Auxiliary dash

[Paul1965]

Last year I made a crude auxiliary dash to house my USB ports and voltage gauge. This year I made a slightly better one out of some 1/8" sheet ABS, then installed the USB port and voltage gauge along with an Auber Instruments oil temp gauge. I left room on the far right to eventually mount a digital gear indicator, since I still keep looking for that 6th gear. I've since replaced the shiny screws for some black ones so it looks a bit better. I didn't want to cut holes in the getting harder to find side panels, and having everything mounted above the cluster keeps things at eye level. Next time I'll get some wider ABS so that it stretches from one side of the windshield to the other as I don't like seeing the gaps on the sides of the dash.

[FJmonkey]

Very cool, good looking aux dash. The earlier years don't have the same amount of room with a stock screen. I have thought of putting some extras in the same space. Now I am inspired even more. 

[cclase]

Paul,
That's cool!  Very slick solution.  I think it looks great!  Where did you source the abs?  Well done,

Chris

[Paul1965]

Thanks Monkey & Chris...

Chris, I found the ABS on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/KYDEX-Sheet-0-060-Thick-Calcutta/dp/B009YLIOV8?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00 It can be cut with a plastic cutter, jig saw or tin snips.

It was kind of a challenge to get things shaped correctly. First I pulled the windshield off and did a rough trace of the shape of the cluster bezel onto one sheet of ABS. Next I pulled the bezel off and traced its shape onto another sheet. Once I had them both trimmed up I used some epoxy to attach some right angle brackets, then mounted the face of the aux dash to the hood. I ran the wiring and put the windshield back on, using the front 2 screws of it to basically just wedge the aux dash into place. Even though I have a tinted windshield, you could still see the wiring, so the hood helps cover all of that up. It also helps provide support to keep everything in place. The door edge moulding helps hide my lousy cuts  

[FJmonkey]

I hope you have good luck with the epoxy, it is not compliant with most plastics. It will likely separate. If it does then some ABS weld will be in order...

[Paul1965]

I hope you have good luck with the epoxy, it is not compliant with most plastics. It will likely separate. If it does then some ABS weld will be in order...

I've had tremendous luck with this epoxy so I'm not too worried. In fact it's the same epoxy and ABS that's holding my front fender tabs together. When they broke last year I made some small ABS pieces and sandwiched the existing tabs between them. Once the epoxy was set I bolted the fender back on and it's better than new.

[FJmonkey]

I've had tremendous luck with this epoxy so I'm not too worried. In fact it's the same epoxy and ABS that's holding my front fender tabs together. When they broke last year I made some small ABS pieces and sandwiched the existing tabs between them. Once the epoxy was set I bolted the fender back on and it's better than new.

What epoxy are you using?

[Paul1965]

If you can live with an epoxy that isn't clear when it sets, I've had great success with this:

http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/13/6/epxy_qset_s/overview/Loctite-Epoxy-Quick-Set.htm

[Bones]

Looks great, I've had that same idea floating around in my head for quite a while but wasn't sure what to make the dash out of, 3mm alloy sheet or plastic, didn't even think of abs. Was even toying with the idea of analoge gauges so everything would match but I don't thing they make them that small, they would have to be about 30mm round to fit in the space.

I was going to make one up like Skymasters and Movenon have got but you still have to look down to see them, so the idea of a dash on top of the cluster sounded better.

Ive got my volt gauge on the triple tree, temp gauge in the right side panel which has cracked, and 12volt socket in the left side panel, so if I can score good side panels I will make something up similar.

[Pat Conlon]

Kudo's Paul....

Just when I think I'm done.....

I


Must


Stop


This


Madness!