3 Gauge Centre Facia

StealthAu · 26-05-2008, 11:01 PM

Thought I'd put up some pics and details of some alterations I'm doing to my centre facia. I've removed the clock along with a few chunks from the top of the facia, in it's place I've glued 3 gauge pods on an angle and stepped towards the driver.

Haven't decided yet (as it's more work) but I might make some changes to where the stereo mounts as well just to tidy it up a bit after that it's just a couple of coats of fibreglass, some paint and it's done.
I'll ad photo's as progress is made, should have it all finished by the end of the week.

WoodysXR6 · 26-05-2008, 11:22 PM

if you could get that cleaned up like the ba gauges it should work nice. im surprised there isn't an after market set up like this yet? unless i have never seen it?

Nice idea StealthAu

regards, Woody

**Peuty** · 27-05-2008, 10:09 AM

No Woody there isn't. It's a bit harder in the AU's because as you can see by Stealth's effort there isn't a place like the BA where you can unbolt a panel and replace it with another.

Be good to see this mounted in the car when it's all done. Good effort Stealth.

InfernoSR · 27-05-2008, 12:24 PM

Cant wait to get my hands on your old one so i can start modifying it... thats if i stick with the series 1 and not upgrade that section to series 2/3...

superroo · 27-05-2008, 01:52 PM

Nice work stealth. I've had this idea to, but not needing guages, and going in a different direction when i do get them, i'd only be doing it to sell it, hence why i didn't.

I'm about to start modifing mine for a different reason too. Soon me hopes

Cheers

StealthAu · 27-05-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superroo

Nice work stealth. I've had this idea to, but not needing guages, and going in a different direction when i do get them, i'd only be doing it to sell it, hence why i didn't.

I'm about to start modifing mine for a different reason too. Soon me hopes

Cheers

What are you wanting to do to yours?

superroo · 27-05-2008, 02:16 PM

Put factory switches (rear demister, aerial up, aerial down, door lock) where you guages are in a similar fasion to the fairmonts. Delete ash tray and cigi ligheter (been moved into center console). Then give it a good lick of body coloured paint.

I've got every thing i need, just need to do it

Cheers

InfernoSR · 27-05-2008, 03:34 PM

LOL... 3 rather different idea's here... its great to see!

Oh for those who dont know mine... i am going to somehow mount a single DIN fold out screen where the clock is...

superroo · 27-05-2008, 04:18 PM

Not a bad idea adam, but i don't think there is enough room behind there for it. Or are you just going to mount the screen there and the unit else where?

Cheers

InfernoSR · 27-05-2008, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superroo

Not a bad idea adam, but i don't think there is enough room behind there for it. Or are you just going to mount the screen there and the unit else where?

Cheers

I'm going to mod inside the dsh area to accept a full DIN sized screen, as i want it full fold away... the H/U will be in the standard position, but i want to mold it into a standard H/U face...

StealthAu · 27-05-2008, 05:20 PM

Blueprint, with my original facia where the 3 rectangular cut outs are to fit switches (top one is demister) it's been hacked to bits to fit a shift kit. If this is where your LPG switch mounts it mite be a problem.

InfernoSR · 27-05-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StealthAu

Blueprint, with my original facia where the 3 rectangular cut outs are to fit switches (top one is demister) it's been hacked to bits to fit a shift kit. If this is where your LPG switch mounts it mite be a problem.

How mny holes are un hacked?

StealthAu · 27-05-2008, 06:36 PM

The top one is fine, but the but bottom two have been turned into one large gap. If only your demister switch goes there it will be fine, but if you lpg switch goes there as well, it's no good.

InfernoSR · 27-05-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StealthAu

The top one is fine, but the but bottom two have been turned into one large gap. If only your demister switch goes there it will be fine, but if you lpg switch goes there as well, it's no good.

Oh well... might go for the upgrade facia then... if i can get one at the right $$.. plus all the other bits needed :P time for more research...

As for yours... are you just filling with regular fibreglass?

StealthAu · 27-05-2008, 08:20 PM

I'm using expanding foam to fill it all up, then cut the excess away and sand to shape. As you can see I went a bit over the top.

but it's easy to work with so no harm done. Tomorrow I'll get it to shape and hopefully get a few coats of fibreglass on it. Reason I've gone with the foam, is as I said it is easy to work with and once I've fibreglassed it petrol can be used to remove all the foam as it eats it away more or less completely.

ten[A]cio[U]s · 27-05-2008, 08:44 PM

Dahaha that looks funny as, but should work. Expander foam rules!

That seems like a great idea Stealth, I have has several ideas for the fairmont, but not sure yet.

InfernoSR · 27-05-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy-au

That seems like a great idea Stealth, I have has several ideas for the fairmont, but not sure yet.

Come on... share!... we have :P

Thanks for the tip with the expanding foam too Stealth...

BFD83 · 27-05-2008, 10:48 PM

Haha that's funny as! It should look great once it's all finished!

justa6 · 28-05-2008, 07:36 AM

just put it back in with the foam like that, imagine getting into your car seeing that. whats in behind that, can the gauges go deeper in. good work

StealthAu · 28-05-2008, 07:44 AM

they can fit a fair bit deeper in. To start with mine weren't sitting so far out, I just changed it to save futher filing of the facia for the gauges to fit in the cups.

b2tf · 28-05-2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StealthAu

why dont you just leave it like that and bash the gauges in at tasteful angles?

ten[A]cio[U]s · 28-05-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

why dont you just leave it like that and bash the gauges in at tasteful angles?

After the weekend we just had thats all i would be friggen doing!

ten[A]cio[U]s · 28-05-2008, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLUEPRINT

Come on... share!... we have :P

Thanks for the tip with the expanding foam too Stealth...

Well along the wood grain on the fairmont i have thought about placing them along there. Havent made any efforts to do this, but i think it would look decent up there. Not too in your face.

(2 second mock up for you)

InfernoSR · 28-05-2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy-au

Well along the wood grain on the fairmont i have thought about placing them along there. Havent made any efforts to do this, but i think it would look decent up there. Not too in your face.

(2 second mock up for you)

Yeah... I can imagine what you talking about... seen it before on other cars, but not an AU Fairmont.

StealthAu · 28-05-2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

why dont you just leave it like that and bash the gauges in at tasteful angles?

There's an idea, but what would be tasteful angles?

InfernoSR · 28-05-2008, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StealthAu

There's an idea, but what would be tasteful angles?

Pointing out the front windscreen, so other drivers can see how fulli you are with boost guages

StealthAu · 28-05-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLUEPRINT

Pointing out the front windscreen, so other drivers can see how fulli you are with boost guages

Anyway, no real progress tonight, cut a few feet of the excess foam away, only to find it still isn't set in the deep centre of it

Should be right tomorrow to finish shaping it at least

StealthAu · 01-06-2008, 12:15 AM

Finally got the foam sanded down to shape, gave it a few coats of fibreglass, and it went to crap. Stuffed the mix, result was it was rock hard and an hour of sanding had almost no effect on one of many areas that needed smoothing out. Also due to the mix it started seperating from the facia, end result I've pulled it all to bits and will have to start fresh.

WoodysXR6 · 01-06-2008, 12:39 AM

Sorry to hear that it all takes time!
Have you played around with these sort of products before?

StealthAu · 01-06-2008, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WOODYS_XR8

Sorry to hear that it all takes time!
Have you played around with these sort of products before?

I've used fibreglass a bit, but I'd still say limited experiance. Either way I've started again, set everything in place and gave it a hit with the foam, not quite as much as last time