Custom Dashboard Advice

thoffman610

Registered User
Hello Everyone-

I joined this forum a few years ago when i purchase my 1990 SC. The interior was in very poor shape due to sun and water damage from leaking door seals. My goal at that time was to turn it into a weekend track car and I began the process of removing every aspect of the interior possible including the dashboard foam. I am currently left with a dashboard shell. The project was put on hold for family reasons until just recently and I am looking for advice for where to start on installing an aftermarket dashboard in this car.

I am looking for a very basic dashboard design and have tried searching both the forums and online and have found little help for turning this car into a track car inspired interior. Does anyone have any advice on materials for a dash, potential mounting materials, etc? The top picture is the way my car currently sits. The bottom is an example of the style of dash I am using as inspiration.

IMG_0313.JPG

interior-3.jpg
 
If you want a bare racecar dash like that, just remove your dash entirely and fabricate something from scratch.
 
Exactly. Brake some sheetmetal, create a tube frame for the bottom of it (or at least flange it), and stick it in there.
 
Nascar 'bird:

simeone-museum-bill-elliott-nascar-07.jpg


Of course these days, what with GPS speedos and digital panels, something like this might make things easier:

hly-553-106_xl.jpg


Check out Summit for digital dashes - they sell have kits so you can have it your way: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/izl-dp10003b/overview/
 
Cool ! Like the smartwatch app for start/lock on the 2018 Fords. Don't have either but nice idea.
Upcoming road trip so went with this one for the Freestar van. Most are shipped from China. Don't have time for that.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/182746991240

Creighton
 
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There are definitely some great looking ideas here that I like. The Nascar dash posted by KMT in particular is very clean looking and seems fairly straight forward. Do you have any links to how they did the process?

I also have a spare dash that I pulled from a 94 T-bird that was a donor car for some random parts my car needed. I just absolutely despise the green color of it so I haven't been to serious about putting that in unless I have issues with custom dash design.

One other question I do have is based on Racecougar and KMT's post about minimal/ no dash. I was under the impression that the dashboard in the tbird offered necessary stability in the front part of the car. Is this not the case?
 
The Nascar dash posted by KMT in particular is very clean looking and seems fairly straight forward. Do you have any links to how they did the process?

Fabrication 101. Sheetmetal, bender, hole saws. Mock it up in cardboard first. That dash was from one of Bill Elliott's Thunderbirds, late 88/89, I think.

Notice the gauge panel in that photo is flat, with the ends turned up. Helps keep the panel from flexing, and provides handles for service, repair. Nice touch.

This is another Nascar Thunderbird I spotted at a local track:
View attachment 68278
The ribs in the horizontal surface inside the windshield add rigidity. The angled/rolled edge facing the driver adds strength and safety.

View attachment 68279

Be sure to search previous threads - example: http://www.sccoa.com/forums/showthread.php?102344-Pics-of-my-custom-dash-in-progress&highlight=dash
 
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