My Track Dash Reconstruction Options

[vintage914racer]

Long story short, a couple of years ago I had premature engine failure on my 914-6 track car. If you're bored you can check out part 1 and part 2 of my engine misadventure. Otherwise, I'll continue on the the regular scheduled dash programming...

We all know how the slippery slope works and before you knew it I had the car apart in hundreds of pieces tackling various "cheaper" projects while amassing engine parts and waiting for the engine builder. One of the projects I wanted to tackle for years was a dash rebuild. You see this car has been a track car since 1972 and judging by the great number of patches to the existing dash I wouldn't be surprised if it was original to the track car build.



At any rate the dash was riddled wtih holes, a complete rats nest of wires and a melange of various metallic and composite (fancy word for cheap plastic) finishes. My goal was to set about cleaning up the aesthetic, going a bit modern on the gauge front and clean up the wiring with a new fused junction box. And so it began...

The first step was making a trip to the local metal supplier. Now, if you're in Minneapolis you shoudl check out Discount Steel. As a complete metal shopping newb I was a little apprehensive, but upon arrival the folks were friendly, overwhelmingly helpful and generally a good lot. Armed with a couple strips of aluminum sheet I headed home.



I proceeded to trace my old dash panel with a Sharpie and cut out a new panel. After some trimming, fitting, trimming, fitting, trimming and re-fitting I settled on a fit that I was happy with. If you're wondering why all the trimming let's just say I'm a measure 12 times and still cut wrong kind of guy.



After a bit of drilling I had the panel mocked up and in place.



Satisfied with the fit I moved on to the next step...