Dashboard support & slop to tunnel

[cope99]

All,

Looking for advise on how to better support the lower part of the dashboard, seems a little flimsy. I have a couple ideas but would rather lean on someone who has been successful at this. Also, I would like to create a slope up as the tunnel runs to the dashboard, similar to the attached image, would love to hear from someone who has done this and to offer any advise before I jump into it.

As always, I greatly appreciate the help and advise. (Title should say slope, not slop... although sometimes that could be the case)

Chris

[gbranham]

Breeze makes a nice set of aluminum sheets that solve this problem. I made my own after looking at his. Nothing against his, but I had some sheet aluminum and some spare time one Saturday afternoon. You could also use the kit-supplied aluminum bits that shore it up and are designed to hold either the headlight/hazard switch from the donor Mustang, or even your kit-supplied headlight switch.

Greg

[GoDadGo]

I used aluminum door kickplates, that are easy to find, to fill/bridge the underside of the dash and to hold my fuse panel, stereo pod and speakers.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?albumid=977&attachmentid=51763

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?albumid=977&attachmentid=51762

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?albumid=977&attachmentid=51779

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?albumid=977&attachmentid=51773

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?albumid=977&attachmentid=51774

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?albumid=977&attachmentid=51771

The nice part about using these is that they are typically anodized and come in different colors and can be found at Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, Amazon, Etc.

[cope99]

Outstanding, great ideas, thank you both

[GoDadGo]

You will likely need a small sheet metal brake to tackle some minor bending needed to make them fit well.

In the link below is the brake that I purchased many, many moons ago to tackle my limited bending needs:

https://www.northerntool.com/products/ironton-portable-sheet-metal-bending-brake-30in-wide-101452

Good Luck!

[i.e.427]

Under dash panels at the 14 minute mark of this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JPtdv2zfsc



Frank

[BrewCityCobra]

x2 for custom fabricating a panel (or panels). Not only does it help reinforce the dashboard, it cleans up the install by enclosing the bottom, and gives you space for incorporating charging ports, switches, and mounting points.

Some pictures from my build thread for how I did it below:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?38979-The-Brew-City-Cobra-427W-IRS-Paint-is-DONE&p=494848&viewfull=1#post494848

[CDXXVII]

Best pictures I could fine of my under dash filler/support panel.

My dash support is just shy of 6". I made my own full length under dash filler/support panel.

I also made my own dash out of .06" aluminum vs the .041" that Factory Five uses. Rock solid!!

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=100000&d=1546396787

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=109463&d=1561350695

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=179610&d=1675922879

[MaxVmo]

I did the Breeze supports but also borrowed ideas from this forum to install a dash grab bar and built aluminum support brackets for it which made it solid. I used the Breeze brackets to mount my hazard switch and Vintage gauge push buttons.