeister cups represent my oil and water temp gauges. Quarters are heater controls. The radio locationa hasn't been decided for sure yet, it may go in the glove box or be replaced with a MP3 player since I wouldn't be able to reach it way over there while driving. The 12v outlet will go either to the right of the heater controls or at the top of the dash next to the speedo - or one in each location so I have one for general use and then one out of the way for my GPS.
Ideas or suggestions?
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