Coupe Dash Dimensions

[AaronR]

Hey all!

I feel a little needy asking for this information, but it would be super cool if anyone could help me out. I'm looking for some dimensions for the aluminum dash panel provided by F5. I've got some time until I get my coupe and I'm trying to keep myself busy with projects this winter while I wait. I would love it if I could do some prep work on my dash. I plan on completely replacing this panel with my own fabricated dash. Is there anyone out there who has these dimensions they could share with me?

I borrowed this image from PNWTim's build which I am really enjoying following. Thank you!

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[Papa]

Here you go:

1 - 10.5"
2 - 4"
3 - 3.5"
4 - 50.125"
5 - 7"
6 - 37.25"

[AaronR]

You are awesome. Thank you!

[AaronR]

I tell you what, this car sure is turning out to be smaller than I expected pretty much everywhere. Ha. I'm sure I'm not the first one to say that.

If anyone is bored and would like to check a few additional dimensions for me, that would be pretty awesome (I'm not sure on the column cutout dimensions in my attached picture). Otherwise, I think I've got enough to fart around with for a bit. I figured I would be better off reproducing a rough model of the existing dash before I start trying to build something custom without even having the car in front of me yet.

This is what I put together tonight. I'm going to start seeing what kind of ideas I can come up with. Thanks again for your help Papa!

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[Papa]

It's late now, but I'll get you the measurements for the steering column notch tomorrow unless someone else gets to it first. One other thing for your model is that the bend angle from the face of the dash to the top is only 80 degrees, not a full 90 degrees. The top is angled up 10 degrees from the face. And yes, these cars are small!

The space in the dash for gauge layouts is also pretty cramped, and the gauges are typically smaller diameter than most.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=221555&d=1763175487

[AaronR]

Thanks again for the info, Papa. Yeah, the extremely cramped dash is one of the reasons I wanted to fabricate something myself. I've gone through a bunch of different iterations in my head of what I want to do with gauges and switches. Right now I'm leaning towards Speedhut Cobra gauges with the 4" speedometer and tach. I have plans for the center of the dash, so I want to try to figure out how to squeeze the 4" gauges and the 4 smaller gauges on the left side behind the steering wheel.

Crossing my fingers... hahaha

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[Papa]

The steering column notch is centered 2-5/8" from the lower-left corner and has a 1-3/4" diameter. The top of the notch radius is 2-1/2" up from the bottom edge of the panel. Also, there is a 3/4" square tube that the dash mounts to that runs the entire length of the dash behind the bend. You can clearly see that bar in the picture below.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=216907&d=1753664750

Here is a look under the dash. You can see the bar above the gauge opening.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=220703&d=1761437529

[AaronR]

I forgot the main panel was cut for the dash inserts. I guessed the size of the cutout. I think I'm fairly close. I went ahead and made the gauge panel a separate piece. I'm not sure if anyone really cares about any of this or not, but I figure I'll share in case anyone does. I think I'm getting to a point where I'm going to stop trying to recreate the existing dashboard setup and start designing a new dashboard. If anyone would like to me finish this out with the correct dimensions for the 3.14" and/or 3.31" gauges, share the measurements from the panel and I'll update it and share.

At some point I'm going to very kindly ask for some additional measurements for the frame around the dash and center console area. I plan on fabricating something custom there too. I don't know if anyone else will find any of what I share useful for their project, but I'm having fun and I'll keep throwing stuff in here as I go along.

Thanks!

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[Papa]

I'll be following your design if you continue to post. At some point, I'll be configuring and cutting my blank gauge panel to suit the Dakota Digital VHX-1060 gauges I plan to use. The larger gauges have a slightly different cut-out size (3-3/8") than what the FFR panel came with. Thankfully, I have one of these handy tools for my drill press that I can use to get the hole openings exactly the size I need.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004T7P1?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_ti tle_12&th=1

[AaronR]

I was planning on using an Ididit 16" universal steering column that has a turn signal lever built into it (and NRG adapter and quick release which I didn't model). I thought maybe the column would fit. After modeling it with the dash, it looks like it might? I don't have the firewall in there and I know the column mount(s) would have to change, but that shouldn't be that difficult as long as it can clear the DBW accelerator pedal.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Ididit-1011160051-Universal-16-Shorty-Floor-Steering-Column,568625.html

Has anyone looked into something like this column?

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[JTG]

Mike Forte showed me a steering column like that last spring which he was trying to adapt for use in FFR kits. I haven't talked to him about it since but he was looking for someone with a coupe to help develop it.

I'm not sure we're going in that direction but you might consider reaching out to him.

Good luck!

[AaronR]

I'm just jacking around working on a steering wheel and some custom switch covers and panels. Figured I would drop stuff in here from time to time in case anyone wants to see it. Might be worth creating a new thread for this stuff...

The Shelby piece is a center mount with the Momo bolt pattern that will go in the center of different steering wheel centers. The steering wheel is just something I was tooling around with and not a final piece that can be easily manufactured (unlike the center hub). It's also a bit too large of a diameter to fit into a Type 65, I'm thinking. I'll get back to working on steering wheels some time in the future after I tool around with some other things. It works for a mockup for me at this point.

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