Modifying Dashes and custom center consols

[frozenwarp]

just curius if anyone has any info or suggestions on modifying a ta22 guage section of the dash even just tips on painting would be apprectiated

Has anyone got any info on making custom cdenter consols i've seen them on a few forum members cars n i'm a little unsure of the process

browny points to anyone who can help me on either
cheers, Bradley

[45aken]

painting?
if your painting plastic parts, then they really need to be sanded well, if you dont, either the paint wont stick, or all the scratches will show up. on smooth plastic surfaces, i go up to about 800 grade if im painting with a glossy colour.

with modifying the dash, depending on what you want to do there is many ways to go about this.

you can create your own custom dash cluster with sheet aluminium
use fiberglass to create moulds etc

and with the centre console, i have seen people using MDF, or fiberglass with a mould.

i dont have a ta22, but the same basic methods apply for all cars.

[TA-022]

im doing mine as per attached pic.

because the ra28 dash screws in through the guage slots .... flush mounted guages complicate things.

so im making a 15-18mm mdf ring srewed to original mounts. the the guage facia will screw to this via countersunk allen head bolts. i like the exposed look of these.

then you can put ya guages where ever on the facia.

[Lambolica]

General painting tips as with most painting applications.

Make sure you rough up the to be painted surface a little ( 800 grit as mentioned above and finer to smooth out any deep scratches)

Make sure all painted surfaces are clean, use prepsol or similar prepaint cleaner to remove grease/dirt buildup, including that that comes from you hands.

spray on a primer and check to see that it is going on smooth. if not sand out any apparent scratches.

When painting, apply paint in thin layers, most times wou will see the primer through the first coat still.


For centre consoles, if you are handy with timber, MDF is the way to go. however for the TA22, RA2* there are some options for centre consols from other cars. A trip to your local pick and bendover and get reamed wreckers and a few hours to play, you can find consoles from other cars that either look right but dont fit, or fit and don't look right (but could with a bit of love)
These can either be bolted straight in (with mounting point mods) or cut and shut to suit your plans or simply used as a template for you to create you own piece of work using the shell and mounting points and building up using timber/fibreglass.
Just keep in mind when building somthing out of timber to not make it look too bulky, it looks crap against a factory trim.