22 replies to this topic

[Down&Out]

As iv said iv done a search but all the links and pictures are broken and gone. im wanting to make a custom dashboard out of fibreglass but i havnt a clue how.. can anyone supply a guide?
thanks
jonathan

[Rogue Se7ens]

As iv said iv done a search but all the links and pictures are broken and gone. im wanting to make a custom dashboard out of fibreglass but i havnt a clue how.. can anyone supply a guide?
thanks
jonathan

What are you wanting to accomplish? Something similar in shape to a stock dash or something more extreme with a lot of curves? There are a few ways to approach a project like this but it would be good it have a good idea of the end results you are hoping for. Do you have any pics of a style you like?

[Retro_10s]

Best way i've ever seen it done (albeit a touch messy) was on 'JetBLicks' thread.

He made a net/frame out of chicken wire and wood etc and then covered it in expanding foam. once the foam has hardened you can cut it about and chop it up and sand it into the the correct profile you're after. then you can fibreglass over the top of it.

[Down&Out]

ill be making a flat panel dash, so i may just be maing a top dash rail whick looks better than the normal one. and ill be having raised dials like a mustang has so i can see them better
the dash will be like this

and ill be having mustang style clocks like this

[MiNi2iNFiNiTi]

OMG look at the size of the handbrake leaver on the first pic!

[wakkoboi]

i bet it still wont stay on a hill without putting it in gear

[Down&Out]

lol we havnt tried

[Down&Out]

any other ideas anyone??

[mighty mini jack]

you could build it up with mdf and router/sand the edges/faces untill you get what you want and apply the fiberglass to make the dash or you could just larve it as mdf and paint/cover it.

Just a thought matey

[Down&Out]

noo but thanks for the idea...im gunna need to make a funny shaped top and bottom dash rail. i suppose i could use the expanding foam idea and fg over it to make it scemeless.. but just looking for other ideas too

[5MITHY]

is the first pic a mini?!?!

[Down&Out]

no thats an e type ill be hoping to make something like it though

[5MITHY]

i was gonna say like lol its a good inspiration to be honest, hope to see the finished result!!!

[Rogue Se7ens]

86-Mini-Chelsea, sorry I didn't check back earlier, but I like you dash idea, the picture gives a good basic design to shoot for. I would think you could approach this much in the same way as making a stock type mini dash; top rail, bottom rail, and flat panels in between. There are a couple ways something like this can be formed out of GRP. As someone else mentioned you can use foam, but I would go with flat panels of urethane foam if you can get it, or even styrofoam panels could work. If you are good at working with wood you can use MDF to form the shape. The thing with MDF is I would recommend forming the shape, painting it and then making a mold of it to form the final part, whereas with foam you could just glass over the foam and leave the foam in place without significant weight gains. Urethane foam works especially well for something like this because you can cut, and sand it to shape so easy, plus the resins won't hurt it (don't resin directly over styrofoam unless you use epoxy). If you can't find urethane foam you can go to a craft store and get those green blocks of foam people stick fake flowers into, it is basically the same thing.

So get some thin MDF and cut out the shape for the top rail and then glue the foam to it and start finishing the shape. Then apply a thin coat of resin and let it start to get tacky and lay some light glass fabric over it making sure to get it nice and tight into any corner and curve, stipple the glass it into the tacky resin and let harden. Then build up a couple more layers of fabric and go on to the bottom rail the same way. If you end up using the foam panels you can even do the center pieces in foam and add the glass on top. One advantage of using the foam here too would be that you can make indentations or glue some mdf in places before glassing, to add a little more character.

These are just some ideas and it is difficult to cover much detail so ask away and I am sure other and I can continue to give input.

[Down&Out]

that was a very good answer though just to clarify, if i was to make a peice of mdf shaped like the normal dash rail, and bolt it to where the dash rail goes, then foam and fibreglass over it would that work? or would i have to put some material over the foam and cover it in resin, then matting? thanks for your help