Superdave's 65 Impala SS 5.3 Swap
08-16-2012, 12:24 PM
#62
Teching In
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08-22-2012, 05:28 PM
#66
TECH Resident
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Here's a little update. The vinyl I bought is really easy to work with. The only hard pard is outside curves. A little heat and some creative yanking though and it works pretty well. There are a few little flaws, but nothing anyone will really notice.
Here is the cluster area, in rondo (yes rondo... a mixture of fiberglass resin and bondo), and covered in glue, ready for me to apply the vinyl (also in the picture, "leather" side down.
I also wrapped the A-pillars in the stuff. I plan to wrap everything in the whole car.
I need to rethink the positioning of the two larger gauges. With the design I made, they sit back too far, and I won't be able to see the top of them while driving. I am going to move them forward to remedy this. The empty hole between them is going to have dark tinted plastic (salvaged from an old VCR). Behind the plastic will be the turn signal indicators and hi beam indicator. All of that will take another full day to figure out and fabricate, but I was too excited not to post these pics now.
Here is the cluster area, in rondo (yes rondo... a mixture of fiberglass resin and bondo), and covered in glue, ready for me to apply the vinyl (also in the picture, "leather" side down.
I also wrapped the A-pillars in the stuff. I plan to wrap everything in the whole car.
I need to rethink the positioning of the two larger gauges. With the design I made, they sit back too far, and I won't be able to see the top of them while driving. I am going to move them forward to remedy this. The empty hole between them is going to have dark tinted plastic (salvaged from an old VCR). Behind the plastic will be the turn signal indicators and hi beam indicator. All of that will take another full day to figure out and fabricate, but I was too excited not to post these pics now.
08-23-2012, 11:26 AM
#70
TECH Resident
Thread Starter
This stuff is called Whisper Vinyl. I got it from yourautotrim.com for $18 a yard (36" x 54") I hear you can get it from JoAnne Fabrics too. I got samples of this stuff and also Ultraleather, but the Ultraleather is a little glossy and looks fake. It also only streches well in one direction. The Whisper Vinyl has a very very low sheen like real leather, and it stretches in all directions.
08-31-2012, 12:47 PM
#73
TECH Resident
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I finished up the gauge cluster area and got all the gauges mounted. Also fabricated the blinker/high beam area behind the tinted plastic. Going to start wrapping the larger part of the dash today. I will post some more pics when I have something to show.
I would have done more but I was knocked out of commission this week from a toothache and oral surgery to fix it. Awesome.
I would have done more but I was knocked out of commission this week from a toothache and oral surgery to fix it. Awesome.
09-07-2012, 11:38 AM
#74
TECH Resident
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Ok, the dash is now finished. It was impossible to wrap the larger part in a single piece, so I had to make an "airbag" section to cover over where some of the material was missing. This is the hardboard for that section, cut out:
This is the rear. It is made up of two layers, glued together, and in between are door panel clips so that it can clip into (and out of) the main dash.
Here I am covering the main dash in the vinyl, working it into the ridges with the end of a paint brush:
A better look at the ridges:
And here is the finished dash. I wanted to put the car's name on the "airbag" (yes, I believe in naming cars), but since I didn't know what to call it, I went ahead and signed it (Guyton is my last name). But if I should ever sell the car, the piece is removeable.
And just as a reminder, this is the stock dash for a '65 Impala:
This is the rear. It is made up of two layers, glued together, and in between are door panel clips so that it can clip into (and out of) the main dash.
Here I am covering the main dash in the vinyl, working it into the ridges with the end of a paint brush:
A better look at the ridges:
And here is the finished dash. I wanted to put the car's name on the "airbag" (yes, I believe in naming cars), but since I didn't know what to call it, I went ahead and signed it (Guyton is my last name). But if I should ever sell the car, the piece is removeable.
And just as a reminder, this is the stock dash for a '65 Impala:
09-08-2012, 11:41 PM
#76
On The Tree
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I love what you're doing with this project. I'm using Speed Hut gauges in my '72 Cutlass, awesome product. You actually have me looking at the whisper vinyl as a way to change my dash color. Keep up the good work
09-09-2012, 01:43 PM
#80
TECH Resident
Thread Starter
Actually I ran all the wiring and installed the dash yesterday. I didn't have a camera with me to take pics, but I will have some up soon. It looks SOOOO good in there now. I'm pretty proud of it.
So anyway the next step is to get the engine running (finally) and try to get this thing on the road. I am tired of not being able to drive it.
So anyway the next step is to get the engine running (finally) and try to get this thing on the road. I am tired of not being able to drive it.