79+80_rx-7

What year of dash would fit in an 79/80??? I think 81-83 will, am I correct? If I were to replace my dash with a 84/85 dash, would it fit? Should I make a custom dash, outa fiberglass? Or should I just make a fiberglass top??? Or redo it with some kind of material????


THANX, LATERZ, Andrew

riffraff

custom fiberglass would be cool.
i know that 79 and 80's are interchangeable.. i think that you can also swap in a 81-83 with no problem..

someone on this forum has put a 84-85 dash into a 81-83, so i am sure you could do that too. but it would take a little more work, and you would not get the fresh air vents that the 84-85 has...

79+80_rx-7

thats cool, I am thinking of what design of dash that I could make, that would look awesome... .. Any help on that?



THANX, LATERZ, Andrew

stinkfist

A custom dash would be sweet! I would go with a flat panel across the front with guages layed out in a straight line. Use a aluminum panel on the very front. No center console.
You know, the race car look.

Mike

79+80_rx-7

well, I am keeping the stock cluster, and stock heater/a-c controls..... Plus I gotta make way for a radio.... I was thinking a little further back, and more smoother, like the 1990 240sx.... It looks real smooth.....

MIKE-P-28

iTrader: (1)

Good luck, you are LOOKING AT HOURS, DAYS AND MONTHS OF custom work, even if you have a vacuum molding plastic machine (whatever its called) Not to mention everything else. I have seen custom dashes made such as in the MTX trucks of the late 90's. It took some of them guys (team of 10 or so) months to make 1 and they had access to vacuum molding machine and injection molders.

79+80_rx-7

well, why would I need vacume thingies? I mold it on top of its self.......... or use a peice of sheet metal, and mold it, and then put the fiberglass on..... I know how to fiberglass pretty damn good...... So, whats the vacume for?


I can have it done in two weeks, next time I have $10

THANX, LATERZ

stinkfist

To clean the floor after you sand the dash to paint it.



Mike

MIKE-P-28

iTrader: (1)

Well if you wrap vinyl on it, you will need something to stretch it and wrap it around the contours, and a vacuum thingy works pretty good But good luck...

Redwood

I'm gonna go ahead and offer the same warning: "Good luck". I planned on doing this same sort of thing at one point (I too am pretty good with fiberglass), but there are so many complications. If you do it, make a good mold and sell em. You'll make good money.

My recommendation, keep the stock dash (I'm using an 84-85 style, you may want to do the same) and replace all the removable pieces with custom stuff. The center part of mine will be made of aluminum with vertical gauges close to me and a line of switchs next to them. The point is, there's a lot of cool things you can do to make the dash look good and custom while still retaining the simplicity of the stock dash.

Whatever you decide, plan it out first. And give us some pics when you're done.

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

84/85 Like this.

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

actually you could use the dash as the mold depending on the shape its in. patch any problem spots and get it all as smooth as possible then spray it with a release compound. laying the fiberglass would take a while though a you would need to make sure you don't loop under anything because then you would have to massacre the dash to free the fiberglass. it will also cost 150-200 give or take in materials. www.fiberglast.com please just tell me what to do link. that should give you an idea in costing.

error402

What type of seats are those and where did you get them? I'm looking for some exactly like those.

79+80_rx-7

hahahaha, it wont cost that much...... I already have everthing I need..... I bought resin, and hardner by the gallon, for $25 at auto zone...... then bought a mat, 8 sq ft, for $4..... Then all I need is release compound, if I am gonna do a MOLD.... But I am not..... CUSTOM....


I have everything that I need, cause I was fiberglassing my truck, for fun........ came out real good tooo.....

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

Recaro seats, re-dyed in Yellow an Black.

theNeanderthol

iTrader: (1)

You should make a mold man. We all need awesome dashes too. You could make a heck of a lot of $ too.

79+80_rx-7

yeah..... but I have four or five other projects too.... So them come first..... but since I am at it, I might as well make a mold, eh??? If I sold them they would go for like 50-150...... at most.......... Well, I need $$$ to start..... I am waiting on this job I got lined up, then I could have money, and start ALL of my projects..... When I start them, I will let you all know....... Then I will take orders....... I am gonna try to keep the prices down as much as possible.... ................. Because, I know some of us dont have much cash, and would like CERTAIN THINGS......... I know that feeling.... LOL


LATERZ, Andrew

1st7heaven

This is my F-prepared 1st gen. I am building. Just installed the dash last night. No gauges or anything in yet. What do you think, I layed the carbon up with epoxy and used glass as my mold.

87turbo2

Looks pretty good, anybody know best solution for a cracked or split dash???
I was thinkink about maybe one from Victoria British, but all they have in my color ( tan ) is velour ???
I don't know how well it'd look....

1st7heaven

I havent seen too many real good "fixes" for the whole dash thing. The only thing I know is keep an eye out for a good used one?

79+80_rx-7

hey 1st7heaven, are you the one I talked too off of ebay, that is building a custom dash, and a bridgy motor, for your car? Cool, you actually came here......LOL

1st7heaven

I am doing that! go to www.cardomain.com and click on Mazda, then RX7. I think my car is the first one listed. Cool site to post your project!

79+80_rx-7

just makin sure you are the same one I talked too

There are the pictures I asked for THANX..... Finally, I tought you would just ignor me, and I would never get to see that machine LOL


Cool.........

I like you rims.... and tires

1st7heaven

Sorry about that! Keep watch that site for now, I will keep it updated. I will soon have a web site...www.rotaryautosports.com. I have the name registered but dont have the site up yet.

79+80_rx-7

hey, maybe we can set up a site off yours.... maybe....

SuperFly is tryin to get a sight FOR EVERTHING 79-85 rx7..... For the newbies....... So..... I dunno....


How hard id carbon fiber?

How much?

THANX LATERZ, Andrew