Dash Makeover Worklog

[PRIVATEpastry 10+ year member]

Allright. Driving home from school today, I got an idea. My head unit has been sitting there in my dash forever with the big gaping hole underneath it thanks to the stock double din HU. I said, "Enough of this, I'm doing something about it!"

So I decided to fiberglass a pocket in there. I'm going to be bondo-ing and re-painting the rest of the panel and the panel that covers the shift knob, too.

Before:

Taken apart:

I'm making the pocket out of 1/4" MDF wood. Its external dimensions are 7"x6"x2 3/4".

I used staples to help me hold it together until the wood glue dries.

And this is the stage that I'm at now. I just put clamps on it, and I'm going to let it set up for a while.

I'll be updating this thread often, so don't forget to check back! I'm just as interested in the outcome as you are, so this should be fun. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Click to read more...

 

[PRIVATEpastry 10+ year member]

Allright, here we go. I got the box in the dash for a test fit. Perfect fit.

Here it is with everything taped off, getting ready for the glass:

And we got the glass on and drying. It was a pretty small project, only took me about 30-45 minutes for the glassing.

Here's the back after I took it out and glassed it:

And here we are with about 30 minutes of sanding:

I'm going to try and get most of the sanding done tonight so I can at least get a rough model done to put in my car for tomorrow.

 

[Worlddre 5,000+ posts]

looks darn good man

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

they sell pockets.

but that ones more custom. you should have it do secret things...

 

[SAG3 5,000+ posts]

fast

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

looks nice so far.

why put wood on something that tends to get HOT?

 

[DaGh0st 5,000+ posts]

looks good bro.

I think i would have made a switch pannel tho

 

[PRIVATEpastry 10+ year member]

they sell pockets.
but that ones more custom. you should have it do secret things...

Haha, I know they sell them, but the ones that they sell have enough room to fit something no bigger than your garage door opener. This will fit 4-5 cds or a cd wallet.

looks nice so far.

why put wood on something that tends to get HOT?

Thanks. I did that because I'm stupid. I should probably make some air vents or something, eh?

looks good bro.
I think i would have made a switch pannel tho

A switch panel for what? I don't have any switches... lol. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

 

[DaGh0st 5,000+ posts]

i have them for all my amps and fog lights/neons or wheatever your little hart desires

 

[PRIVATEpastry 10+ year member]

i have them for all my amps and fog lights/neons or wheatever your little hart desires

Ah, well I got a little pop-out in the panel that covers the shift knob for that if I ever decide to get some switches... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

Not to shabby. Keep up the good work fellow Indians fan. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[PRIVATEpastry 10+ year member]

Allright, on my way home from work tonight, I stopped in at Home Depot, which is probably the best store ever created. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

I was browsing in the paint section, and I found some pretty cool shit. I couldn't pass up the metallic black paint. I bought a black semi-gloss for the base coat, the metallic black for the pizzaz, and a clear coat lacquer for the top coat.

Here's a test on a scrap piece of wood, no primer (metallic on left, black on right, both with a coat of clear over top):

It looks so much better in person. And keep in mind, this is a scrap piece of wood - no sanding, no primer.

 

[PRIVATEpastry 10+ year member]

I didn't have much time today, I had to work again. I did get the bondo on and some sanding done. Here's a pic of the bondo after I put it on:

 

[PRIVATEpastry 10+ year member]

Sorry for the long wait, fellas. I've been workin like mad. I thought about what DBfan said about the HU getting hot and I jigged the top of the pocket off. It didn't change the look at all once installed, the trim ring covered it up anyways. I also got a lot of sanding done today. Here's a pic:

 

[DaGh0st 5,000+ posts]

looking good.