Danny Boy's Mk4 Build - Putting the project on hold for a while...

[John Ibele]

I think you'll like the stiffeners under the dash, they make for a much sturdier feel. Yours look good but with just a few more bends will be much stiffer. Yours will have a tendency to buckle when the dash is pushed on.

Here's a view of the same basic stiffener, but with some side bends added. To buckle the way your stiffeners will have a tendency to, this side portion would have to either have to collapse in compression, or crack open in tension ... much more force required to do that.



Untitled by John Ibele, on Flickr

I also, like others, did a simple bend at the end of the dash, and so far it looks like it will both look and fit just fine. It rests on the top of the 2x2 frame member, and tucks in behind the door hinge. I think it will look 'right' when the body is on, and the dash disappears under the body as it gets closer to the door. Looked for a picture in my gallery but couldn't fine one. Can take a photo and send tonight if you'd like ... just want to make sure your dash alignment is right, before you're further committed.

Barring any problem there, it looks like you're down the road with the twist and bend approach, and are happy with it; good deal.