bobs77vet
Well-known member
what kind of gauges are you using? creating your own set up gives you so many choices.
Long Overdue Progress! Doors Finished 3/17/26
- Thread starter BBShark
- Start date
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These are the gauges I am using (except MPH not KPH).
Phase 2: build structure to attach the sides
A while back I was working on fixing the door latches by replacing the push rods with a modern cable (pull). Got distracted but I finally got it done. Replaced the binding latch pawl. Works great!
Old Latch
New Latch Pawl
Finished
Old Latch
New Latch Pawl
Finished
Last edited:
Can't believe it's been 6 months since my last post. In the spring I had too much (house) stuff going on. A couple of months ago, I started back on the car and realized I had absolutely no space to work on anything, I couldn't find anything and I ended up working on the floor. So, I spent the next 2 months cleaning up and promised myself I wouldn't work on the car until I was finished.
Picking up where I left off. I need to make some new dash panels because the new gauges don't work, I moved my steering wheel over about a 1/2 inch to center it with the seat and I never really liked the upholstered look.
I'm still formulating a plan here but first thing I need to do is erase the gauge holes
Gauge position
Picking up where I left off. I need to make some new dash panels because the new gauges don't work, I moved my steering wheel over about a 1/2 inch to center it with the seat and I never really liked the upholstered look.
I'm still formulating a plan here but first thing I need to do is erase the gauge holes
Gauge position
First I need to repair the cracked mounting points with some 1/4 thick polycarbonate blocks to distribute the load.
Cracked Mount hole
Block
Done
Cracked Mount hole
Block
Done
SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
interesting stuff... I know this 'everything conspires against doing cool stuff' situation... I think I see light at the end of my tunnel too... could be a train, but here's to hoping
phantomjock
Well-known member
Then let's hope!
bobs77vet
Well-known member
thats a nice repair
More repairs to these dash parts. All of the original dash parts I have seen are really broken and cracked. These are no different. The new repro parts are made out of vacuum formed ABS and are really not a good starting point.
So this one had 2 broken corners and I needed to repair these before I put a layer of fiberglass on them.
So this one had 2 broken corners and I needed to repair these before I put a layer of fiberglass on them.
SRountree
Well-known member
Nice work. I can't wait to see it completed.
The inherent lack of quality in plastics and the fitment issues I see everyone having with even the "best" quality repro parts has me thinking I'll just rebuild all of my dash parts with fiberglass and filler to get it all shaped to fit correctly to my interior, then reskin and dye accordingly. The factory fit wasn't ever good on the dash components anyway, so might as well correct what needs correction. Thanks for sharing your approach to it.
Here is phase 2, all the cracked off and broken pieces repaired, the speedo and steering column holes eliminated. Ready for filler and glass.
No digital. I have gauges and the layout will be speedo/tach but my steering wheel is moved over a little and its from a 96 so the hub is bigger and deeper. Also the steering wheel is smaller so the position of the gauges is different.
I suppose this is phase 2 still but I filled most of the gaps and am pretty close to skinning this with fiberglass.
I suppose this is phase 2 still but I filled most of the gaps and am pretty close to skinning this with fiberglass.
Been filling and sanding on this for awhile. Cut the holes for the speedo and tach. I'm getting there slowly.
bobs77vet
Well-known member
nice job cutting those ovals, it looks really good , what is going to cover it? a vinyl wrap?
I cut the holes for the gauge buckets but then realized they interfere with the hole for the steering column. So today I filled them back in.
1 step forward, two steps back!
1 step forward, two steps back!
SRountree
Well-known member
It's always something!
I am thinking about painting these with a mat charcoal metallic. But that depends on how good I can get the surface finish. If not good, I will probably wrap them.
bobs77vet
Well-known member
they make some really nice thin body fillers these days, tough break on the holes
So I filled in and recut the gauge holes but first I cut the hole for the steering column. Should have done this the first time (then I wouldn't have the steering hole breaking into the gauge holes). Installed it to check fit and gauge position for visibility through the smaller steering wheel. Looks good!
SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
I like that a lot. Nice work
SRountree
Well-known member
Awesome! Nice work.
bobs77vet
Well-known member
that looks good, i wish some one at honda had done that with my wifes daily driver minivan, the gas gauge is completely hidden. worst location ever you cant see it. we have never run out of a gas but thats because of dumb luck.
It's pretty close. Still need to smooth in places. Also need to cut the flat patterns for the gauge bucket from ABS.
mfain
Well-known member
Nice. Looks like a lot of work.
bobs77vet
Well-known member
looks good , i like the chrome ac vents,
Those vents look like the ones on my wife's old Pontiac G6. I thought they looked like a pretty close fit for the C3. My F150 also has similar vents. Which ones did you end up with? The price of new dash panels and all the fitment issues I always hear about really makes me want to follow your lead on the dash and repair what I have.
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