My poor dash

[Shua57]

For some reason I never noticed this till recently. I understand that when you drag race you need gauges but why in the world would you do something like this:

If you look closely you can see on the left side of the radio is 2 gapping holes roughly cut in a perfectly good dash. Geeze, you can buy the stupid gauges that screw to the bottom of the dash. One of my other cars has those in it. Nooooo, lets cut some stupid big holes in the dash, no one will care.. Bunch of knuckleheads. Anyway, my thoughts are not to replace the dash but maybe to use what has already been done but clean it up and install some gauges. Maybe angle them a little towards the driver. Or I could patch it up. Any thoughts?
Josh

[tri5man]

To me repairing that butcher job wouldn't be worth the time and effort. If I could find another one, I'd replace it. With all the parts you have don't you have a replacement?
Gary

[acardon]

"To each his own"

Won't those be covered by the dash trim?
I'm guilty too.....

[drklynoon]

If you don't like the gauges being mounted in the dash then patch the holes. It can't be as bad as trying to install a dog leg in one of these suckers. If the car was being dragged it's kinda hard to see those under dash gauges. Putting in a whole nother dash seems like more of hassel then patching you old one does. Becareful welding to the old dash that you don't melt wires together behind the dash.

[acardon]

Originally Posted by drklynoon

Becareful welding to the old dash that you don't melt wires together behind the dash.

It looks like the wires are already melted. :eek:

[ETriggs]

Josh,

I have a perfect dash for you if you like. PM me and we can work out a trade.

[Shua57]

I have 2 dashes but thanks anyway Eldon. My thoughts now are to install gauges or some sort of gps unit. My car is not stock anyway so I could do either one of my suggestions. I would like an oil and temp gauge so I may go that route. I guess my problem is the trashy way it was done and if you are drag racing you don't want to have to look down to see the gauges. Gauges could have been screwed into the top of the dash easier.
Don, there is a big difference in how you did yours and how mine was done. Yours looks well thought out and everything is clean. It is hard to see but the metal between the 2 holes is broke and looks like they pried the gauges out with a crow bar.
Gary, my cars have really nice dashes. I hate to ruin one or cut one out of my other cars just for something like this, I'll fix it one way or the other. Something custom, I can almost picture it.
The wiring behind the dash will have to be replaced. It has been hacked on and spliced and it is 50 years old.
Since I actually posted this I have been contiplating my options. I would actually like a digital display that would ready all data of the motor - Temp,oil pressure, rpms. - that is expandable memory for a future FI motor. Anyone heard of something that advanced?
Josh

[Shua57]

Mybe something like this but that could come with a few different option:
http://www.aimsports.com/products/AE...lay/index.html
It basically would be data logger or something similar.
Josh

[warpwr]

Did this to my '56 dash.
Did it to my first one back in 1963 too so that's two of 'em I've punched holes in....

signed,
the old knuckle head

[Shua57]

You guys are not reading my post...geeze.
Josh