RotaryWhat?

iTrader: (1)

After being inspired by all the custom work that other forum members have done, I finally got the nerve to hack up my dash and fabricate a custom DIN gauge pod for my AutoMeters. Anyway, I thought that I'd share my progress so far. Let me know what you guys think!

Bondo'd Front View:


Rear View (showing fiberglass housing):


Close Up:


Sanded & Primed:


With Gauges:


Side View w/ Gauges:


Still got a lot of work left, but I think it's a good start.

Fd3BOOST

iTrader: (7)

Thats is pretty damn cool if you ask me. Good job! Make sure you post the pics of the final painted product.

RonKMiller

Looks SO much better than pods......NICE. I just may have to give this a try as well.

RotaryWhat?

iTrader: (1)

Thanks guys, I'll post the finished pics of my interior after I get it painted....or carbon fiber--haven't decided yet. I would like to go with the carbon fiber, but I have never done anything as complex as this piece...I'm afraid I might mess it up.

futurerexowner

Oh my dear GOD! That is going to look amazingly great! be sure to post pics when you get some finish work done!

jmpar2001

That looks very tight! Can't wait to see the final results when installed.

RotaryWhat?

iTrader: (1)

Thanks again---the process was pretty easy. Instead of making a fiberglass mold, I took a different route and I think it worked out great (wish I would of taken pictures during the early stages):

1) Cut 3 holes in a 1/4'' thick piece of plywood using a 2 1/4" hole saw (you can go smaller, but I wanted to have the gauges recessed w/ the rims sticking slightly out).
2) Stapled some saran wrap w/ a pantyhose sheet over the top of the holes.
3) Painted the pantyhose w/ fiberglass resin.
4) Took some plastic drinking cups, covered w/ mold release and shoved them through the top.
5) Let the thing dry, removed the plastic cups, and then added 2 more layers to the back side.
6) Used a 2" hole saw to cut the bottom of the 3 holes out.
7) Trimmed to size w/ my dremel and glued to the back of the dash piece (had to modify the dash piece slightly to get everything to fit without getting into the cd player opening).
8) Stuck the plastic cups back into the holes and filled the top with BondoGlass.
9) Removed the cups and sanded to match the contour of the dash piece.
10) Sanded, sanded, and sanded until it was ready to paint.

I've decided to go the carbon fiber route, so I ordered the carbon fiber material today. Hopefully I'll have everything done within the next week or two

ArinX

That looks great man just one question is there enough room behind that for the gauges to fit comfortbaly?

Thanks

Arin

RotaryWhat?

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, the gauges will fit easy enough. The HVAC controls are a tight fit but not a problem, and depth is more than ok. I did however have to cut the plastic housing behind the dash on the sides for the side gauges to fit----I'll post a picture when I can get a hold of a camera again.

-Ken

RotaryWhat?

iTrader: (1)

For the few of you who keep e-mailing me, here are the new pics (sorry, I had to finish the 93 to 94 dash swap before I could do the install). I ended up having the interior parts painted to match the body color (the color looks a lot better than the pics show). The AC panel turned out better than I expected, and it would look even better if I hadn't screwed up the prep job. If you live in the Detroit area, I would highly recommend the guy that did my paint work---PM me if you want his info. I'll post more when the stereo system, steering wheel, and seats are done.

-Ken

DELTA_Rotary

Dude thats nice as hell. Some of the best fab work I've seen on the forum. Now you wanna sell it to me?

ricola555

Damn, that looks fantastic.
P.S. Your keychain...could it have any more keys?

Mr. Stock

That is awesome!
I think I am going to try that myself.

ptrhahn

iTrader: (9)

That looks absolutely great. Very OEM looking. Now its time to get rid of the tacked on boost guage on the a-pillar, and mount it on the steering column with a RE or pettit pod. Very slick, all your hard work is paying off.

MgnFIcnT

great job man i really like it

also i found this for the less talented



http://www.omori-na.com/catalog/acce...ccessories.htm

RotaryWhat?

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the positive feedback guys. I planned on getting rid of that A-pillar mount boost gauge and going with the column mount, but I want to see how everything looks with the Miata steering wheel first. I would also like to lose that useless A/F ratio gauge and replace it with a fuel pressure or oil temp. gauge---an exhaust temp. gauge would be nice if Autometer made one in the Sport Comp series .

Flybye

It looks really good. I wonder who will be the first hardcore guy to remove the radio and fill in 3 mroe gauges

Here's my little job I did 4 years ago. I just simply used the plate from the old stock radio. EVentually, I plan to put my boost on the mickey mouse ears above the gauge cluster.

Flyrx7

iTrader: (1)

That looks really sweet! I would have to say that looks WAY better (and easier) than relocating the A/C controls, looks better than the DIN mount too. Now, about that silver dash

Frank

Liquid Anarchy

iTrader: (2)

makes me wish FC's had straight plastic peices, instead of the rubberized crap I'm forced to deal with

wptrx7

great job.

and if anyone with a 93 wants a 94 dash i have an extra on i won't be using anymore.

luigi
mogoloco@comcast.net

patt6661

YO! that's hot!!
Can you paint my dick silver so everyone will slobber all over it like they do your dashboard??

RotaryWhat?

iTrader: (1)

I'll talk to the guy that painted the parts for me, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't do jobs that small.....

YayeR

dude.. I wanna see that ****
check out the midwest forum and come to our next meet