Lots of work lately on the dash layout. Which really means working behind the dash. I ordered a Vintage Air heat and a/c unit for my car as Florida weather and small hot car means grumpy driver. To fit the air unit behind the dash lots of people end up modifying the firewall by cutting a hole in it for the back of the condenser unit to stick out into the engine bay, then they build a cover around it. The instructions say to cut the bottom lip of the dash panel. This worked probably okay on the previous model of the vintage air unit but they relocated the vacuum attachments for the dash vent and main vent activation valves so even with the bottom lip cut out the condenser still doesn't fit in the space between the dash and firewall. So I cut off about one inch of the plastic case for the condenser. I did this before calling vintage to ask their opinion and you can guess what they said, we don't recommend cutting it. Too late. So I bought a black plastic 6" paint scraper and used it as the raw material to block off the hole I cut and then used a two-part epoxy to put it on. Worked like a charm.
As I started looking at dash layout options I realized each one of these car's dash layout is kind of like a fingerprint - no two are alike. There isn't a single page in the instruction manual that says "you will need all of these switches and in this location." As I think I've complained before the manual is pretty good but it assumes one is building from a donor car - which most people don't do anymore. I kind of used a standard dash layout like the one in my daily driver truck (1985 Dodge Ram) so it makes sense to me. I located commonly used switches like lights and signals close to my steering wheel so I can use them without taking my hands too far from the wheel. I also needed to locate the the vintage control panel and that is the blue rectangle in the middle of the transmission tunnel center section. I wanted it dead center but the defrost/vent diverter cable comes off the right side and needs about four inches of clear space to not bind the cable too much. Doens't look as symmetric obviously but works for me. I am also a time freak so I put a clock in the center as well.
When I originally mocked up the five main smaller gauges they were all flush to the dash, and from my driving position I couldn't see about 25% of the gauge face, so I installed angle mounts for them. Except the instructions were useless so I spent a lot of time ovalling the gauge holes to get them where I wanted them - as originally cut they are a perfect fit for the 2 1/16" gauges. Bisect a plane with a cylinder on an angle and you get an ellipse - thank you 9th grade geometry. It took me quite a few hours last weekend but I am happy with the results. As I angled them left and rotated them clockwise about 45 degrees I also had to modify the new metal brackets that hold them on the back of the dash. The instructions with the angle mounts even came with handy templates to cut out and use. They assumed the gauges have no electrical connection posts so using them as directed would result in an aluminum bar running directly across the + and - posts. Called a short circuit - thank you 11th grade electronics class. Also results in fires and damaged equipment.
Finally I stole heavily from cbergquists flickr pictures and installed a removable panel in the center section. Once I rivnut it in place it will make a world of difference getting into that space and if I break down and install a stereo later on all I have to do is cut a new center panel instead of having to bend a whole new piece.
One bit if cleanup last weekend was to cut down the box the motor came in so it would actually fit under my body buck - which I designed to hold the body and still roll over the engine. I put the engine on a left over dolly I made for the rear differential and just had to cut down and rebuild the box the motor came in, plus narrowing the pallet it was shipped on - otherwise known as taking a hand saw to it.
Lots more work to do behind the dash with wiring in each electrical/electronic item. Probably take some leave and spend 2-3 days playing hooky just working on it.
Missed some weekends doing a trip to Disney and taking my daughter to visit colleges. Time flies. I do really enjoy solving the various problems that come up building this car. I can see why lots of guys say the saddest day is the day they are all done.
