New dash idea

[John Dol]

A while ago I decided that I did not like the placement of the tach and speedo in the coupe. So before I had the frame powder coated I made a frame mod to make that possible. At first I wanted to make a rounded cluster hump.

http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae46/jdcoupe1969/dash077.jpg


I did not think it looked as good in the scheme of the car, and besides I don't think my skills would let me make a seamless scenario out of it.

Then I started thinking about the eye brow and how that looked. It's more square and fits the scheme better so I came up with this:

http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae46/jdcoupe1969/IMG_4211_zpsd7b99ac7.jpg

http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae46/jdcoupe1969/IMG_4212_zps96fbe3ef.jpg


The question is will it clear the windshield? It is 5" in from the edge and 1 3/4" high closest to the windshield.

http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae46/jdcoupe1969/IMG_4213_zpsb0c6c546.jpg

Can those of you with a finished Coupe check if that will fit for clearance?

Thanks,

John

[kevin12973]

I like the first version alot. The squared second version, not so much. If I was doing a coupe I would love to use your first rounded dash mod!

[Vman7]

I like the rounded idea better. Kind of like the old corvette style.

[WIS89]

I too like the "eyebrow" design. It looks a little retro, but also pretty sleek! I think you could pull this off, and it would look great...

Regards,

Steve

[QSL]

We have been playing around with different ideas since we dont like the stock dash either. Good to see someone else doing the same.

[smithtlw]

I had seen your pictures of the rounded version previously and planned on copying as I too am looking to make it easier to see the gauges.

-Todd

[John Dol]

This is what I did to make room for the gauges.

http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae46/jdcoupe1969/dash001.jpg

John

[Fluge]

John

Find a hot rod shop with an English wheel and have them make it and weld it to your dash. I like your idea.

Marc

[John Dol]

Do you guys foresee any issue using steel sheet for the dash?

Thanks,

John

[CaptainCalf]

I like the eyebrow too and I'd say use whatever plate you like working, but with steel you have to deal with the added weight & rust...

[vnmsss]

Nice work, John. I am a fan of the "eyebrow" version as well. If memory serves correctly, I believe Carl Critz added a very nice eyebrow to the dash on his Coupe. I'll look, but perhaps someone here can help us find a link to it.

As an FYI (and this is probably more for those of us in the under 5'8" crowd), the "stock" steering shaft location in the Coupe places the shaft significantly higher in relation to the seat than in other cars I've driven, including the Challenge Series roadsters. It could be the placement in relation to the windshield, the hood, or a number of other factors, but it feels very different than other cars. My seat is on a slider, and we modified the chassis so that the seat lowers as it slides backward to better accomodate taller drivers, but even in my seat position (forward and closest to the steering wheel), I was looking "through" the steering wheel to see out of the windshield. I chose to lower the steering shaft by almost 1.5 inches in my new Coupe, which required notching the square tubing transversing the car along the bottom of the dash. Tom Coon, who is at least 3-5 inches taller than me, also felt the steering shaft was just way too high, and he did the same mod. Just some food for thought for us more vertically challenged people, and something folks may want to check early in their build.

Thanks again, John!! I love the innovation, and appreciate your sharing. :)

Karen

[jethro13]

John, I didn't see an answer to your clearance question on the box style. Measuring from the dash's edge and back to the windshield with the doughnut box (5" x 2", not 1.75) it may, or may not clear. It depends on how far you are going left from either the centerline of your steer shaft (mine is currently in it's stock location) or from the adjacent roll bar. It will be really close, as you move more left you get into more windshield, and it will not clear.

BTW, I prefer your C2 Corvette style idea over the box. I'm happy to measure again and cut the box to 1.75" if you give me the other distance.

[Hankl]

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w284/hankl_album/Carls%20Coupe/110-1005_IMG.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w284/hankl_album/Carls%20Coupe/Coupe10911059.jpg

Hank

[John Dol]

Jethro , thank you that tells the story.

Hank I had not thought about a rounded top with square sides. That might just be the answer to my dilemma. Back to the card board I go.
This is why these forums are irreplaceable tools for our builds! gotta love it.

Thanks,

John

[tirod]

As an FYI (and this is probably more for those of us in the under 5'8" crowd), the "stock" steering shaft location in the Coupe places the shaft significantly higher

Well, I certainly resemble that remark. It came to mind reading this the other day that the shaft mount could be reversed and put under the brace, not over it. Not having a kit, I kept mum. Thanks for confirming it's higher than "normal."

As for the gauges, I agree very much the wheel covers them up too much. Googling dashboards, I ran across a few, like the '59 Vette, that use eyebrows and cups as the motif. It confirmed one idea to simply section tubing or pipe segments as the gauge surrounds and have them angle into the dash appropriately to house them, while also elevating them. Being cheap, I was thinking electrical conduit or PVC.

What gauges to use, is, of course, another minefield of decisions.

[Vman7]

John, just an idea, ever thought of pretty much keeping the flat top and round the sides to match the curve of the gauges and round down the backside toward the windshield. If I get a chance to in the next few days, maybe I can draw something up for you. Big ? is how are you fabricating the gauge cluster, from what I have seen and read, sounds like you are doing it out of metal, if you would maybe consider fiberglass you can do pretty much what you want shape wise, just a thought :)

David

[John Dol]

V-man, if I'm pickin' up whatcha puttin' down it could look something like this.

http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae46/jdcoupe1969/newideadash002_zpsca8a4efe.jpg

http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae46/jdcoupe1969/newideadash003_zps5143c546.jpg

http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae46/jdcoupe1969/newideadash004_zps62c1e701.jpg

Let me know what you guys think.

John

[Vman7]

John, that's getting there :) now just curve the top down to the back. I'll take a couple of your pics, and see if I can do a mockup tonight.

[bwwooster]

That looks and should work a lot better than the stock arrangement!

One thing which could save you a lot of aggro in the future is to make the top of the dash removable to service the instruments and wiring.

[Vman7]

John, Here is a side/rear view of what I was talking about, mind you this quick and dirty...lol

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16189&d=1363489429
16189

[John Dol]

bwwooster, yeah that's what I was thinking too. Have to be able to get to the wiring after it's done.

Vman, I'm starting to think I may have to venture into fiberglass to make this happen.

John

[Vman7]

Vman, I'm starting to think I may have to venture into fiberglass to make this happen.

John

It will probably give you more freedom to get the desired look. Can build the mockup out of wood or foam.

[loeffler1]

John

What is wrong with the original. If it was good enough for Pete Brock, it's good enough for me. Don't want to offend but you asked for an opinion, but it looks like an old Nash Rambler dash to me. Just my 2 cents.

Bill

[John Dol]

Bill,

As stated up top, don't like the fact that you can't really see the gauges very well.
I know you are a purist though...

John

[QSL]

I agree the dash is one area of the car that really needs some work. In the original cars, it was more of just a place to hang gauges. The idea of using a 90deg bent piece of aluminum as a dash is not too appealing to me. Wait till you guys see what we have in mind. Its going to be a couple months probably, but we are having someone fabricate a metal dash with... shape!

[loeffler1]

John

Again not meaning to offend, I know you guys think outside the box, but at my age it's hard not to be a purist. Remember, I saw these babies race in the 60's as a young guy in my twenties!! And dreamt of owning one, but no one made replicas back then. So I had to make do with a 1964 Falcon "Sprint". Black with a white convertible top, small block 260 V8. God I loved that car.

[John Dol]

No offense taken. When is she going to be on the road Bill?
Any chance of 2 Coupes showing up in my driveway this Summer?

John

[loeffler1]

Yes I sure hope so John. I'm finishing odds and ends waiting for an antique oil truck to be finished and can slip in for final sanding and paint. I've been trying to bring the body to the upholstery shop to have the roof insulation and headliner installed before paint. Body guy says he prefers this to be done this way as he doesn't want the upholsterer to scratch the paint while doing his thing. He'll easily mask the headliner before paint. Then he'll coat the body interior with pick up truck bedliner also.