Hi all just finished the instructions for building the dash that I have in my car....



It originally came from a standard pattern that i got off the internet ....
http://www.minifinity.com/modules.php?o ... d=interior

Specifically this one -
http://www.minifinity.com/modules.php?o ... _dashboard

Make it out of 3-5 mm craftwood first to te exact measurements as the plan and then push into the space between the top and bottom dash rail. You will then be able to work out from this thinner piece of material whether you need to make the face bigger or smaller at certain points along the dash. (If you can use a linisher to sand the long straight edges then it will be easier to adjust sizes).

Trace this thinner piece onto a thicker piece of craftwood and cut/linish to size (taking into consideration the adjustments that you need to make from your adjustment measurements).



This will get you the main face of your dash (I will call this the Main Face). Work out where your gauges fit (I used the standard position) and cut a hole just big enough into this main face of the dash to take the outside of the gauges (at a slight angle) - if you can get hold of a Dremel to help do this - it helps beautifully. (I bought one specifically)

The raised section was a piece of the same thickness craftwood with the three holes cut into it (same size as the bezels to fit into) - the size of this needs to be 10-30mm bigger than the outer measurements of your gauges because the gauges need to fit in behind this panel. (I will call this the Gauge Panel).

Now the Gauge Panel needs to sit at (i think) a 22 degree angle (can't remember whether it was 22 or 11 - but in hindsight i would make it 22) to the Main Face. Laminate 3 pieces of craftwood together just a little bigger than the Gauge Panel - sand on the top edge of this gauge bevel (I will now call Gauge Bevel) back to nothing and the bottom edge just leave the thickness of the laminated material. The inside of the Gauge Bevel needs to now surround the gauges - use a jigsaw/Dremel to carve the guts of it out so it is just a thin walled bevel. Sand outside the Gauge Bevel to be the same size as the Gauge Panel and the inside of the Gauge Bevel to go around your gauges (remembering gauges wil sit on an angle). The walls of the Gauge Bevel may become very thin....



Glue the Gauge Panel to the Gauge Bevel and then Glue the Gauge Bevel to the Main Face (PVA - Aquadhere) - Finish off by glueing in (Araldite) some chrome painted bezels and cut a hole in the left hand side of the Main Face and fit a glove box lid. Paint in your desired color scheme - you may want to cover in vinyl (Goto Spotlight - heaps cheaper than an upholsterer)

Fitting the gauges behind the Main face I did with L shaped bent sheet metal strips connected to the standard fitting screws and Araldited to the back of the Main Face. (Note if you have three gauges use insulation tape to hold the tacho to the side of the centre gauge).

At this point you could probably justify a swanky new MP3 player

Fitting I used 20mm by 3mm U shaped lengths of mild steel that hugged the back of the top and bottom dash pads and 2 bolts per U to hold and pull in the Main Face - make sure you use wing nuts on the back of these bolts to make it easier to remove....

Hope this helps..... I will post some pics later tonight..... POSTED
Cheers Gerard

Pictures added

yeh, so i started making my dash a week or maybe 2 ago... yeh.... i got really pissed off really quick lol i am a very impatient very short tempered person
someone i have on my msn contacts sent me to minifinity to get the diy dash plans, and i made a plan on cardboard that is the rigt size, but the fact that i dont have upper and lower dash pads kinda stops me in my tracks grrr
in the plans on that site, they need to have done it for the right-hand side and measured out where you need to cut space for gauges. then they can make a 3g plan and a 2g plan... dangit now i have to do the work.... bugger
hey gerard, what measurements di you use? how far up (from the lower edge) and how far down (from the upper edge). dont worry bout how far in and how wide the hole you cut (in the main face) was cos you needed a 3g and i need a 2g.... but yerr...

e out

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Erin

mate i will check it for you this afternoon/tonight
cheers Gerard

looks good. I was wondering if you made the boxes for the speakers yourself? do you have the plans for them or did you buy them from somewhere? Ive seen similar ones at Autobarn but there around $120 a pair.

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Mini Clubman, 1.3i, air con, 12" mags, pioneer sound system.

Last time I went there they told me they don't stock it

Nice job on the dash, certainly one of the better ones i've seen.

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Metal to burn, sparks to fly...

thanks metalfab and snowie

speaker pods are my daydream - see pics close up on this page.....
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic ... c&start=15

This is how they started off before they got a coating of vinyl
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic ... highlight=
2 tear drops one bigger than the other....for the base
a couple of wedges/spacers between them .... to give angles
a thin piece of card to stop bog going inside
and a 1kg tin of car bog to fill the gap .....
a tonne of sandpaper and sanding block to get smooth and level

as for vinyl - it cost me $17 a metre from their Loganholme store ..... postage would probably not cost that much if you need me to grab you some ......

also thanks too
My workshop class who gave me a hand between their projects.... we thort about mass producing them and selling them for just over half autobarns prices....
but they would have to be built as per the persons speakers.....

i'll buy a dash if you wanna make me one

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looks great mate.... well done

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*Reasonable pricing
*I come to you..
Jay: 0431404607

Whats doing this weekend gerard?
I feel the need to make me a new dash

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if you do

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If Gereard agrees we could knock up a couple at his house in one day.

Followed buy a quick spin somewhere maybe?

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Guys it is easier to make them up at work - I will see what it involves to get use of the facilities at work on the weekend - will chat with my boss tomorrow I think I am free on saturday

If and it's probably a big if i could finally finish the back section. In time for the muster too


If it needs beer to get the wheels moving i'm happy to supply

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