Dash Fabrication pt 4

So here is the progress on the radio door fabrication.

The door and track assembly has been made:


I used nylon lock nuts so i don't have vibration problems.

Here is how it sits in the dash. The radio mounting plate hovers behind the plane of the door.

Here is the fab area.

The angle iron will support the radio mounting plate. And the motor/solenoid/electronics plate.

Here is the door shut.

Open


View of radio mounting plate

I threw some black paint on the dash to serve as a guide for when i need to start sanding.

Card From www.frontpanelexpress.com

Earlier I was very impressed with the folks over at Front Panel Express www.frontpanelexpress.com. Now I am VERY impressed by them. They sent me a card, that said, well you can read it:




Did I mention that I got candy with my order? It is almost as if they are trying to date me in like second grade or something--a card and candy. Damn, I'm easy...

Seriously, they have a great business going with a good business model and they can deliver some awesome products. I highly recommend them for your next panel/nameplate/custom design. I know that for another venture that I am about to embark upon, I will definitely be using them for that.

Video Milled the Radio Star

I used my milling machine to cut the hole for the radio mount.

Dash Fabrication pt 3

Today I made provisions for the stereo system. I cut out the holes for the speakers and the hole for the stereo receiver.

Here is the panel with all the holes cut out.



Here is a shot of a speaker hole. The speakers will be mounted BEHIND the dash so they do not interfere with the rollcage.

Here is the stereo hole. I first cut it out with a dull jigsaw blade (it looked terrible). After a few minutes in the mill, it came out perfect:

I did forget to mention that when I received my panel that I got a little something extra. I opened up the box and there was some packing bubbles, the panels in a nice shrinkwrap on cardboard (see previous posts), a packing slip, brochure about the company and A PACK OF GUMMI-BEARS. I thought that this was kind of weird, but come to think of it, almost all of the industrial suppliers in town Copperstate Bolt and Nut, Southwest Hose, Santa Rita Steel, etc. all have candy bowls on their parts counter. Panel design has never been so sweet.

Dash Fabrication pt 2

Remember this?

The dash after a little early morning fabrication work:

Panel detail

Side shot

Light switches

Dash Fabrication pt 1

Here are some pictures of some of the fabrication process:

I clamped the new dash to the old dash to line up mounting holes/steering hole .



Holes were drilled to allow the jigsaw blade to enter. The funny business in the middle are some test cuts to see what my new jigsaw can do.

The dash is on the milling machine to get any tricky contours that the jigsaw couldn't get.

Here is a homemade mill-table clamp. Note that the steering hole is no longer a hole, it is a slot so you can remove the dash without removing the steering column or wheel. There will be a small plate that you can bolt up so it appears seamless.

Here I am testing the steering column shroud.


Testing alignment of holes and checking for clearances. If I was a true minimalist, I would leave it like this.

Panel!