Dash Panel

I see that a few people have remade the plastic piece on the dash that the indicator lights go into. I was wondering if any of you have a CAD file for it? I'd like to bring it to a local shop and get one of these made out of billet on their CNC machine.

YooperSully wrote: I'd like to bring it to a local shop and get one of these made out of billet on their CNC machine.

Roger,
Maybe you should have the machine shop start with some heavier gauge sheet rather than a billet. Then they won't need to machine so much and you won't need to deal with the machining marks left on the face.

Definition of a "billet": A section of metal used for rolling into bars, rods and sections."

Some nice 8 gauge (.128") would be stiff enough and still give you room for the lettering. You could even get it with a pre "brushed" finish.

The aftermarket world started to use the term "billet" when they started to CNC machine complicated heavy parts from solid blocks rather than having them cast first.

A good analogy in carpentry terms would be you starting with a 4x4 to make 1/4" dividers for a kitchen drawer.

Yooper, I (well, my brother and I) created the original file that lewy is referring to. I have it in pdf and ai. I'll have to find it though, been a while since I used it (if lewy has the pdf, he can just email it). I prefer the pdf since it cannot be modified. I only ask that its for personal use only and not for commercial use (ie, don't make a bunch and start selling for a profit). I took the file to a local acrylic shop and had it made out of 3/16 black plex. They had no problem using the pdf file.

They have the 88 dash but not the 87. It is the same. Shape but has a different layout.

Nice to come back from work and see good news on this issue. Bremsen, my intentions were to make this for my personal use. Didn't really think they'd fly here since everyone here is pretty historically correct. I was just thinking of a solution that would be durable and spruce up my dash a little. I really wanted to order one from whitelake until I seen the price. I thought that with the file I'd be able to get one punched out for free. I doubt two or more would be free, just looking to use up a favor. But if it turned out as sweet as I dream it to be than I could see a demand for such a part. How would that be dealt with? I'm not looking for any profit, but favors and materials from the shop don't come for free. And I'm not to good at telling people no, to something that myself, I am passionate for. My most outlandish thought was to see what size sheets they have and purchase a sheet and make as many as I can at once and be done and out of their hair. But I'd be happy with some scrap and one for myself. Also if I'm out of favors up there I'd have to pay for mine, so I figured that with the file it would be less on the dash and more for other stuff. I'd also have them cut out for my stereo and I doubt that others would want this.

Yooper, please don't take it the wrong way. If you have a few guys go in together to make a handful and distribute the cost across 4-5, I don't have a problem with that either. I just don't want someone using my file to go into production (like the decals, labels, etc on here).

The good thing about the *.ai file is that you can custom make it to your specs. I left the breaker side mostly original (except changing ACC 1 to 'Stereo') and as you can see in the picture, re-configured the other side to fit the remote, ignition, etc.


*note, pic was my first dash which the company screwed up and made it out of 1/8 and not 3/8 (hence the wavy look).

sent you an e-mail with a few files of a panel I drew up last year I tried to get keith to put them up in the reference section but no luck. I cut my panel out on a laser cutter and it turned out really nice till I tried to squeeze the radio in a cracked it so I'm going to make another, this time i think I'm going to use teak.

Roger,
I'll have to locate the file. Had a HD crash since I used it so I'll have to so some searching through my backup. Should have it to you by the end of the weekend if thats OK.

-Ryan