[bgreen]

I gutted the stock dash so I could make better use of the available space inside the cab. Im going to retain the stock heater controls and ducting.

Im trying to design a dash that will be simple to fabricate, but still make the best use of the available space. I could use some more storage, especially if I pinch the bed. The reason im doing the dash right now is because I wanted to take care of some minor wiring issues. I wanted get rid of all the "temporary" wiring, and replace everything with a nice color coded wiring harnes, so to do that with plans to replace the dash would have been kinda pointless. Just figured Id do both at the same time.

Bent up the main dash peice, and made two supports.

Started on a new trans tunnel as well.

The lid for the storage is 1/8" 5052 Alum. Steel for above the tranny, in case the thing shells out behind the 513. And so I can form and weld it to the tubing. The trans tunnel will be 100% bolt on to the body. I would never be able to get my trans and t-cases out if I coudn't use my engine hoist to lower them to the ground.

 

[bgreen]

The front compartment will have some Machined Cup Holders, as suggested by AlaskaZJ. I was going to make it another storage compartment, but now I might insulate it, and fill it with ice for summer drink cooling

I formed the alum by hand with a mallet, and a peice of tubing I bent in the ProTools 105. Took a few hours to do both sides because the radius on the top doesnt mach the one on the bottom since they are not on the same plane.

Im going to cover the shifters just like the rest, but I wont do that for a while. I am going to come up with a new shifter design that will be easier to duplicate, possibly to sell, but mostly to gain more mechanical advantage over the poor shifting 205 t-case. The cover will be aluminum, with rubber seals of some sort.

The dash I had been planning on wasnt going to be hard enough to fabricate so I decided to do some multi plane bends. The old tube with the green line along it will be deleted since the new lower hoop will tie into the cab farther back towards the firewall.

Here is how the dash is fastened to the cab.

I used 14 ga sheet and cut out these tabs. Then drilled 1/4" bolt holes and welded nuts to the back side. I then transfered the hole pattern onto the cab, and drilled holes big enough that the nuts will fit through them. The plate is then welded to the cab... Basically a big nutcert with more purchase on the thin sheet metal the cab is constructed from.

 

[bgreen]

Starting to shape up.

The glove box is going to be about 2 times the volume of the original, and when you open it, the contents wont spill out on the floor like the stock ones do.

I still have to make the hinged lid for the glove box, sheet the drivers side, and make the top panel with louvers for the heater ducts. oh, and finish welding some of the tube work.

Stay tuned. The glove box lid is going to be SICK.

 

[BadDog]

Very nice as usual. Your tunnel is similar to mine, but much nicer. I've yet to finish my dash, every time I get close, something else brakes or cuts in ahead of it. One thing though, if you haven't already thought of it, try to put some sort shroud over the gages to cut down of glare and dust. I've seen some you could hardly read the gages after some dust settles and the sun gets low...

So, hurry up and finish this so I can steal some of your ideas and get motivated to finish mine! Looks like I'm going to have to redo my tunnel now too. LOL!

 

[spoolnaround]

how much further in the cab does your dash extend over stock? It looks like it comes into the passenger compartment quite a bit. It looks good, I espically like the trans tunnel. Keep us posted on your project.

 

[ohfck]

With the dash coming further towards the passenger it looks like it would be a good place to add a grab handle now. Don't want the passenger doing a face plant I have a cross bar on mine that attaches the roll bar on both sides through the cab and doubles as a grab bar.

 

[Pdaddy]

Take note, this is exactly the kinda shit the Chevy forum needs. Awesome work Bgreen thats sa-weeeeeeet! Damn I need a smaller die for my bender!

 

[BEAR]

Awesome write-up bgreen(as usual)!
Thanks for the great ideas.

Couple of questions:

Do you think the storage compartment above the tranny will get too hot?

And what are you connecting the alum to the tubes with? Are they rivits?

Looks good, cant wait to see the finished product!

 

[zakk]

your fabrication and attention to detail is ridiculous. i love it.

 

[Bubba Ray Boudreaux]

Strait up high dawg pimp'in going awn!!!!!!!

Outstanding work

 

[Frozen ZJ]

Looks really good. I like how you mounted your orbital for your steering. Nice work!

 

[bgreen]

Bad dog:

I hear you completely, the same shit happens to me all the time. Fortunately, I have reached a position near the top of my learning curve on how to drive this rig, and have been able to keep it together for several runs now. Hopefully I will add a bunch of HP this winter, and have to start learning again

Good call on the gauges, I will incorporate such a design into the panel.


Spoolnaround:

Thank you. The dash will hopefully end up much cooler than the trans tunnel, but hell, I kinda like them both.

The new dash sticks out 14" from the windshield, and a stock one sticks out about 12.5, so it only protrudes into your personal space about 1.5". There is actually more clearance where you need it, since the angle along the front of the dash somewhat matches the angle your shins are at when you are sitting in the seats. Im 6'4" and 260 lbs, and fit quite nicely, even with the xj bucket seats. (they make me sit toward the dash about 2" more than the stock bench did.) I'll have my helper take a pic of me sitting in it tomorrow if I remember


hofck:

I have thought about a handle bar or sorts, but Im not sure I want to add any more BS for anyone to smash their stuff into. I will prolly use something like this... (pic of the dash I just ripped out with an Arctic Cat Mountain Strap fastened to it)

 

[bgreen]

pdaddy:

Thank you. Im using a pro tools 1/2" pipe die, that will bend 240* with a 4" radius.

The diameter of 1/2" pipe is very close to 7/8" and is perfect for this kind of fab work. I hated to use sch 40 pipe for something like this, but its cheap, and readily available. Tubing in Alaska has to be special ordered, and is generally 2 to 4 times the cost of pipe. If I only did projects for myself, I would just order a ton of tubing and various tubing dies, but most of the locals want this kind of stuff made from materials that dont cost them an arm and a leg. All in all the dash doesnt weigh that much, and when its done I will get an exact weight for you guys.


Bear:

Thank you. I put alot of time into these write ups, and believe it or not, these writeups are the reason I can do this kind of stuff. When I started building this truck, I was just going to do a shackle flip and put 44" swampers on it. Now look at it A traction bar for the rear turned into a 4 link I just wanted to show everyone that they could do this stuff themselves, and that turned into a small business doing fab work, and custom machining.

I dont think the trans tunnel will get too hot, but if it does, I have some industrial strength insulation that can be secured to the bottom. My tranny runs very cool, but that may change when I tripple the HP


Zakk and bubba:

Thank you. As a machinist, its in my blood. I have to force myself to let it go as it is.


SandmanII:

I hate that mount, I only did it because I needed to get the valve mounted in a hurry. I wanted to have the truck running by a specific date, and didnt have time to build the mount like I wanted. Im not sure yet if I will re-do it right now, because once again, I am crunched for time and the current mount functions very well. Especially since it will be covered by a nice dash now, rather than being exposed like it was with the old stock dash.


Anyway. Going to finish sheeting the dash this weekend. Stay tuned.

 

[speedo]

Lookin' good.

Hey Brook, the dash is looking good. Its going to make the Freak a little more finished looking and definitely different from the last time I saw it. Keep up with the pictures.

Gus

 

[scoobydann]

very nice


gave me some real good ideas for mine.

 

[onetonwillysands10]

Brook,
Just happened to pop in over here and saw your post. Looking good as always..

 

[bgreen]

Gus, your definately right. The old dash was totally ghetto. Definately an eye sore, and IMHO detracted from the entire truck. The wiring was a mess, and the stock dash was completely hacked up. Completely discusting. :barf:

Todays Progress:
All the sheeting is done, save one section up against the windshield. Tomorrow I will work on mounting all the gauges, and Tach, along with a nice switch panel. For those wondering about leg room see pic 2...

 

[Starslope]

Wow, that looks very cool! But now you really oughta' replace those seats.

 

[bgreen]

Replace the seats!? Hell, those are a substantial upgrade from what I had, and I JUST put them in

I do need to get some seat covers though :flipoff2:

 

[SlamChops]

i found some nice neoprene seat covers on eBay for cheap. that dash looks sick dude! beautiful... i cant wait to see how you lay out all the gauges and what not. that tranny tunnel is super nice... :beer: