Finally got around to re-doing the dash face in my car. Been a long time coming. Anyway, dash face material is carbon fiber, and finished it off with a new Momo 350mm 'competition' wheel. The thick-gripped, smaller diameter wheel makes the car feel like a video game to drive.

Here's a couple pics. The flash makes the carbon fiber look a bit obnoxious - but it's not. It really just looks like a modern basket weave and is much more subtile than the pictures show.

Demick

and

and

cool man! that rocks!

Looks cool, did you make the dash yourself (with materials from TAP plastics or something) or buy it off of someone?

QUOTE (JmuRiz @ Jul 25 2005, 08:29 AM)

Looks cool, did you make the dash yourself (with materials from TAP plastics or something) or buy it off of someone?

I bought some carbon fiber sheet (already laid up into a flat sheet). I removed the original basketweave material, and then removed the sheetmetal dash face that the basketweave is glued to (the sheetmetal is just taped to the dash face with double sided foam tape. Then I glued the C.F. to the sheetmetal with contact cement, and used a dremmel to cut it to shape. Then I taped it all back into place. I also remove the gauge panel and glove box door and did pretty much the same thing to those.

Demick

I'll bet the car goes faster now!

Jen

That looks sharp Demick. It looks like you changed the top (over the guages) as well, but maybe that is just polish.

How many hours was that job?

QUOTE (Randal @ Jul 25 2005, 09:50 AM)

That looks sharp Demick. It looks like you changed the top (over the guages) as well, but maybe that is just polish. How many hours was that job?

The top is just one of the ABS dash covers. I've had that for many years (dash underneath is in horrible shape).

Time involved was probably around 4 hours - mostly just a few minutes here and there spread over the course of about a week. Honestly it was easier and faster than I expected.

Demick

Looks really sharp Demick!

Not to be rude, but what was the materials cost?

I think the red weave might look slick in my car

Nice!

QUOTE (Demick @ Jul 25 2005, 08:21 AM)

Finally got around to re-doing the dash face in my car.

very nice indeed!

Andy

Looks very nice Demick,

I like how the new material elliminates that weird step next to the radio.

Enjoy!

QUOTE (GTeener @ Jul 25 2005, 10:48 AM)

Looks really sharp Demick! Not to be rude, but what was the materials cost?

Cost of 1' x 4' sheet of carbon fiber (very thin, around .015 thick) was about $50. This was more than I needed but I wouldn't have saved much buying a smaller piece.

Of course, the steering wheel and hub adapter is the expensive part ($250)

QUOTE (3d914 @ Jul 25 2005, 11:15 AM)

I like how the new material elliminates that weird step next to the radio.

Yep. I never liked that separate piece for the radio. That was something I definitely wanted to eliminate. Also eliminated is the seatbelt warning light (not that it could be seen anyway under my ashtray gauge pod. Also used the opportunity to replace the cigarette lighter with one that actually fits a cell phone adapter.

Demick

i like!

can you divulge your CF source?

thanks.........

It looks really good! Where did you get your material from?

QUOTE (Demick @ Jul 25 2005, 10:29 AM)

QUOTE (GTeener @ Jul 25 2005, 10:48 AM) Looks really sharp Demick! Not to be rude, but what was the materials cost? Cost of 1' x 4' sheet of carbon fiber (very thin, around .015 thick) was about $50. This was more than I needed but I wouldn't have saved much buying a smaller piece.

Beautiful job ,

The next obviuos question is where can a sheet of the C.F. be sourced from?
50 bucks for a sheet is obviously within anyones reach,and I'd like to know where to get some.

For years now,9x Auto has been sellin a C.F. dash kit for our teeners,and while it's a good looking piece when complete,the $250.00 plus the cost of shipping,is a complete wallet buster in my opinion.

Your method is definately the way to go.

Ron

I found a bunch on ebay. just search for CF sheet. They have a wide assortment from real CF sheet to the fakies that have an adhesive backing.

ebay carbon fiber sheets

Jen

QUOTE (Demick @ Jul 25 2005, 11:32 AM)

Also used the opportunity to replace the cigarette lighter with one that actually fits a cell phone adapter.

huh? i'm using my cell-phone adapter with the stock cig-lighter ...

Andy

Jenny nailed it. I bought it on e-bay. Most of what is sold on there is stickers or vinyl. Even stuff advertised as 'real carbon fiber' is often still just like a vinyl sticker (it just has real carbon fiber cloth inside of it but was not laid up with epoxy). There's probably nothing wrong with that stuff, but I thought it might not come out as good or be as durable. Generally, the key is that anything that is adhesive backed is like a sticker. Look for words like 'epoxy' or 'cured' or 'resin' to know you are getting the real stuff. This is what I bought:

ebay link

It's a few bucks cheaper now then when I bought it. But be aware, it took 3 or 4 weeks for me to get it from this seller.

Demick

QUOTE (SirAndy @ Jul 25 2005, 11:51 AM)

huh? i'm using my cell-phone adapter with the stock cig-lighter ...

I don't know the specifics, but I think there are (or were) multiple standards on cigarette lighter sizes. The european size is slightly larger diameter than the US size. My car had the larger size, so cigarette lighter adapters would always fit so loosely that they would only get intermittent contact.

Demick

QUOTE (Demick @ Jul 25 2005, 03:06 PM)

QUOTE (SirAndy @ Jul 25 2005, 11:51 AM) huh? i'm using my cell-phone adapter with the stock cig-lighter ... I don't know the specifics, but I think there are (or were) multiple standards on cigarette lighter sizes. The european size is slightly larger diameter than the US size. My car had the larger size, so cigarette lighter adapters would always fit so loosely that they would only get intermittent contact. Demick

What you smokin Willis

I have an original lighter in my MGA and my adpater fits in it fine.

I have never heard of diff sizes as a standard.... probably used anything they could get thier hands on.

Ah Ha! Quoted from http://www.powerletproducts.com/documentat...n/glossary.html



Quote:

Cigarette/Cigar Lighter - This is your basic automotive type connector. Unfortunately there are no standards for the design of either the plugs or the sockets. Keep in mind this was never designed to be a connector; it was designed to be a cigarette lighter.

The connection between plug and socket can be intermittent or even non-existent. There is no standard to dictate how the plugs and sockets are manufactured. The sockets are manufactured in two popular sizes, 21mm & 22.2mm (inside diameter). Also while the center terminal is always positive, the design of the terminals can vary widely. These variables can cause a mismatch between the plug and the socket. Primarily it causes problems with loose or sloppy fits between the various manufacturers plugs and the socket.

QUOTE (tdgray @ Jul 25 2005, 12:25 PM)

QUOTE (Demick @ Jul 25 2005, 03:06 PM) QUOTE (SirAndy @ Jul 25 2005, 11:51 AM) huh? i'm using my cell-phone adapter with the stock cig-lighter ... I don't know the specifics, but I think there are (or were) multiple standards on cigarette lighter sizes. The european size is slightly larger diameter than the US size. My car had the larger size, so cigarette lighter adapters would always fit so loosely that they would only get intermittent contact. Demick What you smokin Willis I have an original lighter in my MGA and my adpater fits in it fine. I have never heard of diff sizes as a standard.... probably used anything they could get thier hands on.

Looks nice Demick........


as for the cell phone/other 12vdc appliance....both my 914 and 911 have problems accepting the powercord for my cell phone (cig. power outlet too large in diameter)

oh yea !!!!

they have green real Carbon Fiber/Kevlar material available.....

I'll vouch for Demick's cig lighter woes as well. My phone charger and hand-held vac/compressor wouldn't fit really well. It sorta fit, and if you jiggled the power cord a little, it *might* make a contact and work for a split second. I tried cleaning the contact points, but it didn't help. I finally just gave up and accepted that the 914 wouldn't have certain creature comforts like a car charger or a cup holder.

Jen