[Che]

Has anyone made a DIY dashboard for their Sierra's? Mine is due for an overhaul or replacement... I don't like my chances of finding a donor dash in good nick - making one from scratch might be an interesting project for summer.

If you've got any pics of custom dashes or have got one yourself i'd love to see what you've come up with.

[joel]

i will be very interested in how you do this.
keep us posted with pics and such if you start doing it.

[gypsy]

Didn't some one on here make a wood one

[Cozook]

Vermin made a varnished wooden dash that looked sweet

http://www.auszookers.com/index.php?nam ... ooden+dash

http://www.auszookers.com/index.php?nam ... sh&start=0

[CairnsZook]

gypsy wrote:

Didn't some one on here make a wood one

Yep, Verm1n.

Pics here


*Dammit, too slow

I reckon a Huon pine dash would be awesome

[atari4x4]

lordfury007's alloy dash

http://auszookers.com/index.php?name=Fo ... alloy+dash

[Che]

They came up alright those dashes, but i'm looking to make something that looks almost stock - without the vents, passenger handle, and a smaller centre cluster for only the basics.

If I make a mould I reckon a carbon fibre dash would look pretty snazzy, and pretty easy being a reasonably basic shape... hmmm.

[bazook]

http://www.petroworks.com/interior.php will this do

[Che]

What's the rules with aftermarket instrument panels?

If I keep my original instrument cluster it'll need a full overhaul to fix it's cracked housing and scuffed perspex, and i'd like to adjust it's position behind the wheel so I can see everything... so out of interest wondering how hard it'd be to hook up something like this Corvette c4 cluster, which is pretty cool for mine ($300 refurbed on ebay)



Another option might be one of Dakota Digital's options... but $4-600 for a basic display is probably more than I want to spend






I'm pretty handy with electronics, but honestly - would a cluster swap out be a weekend challenge or a month long head fcuk to get up and running?

[steve]

here's my custom? dash

[Che]

Hey Steve, you just answered by next Q with that pic - looks like the plastic surround thingy can come off the stock cluster? Maybe I can repair mine... hmmm.... Kinda like the idea o a centre mounted instrument panel too so I can actually see all the gauges.

[Che]

Got bored today, can't work out if I like it or not. I think I need a centre mount mini-style dash

[Gwagensteve]

I still don't understand custom dashes. I think they never look or work as well as what the car came with.

As an example che (please take this as constructive criticism) in your chop you've deleted all the fresh air vents and added a grab handle that's A) no more useful than the stock one and B) going to impossible to mount firmly without 56574856 hours of trick work behind the dash skin to provide it something to mount to...

And after all that, what's it better at than the stock dash? - nothing I can see - and now the HVAC controls are pointless because there's no vents for the air to come out of, there's no more storage or power outlets, no more gauges...

In short it looks like an NT dash that's less functional - and imagine how much work it would be.

Just because something looks different doesn't mean it's better.

A cluster swap would be an epic head F%^k, and digital gauges bring the ghey. You'll note that even Chevrolet, who know less than nothing about doing dashboards and interiors, abandoned digital dashes very quickly. Nothing says 80's like an alphanumeric digital dash. If you want a cluster swap, use one that matches the engine/gearbox/loom you are using - so a vitara cluster in a sierra might be OK (but pointless) but anything off brand is going to me mind numbingly hard.

Using two 5" gauges - one GPS speedo and one multi function (fuel/water/rpm etc) is a good idea, but that can be grafted into the stock dash without cutting it to pieces.

Just my 2c. Doing something just because you can doesn't make it a good idea. It's not a good enough reason.

Steve.

[Che]

Yeah, i'll stick with the stock cluster, was just toying with options as my cluster surround is a haggard and cracked POS. I think i'll try to make a mould and fix this. No grab bar is planned (i'm just dodgy with photoshop), I just want to keep it plain and simple and stock looking. Just toying with ideas until it gives me the shits enough to do something I'll give myself a $200 budget to sort an option. If I win i'll post up some pics, if I arse up this thread will die a quiet death and i'll never say the word 'dashboard' again

As for venting - it's now circulatory only - with no vent connection piping to be found when I had the dash out, I hard fixed airflow to demist/feet and circulate, and blocked off the rest so it's more effective. Fresh air = window.

I get too much water leakage through air plenum, so plans are to check for rust and seal it up if I can, and sort the dash out at the same time.

If I fail no real matter - I plan to source a donor Sierra in better nick and swap out all the best bits into the one ride sooner or later anyway.