| Author | Message | ||
| JackW
Rating: N/A |
Hello, Looking for some input from those of you that have installed custom fiberglass dashes. What do you like about it, what could be different, etc. Looking to install one, and will likely modify it to suit my needs. | ||
| Bill moldenhauer (Hotrodbill)
Rating: N/A |
I am in the process of installing mine now I had to remove the door handle and micro switch for solenoid and had to cut away some of the old dash support(just the metal that was spot welded on to hold the old pod) also had to relocate the headlight,clearance light and hazard light switches it fits in real well but would like to find a smaller steering wheel as it is close at the top right now it is at the upholstery shop getting covered in leather with oak inserts the mock up went well and i look forward to finishing this part next week end | ||
| H3 (Ace)
Rating: N/A |
I installed on in my Eagle and I though I liked the finish product, I hated installing it. It didn't fit and there was no room to attach it to anything. NO it wasn't rusted away. There wasn't any lip or flange molded on to it, so it kid of just sat there! I had to make my own inserts for gauges and I used black Kydex which looked good against the off white painted dash. I had the wrap around style and would never do it agin with a standard trans as it got in the way of entering and exiting the drivers seat! It was real close to the shifter! Ace | ||
| Rob King
Rating: N/A |
Hi Guys Is there any other provider for this service beside Custom Instrument Panel? They have very nice looking product but is really expensive. Has anyone done "custom modification of the existing factory dash" and if so would you be willing to "walk a non-fiberglass expert" through the process. Thanks for the info Rob | ||
| Macgyver (91flyer)
Rating: N/A |
When I eventually get around to it.... ;) I plan on making my own dashboard system. Mine will extend up on both sides to house small video monitors, plus a variety of other monitors to the left and right lower sections utilizing touchscreens... More like a glass cockpit than a dashboard... It'll probably end up just being a dream that never gets implemented, but... For the moment... that's the dream.  -Mac | ||
| Ron Walker (Prevost82)
Rating: N/A |
I went a little different route. I install a dash out of a International NavStar and love it. It was a lot of work but was well worth it in the end. If I knew how to upload a picture of the installed dash I would. Ron | ||
| CoryDaneRTS Rating: N/A |
I would suggest you watch OVERHAULIN' and pay particular attention to the audio guys when they custom mold the speaker boxes with cloth stretched over a mold then apply fiberglas resin. You could make your mold any shape you can imagine and make a fiberglas cast. I talked to someone who worked with fiberglas for custom shapes, he said the secret is to make your shape, and sometimes they used foam for form and then covered with packing tape, then wax, wax wax so when you pull it off, it will separate. This looks simple as heck on tv, so you or I would take a few days, but the procedure is simple and if you use the stretched material mold method, it can really look good. This, by far, would be the cheapest way and you would be most happy with the result. cd | ||
| Vin (Billybonz)
Rating: N/A |
I bought a book titled "The Fiberglass Repair and Construction Handbook" ISBN 0-8306-2779-0 Check it out at amazon.com. Bones | ||
| Jim Stacy
Rating: N/A |
4104 w/6V92/V730 I used a dash from R & M. Used 1/4" oak plywood as panels. Three panels total. Put pertinent gauges (speedo w/odom, tach w/hour meter, air pressure, turbo boost, oil pressure, engine temp, trans temp, engine oil temp, diesel fuel) in right side where they are not blocked by steering wheel or driver's arms. Other panels held warning lights, trip meter, air suspension level controls, altimeter, dash light dimmer, mirror controls. electric wiper switch, Propane and gasoline fuel gauges, and ignition switch. Electrical switches, Stone Bennet shifter and air park valve are at drivers left side. Each panel connected by 18" harness with 12 conductor Amphenol connectors. Panel can be tipped out for service or unplugged and removed for serious service. All circuits have hard wired, dedicated ground wires. Slightly smaller steering wheel and removal of stick shift lever gives driver access to seat. HTH. Jim Stacy | ||
| Ron Walker (Prevost82)
Rating: N/A |
Test upload of dash  | ||
| JackW
Rating: N/A |
Thanks Ron! That looks GREAT! I was checking the Navistar truck site yesterday, and there are alot of different models. Do you happen to know what model your dash is from? | ||
| Ron Walker (Prevost82)
Rating: N/A |
It was a 96 NaviStar 9200. I got the dash /w gauges, wiring harness /w the breaker panel (fuse panel), elec. wiper motor and defrost blower for $200 and the tilt / telescopic steering column and air horns for $300 out of the same truck. This is not easy to do...it's an electronic dash. I had rewired the bus to 12v...that's easy, I wanted to get rid of the 24v anyway. Then I had to rewire the dash for a mechanical engine, the truck had an M11 in it, so the dash talked to the EMC to get it's readings for the gauges. It also cost me about $450 for all the mechanical senders for the engine...the dash is very fussy on the senders...they have to be matched with the dash. The oil sender was from Cat and at a Cat price, the rest wasn't bad for price. If you go this route you have to get a mid 90's dash when they were still putting in mechanical engines as well as electronic ones, in these trucks. Otherwise they don't have the pin-outs, on the back of the dash, for a mechanical engine. You also have to cut the glove box off the right side of the dash and refab a new bus dash for it to fit in. Yes it looks great and has a gauge for every mechanical component in the drive train, and then some (14 gauges plus the tack & speedo) as well as warning buzzes and flashing lights that work in conjunction with each gauge when an over temp arises. But it one heck of alot a work... Ron Ron | ||
| JackW
Rating: N/A |
Thanks Ron, If I go this route, do you have wiring diagrams, and other info you could share? The modification of the dash will not deter me. Again, thank you for the info. Jack | ||
| CoryDaneRTS Rating: N/A |
Ron how did you get the picture to come up on the page? curious-cd | ||
| Ron Walker (Prevost82)
Rating: N/A |
Hi Cory..there's the link to a disscussion to upload a picture http://www.busnut.com/bbs/messages/11/9601.html?1111116755 You have to type in: \ image{my picture} in your post. Then hit post and it will prompt you to upload a picture and replace my picture....it a little different way of doing it than what I am use to. Jack...I will give info on how and what I did. You will have to buy the book from International for the dash and wiring schematics, you will also need an wiring schematic for your bus. I would look for a mid 90's wrecked truck, that way you can get all the compontents that you need to complete the task. I would also get the tilt / telescopic steering column. Ron | ||
| Ian Giffin (Admin)
Rating: N/A |
Hi Cory, If you don't figure out the above instruction, send any picture to me, write your message and let me know which thread the picture goes in. I'll put it into your message. Ian www.busnut.com |