So my dash is annoying me. I'm pretty sure by taking a couple quick looks that I need to remove the dash anyways to change my heater core. And since I really need MORE ROOM on it than is currently offered for guages and radios and what not, well suppose I want more room, rather than need it. Soooo. My plan is to make a completely new dashboard. Time to fire up the welder this weekend. Question is this, anyone have any pictures of custom dashboards in our trucks? I have a vaque (sp?) idea of what I want, but just interested in seeing what others have come up with before I start.

Another thing. I've seen a couple trucks with the black face guages instead of the silver face and I really like them, but now I have 800 bucks worth of Ultralites lol. Wish I could make up my mind

 

I toyed around with the dash area idea. I settled on the pod for now. I'd like to make an entire new dash..that would be cool. I always liked the look of the H1 dash with the center section that comes back and faces the driver. That would be cool Like this and this
Wouldn't mind having an automatic trans shifter in the center like that too.

Too bad we weren't in the same area. I'd give ya a hand building it. Be a cool project

Den

 

Oh definately,, I like the hummer dashes. And I want to integrate the center like that. I'll eventually replace the crappy caravan buckets I have in it now, and my center consol is a speaker box, that's gotta go, it's too intrusive. But I also have to make sure I can reach the 4wd shifter. The column shift annoys me too though so I'd love to have both side by side somehow.

 

Make it out of apoulstered wood like the hotrodders do? Seems like most of these hotrods I see built have 1/8 ply for the dash pannels covered with a thin pad then fabric or vinyl glued/tacked over the top.

I think I would keep the stock dash cap, but just redesign the guage cluster area. Put some engine turned aluminum plate in there would be cool by me.

 

Ive got to replace my dash as well. I may hold off though and see what you come up with.

 

There's also Starboard which is used a lot in the marine industry and comes in all different thicknesses. It's easy to work with and cut. And the XL series is real lite too.

Den

 

I'll probably use something like that starboard for the skin, but for the frame, I'm using 1/2" square tubing. I've already made a new guage panel. I took the stock one out about a year and a half ago, it's just made out of a plywood panel that's cut the shape of the hole and upholstered with black vinyl. It looked good but between me taking it in and out of the dash, it's already wearing out. It was a quicky job, this time I intend to take more time with it. And maybe make the passenger side easily removable for quick service of the heater core should it ever blow again.