Custom Drift Dashes Using Sheet Metal

Dashes may also be customized in many of ways as part of a complete custom interior.

Custom drift dashes using sheet metal.

The traditional method is to heat a small area of the stretched metal an area roughly between dime and nickel size with an oxyacetylene torch to red hot. Chevrolet dash panel 51 52 chevy car billet aluminum polished 2 hole large 5 with shift hole cover billet aluminum polished for two 5 inch gauges. Fortunately there are companies from which auto trimmers can order custom fiberglass dashboards. Create a raised edge in sheet metal that locks into the rolled edge of another piece.

I am using a patch panel for the outer skin and will be replacing the inner bottom as well. Chassisworks has tin kits that give you everything you need to go from the front firewall to the rear bumper. Replacement dash pads for popular restoration models such as corvette mustang camaro and most of the old muscle cars premolded reproduction dash pads are available to completely replace your old pad. There is not alot of information regarding sheet metal welding out there so this is worth its weight in gold.

These kits come in aluminum or steel and can be cut to fit most any chassis or subframe. Sheet metal hole flaring dies create flares around already cut holes in sheet metal up to 3 16 thick to make the edges stronger and more rigid. It is heated until a combination of its expansion and its being bounded by the unheated and unyielding metal that surrounds it causes it bulge up. Wanting the dash panel to be a solid mounting area for gauges switches and indicator lights alexander chose a sheet of 10 gauge steel to use as a base.

Also known as dimple dies. Most auto trimmers have the knowledge and skills to wrap a dashboard in leather but not many can create an entire custom dash from scratch. While auto upholstery is certainly a multi discipline trade few trimmers have the fiberglass and metal shaping expertise to tackle such a daunting task. I have started repair on the doors of my project.