Bling to the dash
 

I would like to add bling to the dash. Maybe nwe guages but what about the area behind the guages(mounting plate) I was thinking maybe carbon fiber either the real stuff or the vinyl stuff. any thoughts? other ideas?
http://shutter14.pictures.aol.com/da...lazsw20300.jpg

their are companies that produce simulated carbon fiber panels that come in many colors.
if you have graphics you may consider having new panels made and simulating the outside graphics onto your new dasjh panels.
or simply power coat color of choice a little pinstriping or slight air brushing along with some hand lettering to give a little touch of sometin sometin and your done.
maybe add a couple off indicator lights for the electronic circuits.

Real carbon fiber panels are very $$$. I went with a piece of panel board from Lowe's. Used my original dash piece as a template to cut the new one. I then fiberglassed the panel board to deal with water/moisture that could hurt it. I then covered it with carbon fiber sheeting. The finished product turned out awesome and I had about $100 into the whole project minus a new GPS mph gauge.

Before....

http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/2...e001vc9.th.jpg

During

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/2...dashqz0.th.jpg

After

http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/7...sh90ha7.th.jpg

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8...orocoi4.th.jpg

$$$$carbon fiber
 

I did mine in carbon. $225 for a 2' x 2' piece. Came out ok for a amatuer.

Did mine with polished aluminum....I intend on steel wooling it this winter....it was a bit shinier then I expected :)

http://michiganspeed.com/dreamer1q/Liberator/dash/1.jpg

Nice Job:cool-smiley-027:

Looks nice, but I see a problem.

The spedo only goes to 80MPH:D

I had the same gauges and shifter in my old '88 Baja. I bought a new glove box, steering hub, gauges and bezels from Dana Marine Products. Then, I fabbed the aluminum dash plates and had Dana powdercoat to match. The shifter is a new Teleflex CH1700.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../Baja/dash.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ja/box_old.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ja/dash2-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...a/newdash2.jpg

All of you guys did a very nice job. They all look great!

If you wanted billet aluminum panels, you can send us yours and we can replicate them, so they're an exact fit. We can also supply you with any accesories that you may want.

Just from looking at your pictures, I'd suggest, billet panels powdercoated burgundy with Autometer Monster Platinum/Chrome gauges, new Carling switches intergrated into the lower RH panel (we will laser the wording directly on the panels), new billet trim switch to replace your side mount tab switch, a new DMP side mount shifter - Burgundy base, platinum handles, then lastly a new burgundy steering hub with a platinum rage wheel.

That would one hell of a before and after picture.

I like it. Thanks for the ideas guys.

Also dana marine tell me what kind of $ were are talking? I am going to have the entire boat revinyled in the spring and so the dash may still be looking very 80's and so thats what gave me the idea.

Dana do you havde opics of any of this as an example even? I cant picture and am not sure of what you are talking about when you say billet alum panels.

Btw I would love to get rid if the side mount trim levers. My hand doesnt want to turn that way to adjust them.

Also I the switch to trim the drive up somtimes works intermittently and I think it is in the switch not the motor so replacing the shifter would be good.