Dashboard up next;
There are 9x rivnuts to fix around the dashboard panel, with hindsight I should have fitted them before assembling the scuttle; however its not too bad putting them in now:
The dashboard fit is dependent on the scuttle & the steering column cowl, so next up was trimming down the stock Sierra cowl so it fits around the chassis tubes & still allows the column to adjust:
First step was a little wax polish on the dashboard to give some protection.
I'm going for factory layout on the dials with a stainless surround. The surround position dictated by the cutout on the scuttle panel, then I used the same curve to start taking out the section for the steering column at the bottom of the dash:
I'm going for factory layout on the dials with a stainless surround. The surround position dictated by the cutout on the scuttle panel, then I used the same curve to start taking out the section for the steering column at the bottom of the dash:
3-4 goes each time checking clearance; The large chunks of dash removed with the Dremel router bit, and then smoothing & working up to the required edge with a drum sander attachment. 15k rpm seems to work best, eye and breathing protection a must!
Pretty good:
The steering column cowl is just temporarily in place to locate the dash, it will come off in due course to finish the column wiring:
Nose in the background - I need to get under the car for its final fixing bolts:
Its too cold today to do much more, the next step is to drill the dashboard mounting holes & instrument holes. I think I'll need some sort of paper template to work out where the mounting holes are.
