Well, well, well..... I believe after many many months.... ok ok, yes years .... I have completed my project !!!
I have built up a 3 part mold to make a dash console that can take either 5 round gauges, or EGT and 4 round gauges, or for that matter any configuration you wish to have. One can even fix your GPS up against it to keep it out of the direct sun, which will definitively help preserve the battery lifespan of the unit.
I am really chuffed at the way it came out. I have had it upholstered with thin sponge in between, but in a light grey to match the door and centre console grey. This was due to me telling the upholsterer that even though I have taken 2 years to do this, he only has one day.....haha ( I'm a kind sole )..... I will hopefully get a colour as near as dammit is to swearing to the colour of the dash.
I fitted up the gauges I had laying around and then fitted and connected my EGT gauge and Boost Gauge, re-routing the wires and pipes, as I was leaving that night for Cape Town.
Now yeah I know I have blonde hair, and sometimes I use it to my advantage..... well I'm going to use it now again..... cause I stuffed up my planning a bit whilst rushing to get it finished. I cut the holes for my EGT and Boost gauge on the left side and not on the right hand side like I wanted. So when I got back from Cape Town, I set out to make a cover plate, from some really nice brushed aluminium that is sandwiched between some plastic. I did my measurements and placing of the gauges ( the correct way around) and started cutting it out with the hole saw. This went well until the plastic got hot and expanded and messed up the finish on the very last hole that I cut ... well I was just a slight bit irritated by this slight predicament I had placed before me, and decided well stuff it. I will remake another one when I have calmed down to a mild panic.
You will probably see it on the photos that I will post only tomorrow, as i left my phone cable at home..... and I want to keep you guys in suspenders.... I mean suspence for a little while longer. I mean what will one extra day make ....
I am going to take mine to the dude that did the upholstery, to sort out a few little issues I have, but due to me rushing him to get it completed, he did say to me that I must bring it back so he can make it a lot neater to get a better fit onto the top of the dash.
I have stuck mine down with double sided tape, and also not even a lot of it as I knew I was going to pull it of on my return to Jhb. We also traveled from CT, to Sutherland and then on some dusty corrugated sand roads from there to Loxton, and many other tiny towns, until getting back onto some tar road. The Dash pod didn't move a millimeter. It worked like a dream. The gauges are perfectly in line of sight, the height of the dash pod doesn't restrict either driver or passenger view. It also doesn't interfere with the defrost function vents for the windscreen.
I am going to make up a few of these consoles, with the upholstery but without the brushed aluminium cover plate, to allow whom ever to set up whatever gauges, switches, USB's etyx that they want to connect up. You could even set up a 2 way radio in there if you wanted.
As said I'll post the pics tomorrow !!
