So... after much research on the web, and finding some info on the Aussie sites, one can buy a "pod/console" that fits on top of the center air vents above the radio. This costs a few Aussie $ though. The Rand exchange rate makes this NOT appealing to me in the least!! I also don't like the Aussie console look, as it looks like a pimple on a horses ass, and it isn't going to work for me. I want a console that spans the full length of the current dash. Starting on the left and working right..... there is a useless indentation on the passenger side where the airbag would be ( I don't have a passenger air bag ), so I wanted to form a small open cubby hole there, and where the current dash rises to the air vents have space to fit my EGT gauge and a boost gauge or even my Vhf radio to free up space where it sits at the moment. It can then continue over the instrument cluster and down to the "A" pillar at the drivers side.
Now how the hell am I going to make it......
... 
Many years ago I used to DJ ( Mobile Discos ), yes with Vinyl..... before CD's came into play. Myself with 2 other mates, were often tinkering with speaker boxes and odds and ends, and often had to use a little expanding foam ( I think it was called "Sista").... anyhow, I was thinking ( yeah scary thought ), this stuff would set hard enough to be sanded and painted !!!My proposal on how to do this...... I'm going to get some thick plastic sheeting and lay it down on the dash. Then do the same with the windscreen and up the A pillars to basically create a bathtub. This will give me the basic shape of the contours of the dashboard. Once set I will simply ( hopefully ) lift the set foam form out the Patrol and then cut and sand away what I don't want, and cut out cavities for the various gauges, and of course ensure there is space behind to allow air to move for the windscreen defrost.
Then once the desired shape has been achieved, the next issue would be "what do I cover this with?". I would love to get a piece of grey suede leather and mould it to the contours of the foam console. However here is my problem. How the heck do I get suede to form over this?? The other option would be to use a vinyl , but again my issue or concern is the reflection on the windscreen, but know the moulding will go a lot easier over the contours with a heatgun and genkem adheasive, but still tricky none the less. Any ideas on this would be welcome. Also where does one even buy grey suede leather??
Fixing the new console onto the dash will have to be with some holes drilled into the dash with a nut and bolt with big washers. It doesn't have to be tight but must just hold firm.
Any suggestions or advice will be welcome....
