waterboy222

Hey everybody... Im sure this thread will end up crazy long but I have a few questions before I tear into my complete dash over haul...

I will try to find a picture in a little bit to elaborate on what im trying to do..


Current setup is a 3 layer dash. The first level is closest to the steering wheel. Black plastic panels faded terribly. The first level has all switches on it. Half the switches dont work.

The second level is set back about 4'' away from the first level. It has all the pressure and temp gauges on it..

the third level runs from port to starboard across the entire dash. In front of the driver is the speedo, tachs and system lights. In the center of the dash above the door opening is the enclosed stereo, hour meters, ashtray and clock.

As you can see, the panels are in horrible shape, half the corners are broken off and they are faded terribly.

I want to have some aluminum panels made and powder coated yellow with a black handpainted pinstripe all the way around the edge of all 3 panels and SUNSATION scrolled in just below where the stereo sits now and their "World Champion Offshore Boats" graphic in place of the stereo.

Im trying to find rocker switches with gaurds over them that are in yellow carbon fiber but CAN NOT FIND ANY!!

I know Ill probably lose the system lights that show what lights are on and what pumps are running around an engraved outline of the boat. Id like to keep it but I think itd be too much work tracking down why only half of them work.

Are all these gauges simply cut and paste? Can i just mark the leads when I pull the dash and plug them into the back of the new gauges or is it more complicated than that? The gauges im trying to order have yellow rims and yellow angled bezels.

I want ALL the gauges on the upper level of the dash and overflowing onto the passenger side but angled towards the driver.. So, on some of these Ill have to splice longer wires in, but what about sending units and all that, is it going to affect them?

Ill be moving the stereo to inside the cabin since we use the remote to run it anyways unless i can find a really slick looking cover for it. I thought about scrapping the compass but i dont want to worry with filling the hole left behind..

Has anyone done these kind of projects? is this as simple as it seems to me or am i over-simplifying it? I dont want to get into a project thats over my head but cant really afford to take it to anyone to have this work done..

any help is appreciated!

waterboy222

[img=http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6500/dscn0137rq2.jpg]
try this
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6500/dscn0137rq2.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a><br/>

Steve_H

couple of suggestions:

go to radio shack and buy some wire labels instead of using masking tape. cut the wires close to the old gauge and label both ends 1 - 1 etc.

make a sketch/drawing of each panel and dimension everything. give that to someone with a cad system and have them draw it to scale and create DXF files so the panels can easily be programed for a laser cutting. pay someone to cut them for you. if your not sure about the layout you want make one out of paper and lay it on your dash.

if you really want the engraving you can probably get sunsation to handle that for you or it could also be recreated out of vinyl. so can any other labels you want on the dash. i would suggest you clear coat the panel after installing the labels.

do these panels have a curve/bow when installed? powder may not like being bowed! also, if they are bowed when installed i would use a light gauge aluminum. .050 or .063

keep it simple and good luck

waterboy222

the main dashboard does have a bow to it.. i thought about using plexi but not sure how itd handle the paint.. Maybe I should just have the aluminum painted?

Steve_H

the one i made is painted aluminum.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=153866

also PM Pantera28-650HP here on OSO. he can give you good pricing on gauges/bezels.

waterboy222

thanks steve! Where did you find those switches, thats exactly what im looking for but in yellow carbon fiber.. also, did you replace your compass with your speedo or what? it looks to be heavily bezeled.. i like the background on your dash, awesome idea!

Steve_H

yellow carbon fiber covers
http://www.gcustoms.com/product_info...ducts_id/5682/

yes speedo is were compass used to me. had to made the bezel to cover the hole.

rchevelle71

iTrader: (1)

Keep it simple, well, this is quite elaborate actually for a 24 Pantera

waterboy222

damn, $20/each and its just the COVER! i was wanting to do all my switches but by the time i bought 25 of those and 25 switches ill be way over budget...thanks for the link though.. i may end up just doing a couple of them like you did and make them start switches..

paradigm shift

What gauge did you make these panel from? Came out very nice! I found that thread before but I did not know you made the panels. Thanks