Basically, when I bought my SA the previous owner did a crappy half-*** job in putting in gauges. Maybe it was to impress the buyer, but I paid no mind when I went to check it out. When I mean he was trying to impress people, he had a HKS Boost Gauge.... but no turbo... So anyways, there were a lot of cuts/ holes and whatnot around the gauge holes so I wanted to make it cleaner. Sorry but no before pictures, since I was ashamed. But here are the after pictures.

Filled in holes and sanded down:

Picture after applying the primer:


I'll post more pictures after applying the final coat, gauges, switches, etc. But if no one is interested then I'll let the thread die out.

 

Well, I applied a couple thin coats of the final coat and I don't like how I can still see the indents in certain areas. I thought the paint might be able to fill in a couple of them, and they did, but not as much as I hoped. I plan on sanding it down, fill in the minor indents, and primer it again to see how it looks like.

I'm not a big fan of listening to the radio so I plan on wiring some new speakers not to a stereo, but as a 'headphone' plug. I test fitted my ipod in the small slit above the gauge holes and it fits fine. So the speaker plug will stick out of the small hole to the right of the ipod slit, connect to my ipod, and have my ipod sit in the slit while driving. I also am going to try and have the wire retract, so it isn't just dangling when I'm outside the car. The small hole to the left of the slit is going to be for the switch to turn on the lights for the gauges.
For the 3 switches on the bottom, 1 is still going to be for the headlights, going to try and make the antenna switch to turn on the fog lights that I will be installing after this, and the 3rd one I still haven't thought of anything yet.

But so far, what do you guys think? Ugly? Nice? Ehh?

 

It's looking good. I'd like to see how it turns out.

 

Show pics of it installed Before and after.

 

I don't have a before picture, but for sure I'm going to post an after picture. Just imagine the first picture I posted, but instead of having the putty there you can actually see through the plate.

 

Here is it with the top coat. I'm waiting for it to dry. I'm debating whether or not I should put a clear coat on top.

Oh yeah, that's right... I busted out with the Korean newspaper.

 

It's still kind of ehh... but I did do what I wanted to do and make it more like a 1 piece center dash instead of it being choppy. Also, it is going to be kind of dark in my car so the flaws will be hard to see.

 

thats going to look B.A. Good work

 

Try using glazing putty to fill in the low spots. Put it on a little thick then sand it down when dry.

 

Yeah, I did that and left it to cure overnight but it just doesn't want to hold down. This is prior to actual painting it.

 

Well, I sanded it down again and applied the primer.

I think it looks a whole lot better, don't you think?

 

Looks Pro to me - get us shot installed in the car!! Nice work-
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Well it is done. Didn't bolt it down since I still have to wire up the fog lights I'm going to be putting in.

 

That looks good. Nice and clean.

 

plaid seats. nice

 

Where is the stereo

 

On the floor! Great job that thing looks great!

 

That's my s5 ecu on the floor. I'm not a big fan of listening to the radio, since they tend to play the same songs over and over and over again. It drives me crazy, and I don't want to drive crazy in that car. Heh. So I'm trying to make something to hold my Ipod above the gauges.

 

Looks Great!! Nice Job!

 

i like it other than the no radio problem. why dont you just buy a radio that is set up for an IPOD. i NEVER listen to the radio. im stuck listening to cds in my truck now until i get my radio i had in my FB installed in there. its awsome it was made just for IPOD use and controls an IPOD just like the ipod does.

here it is:

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...5900ib&tp=5684

 

I love the look of it! Screw having a radio, I have one in the FB, it worked, then stopped. No point, since the car is louder.

I am diggin the headphone jack Idea though!

 

I gotta say those are by far the best looking gauges I've ever seen. Thank you much.

 

I got all 3 in a set from kragen for $25