Rebody Rebody Dashboard
- Thread starter Duncodin
- Start date
Haven't given a sit-rep for a while.
Slow going. Been working on it most days for 3 months.Sick of the sight it now. By the time I get out of bed, breakfast, walk the dog there's not.much daylight left. Got lights and a bit of heat in the garage but I just can't be bothered to go out to there once it's cold and dark outside.
Anyway. This is where we're at today. Ready to cut holes for radio and 507-ish loudspeaker (with 7" LCD behind the dummy speaker grill)
Z3 centre console wouldn't meet new dash so had to be straightened, folded back and stitched.
Console 'boomerangs' have had the same chop n stitch treatment too.
Slow going. Been working on it most days for 3 months.Sick of the sight it now. By the time I get out of bed, breakfast, walk the dog there's not.much daylight left. Got lights and a bit of heat in the garage but I just can't be bothered to go out to there once it's cold and dark outside.
Anyway. This is where we're at today. Ready to cut holes for radio and 507-ish loudspeaker (with 7" LCD behind the dummy speaker grill)
Z3 centre console wouldn't meet new dash so had to be straightened, folded back and stitched.
Console 'boomerangs' have had the same chop n stitch treatment too.
Oh. I meant to ask. How do you ferrero 250 dash guys dispose of your passenger airbag? I mean, I can't drop it in the trash can I. 
Great work. Looks fantastic. Ive just got a second hand dash for mine to work with and if it comes out anywhere near as good as yours is looking id be pleased. Looking forward to seeing it completed. As for cold weather Imcompletely agree. Had to stop painting until march for warmth and decent day of light.
Just out of interest what kind of look are you going for? Done any sketches?
Im still toying with ideas. Nothing concrete yet. Lots of research while i cant paint. I want something restomod. Something that has a nod to the 60s but with a fold up digital carplay device / cup holders, etc etc. Something that is usuable for long journeys / comfortable / GT style rather than minimal 60s replica. I like the 60s look but the car is intended for long journeys, perhaps to LaMans / France / Italy / Highand 500 etc so i want some moderns comfort / storage / digital satnav etc ather than minimalistic. Not sure whether to go all in on new instruments or keep the binicle like you have
The Mrs has a new MX5 and the dash looks quite good in that so somewhere between the two
Got plenty of time yet to think
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2016
- Points
- 144
- Location
- Spaldingski, Lincs
- Model of Z
- 3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
Mine is still in my garden, hiding under a bush!!Oh. I meant to ask. How do you ferrero 250 dash guys dispose of your passenger airbag? I mean, I can't drop it in the trash can I.
I have been told the best thing to do is connect a battery to it with a long lead and stand well back. But I haven't got the balls to do it.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Points
- 145
@Pond
I must confess I don't know what 'angled return piece' you mean. My car doesn't have aircon so maybe there's a difference?
Would you have a photo of that area showing that return piece?
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2016
- Points
- 144
- Location
- Spaldingski, Lincs
- Model of Z
- 3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
Hopefully this may help...
The vertical piece supports the dash in the area with the arrows (yes I DID manage to edit it!!).
In my case, the vertical piece goes all the way to the floor, so it supports that way.
The vertical piece supports the dash in the area with the arrows (yes I DID manage to edit it!!).
In my case, the vertical piece goes all the way to the floor, so it supports that way.
Ah. Now I understand. You're talking about your GRP panels. For some reason I thought you were talking about an OEM metal bracket near the heater that "I should try to keep/incorporate" to support the new dash.
The TA F250 dash is literally just the front panel and just an inch wrapped underneath so it wouldn't meet your vertical panel anyway.
I haven't cut as much of the OEM dash off so it's still got some structure to it. Also my additions have added a lot more strength to the GRP making it even more rigid so supported at the ends and along the front I don't think it'll need supporting in the middle. But I do have my rebuilt OEM centre console there to fill the gap optically and give a bit of support I suppose.
During this dash build I've supplied a quite a few mockups/photoshop chop jobs etc. But as I get closer I'm having to change my direction. Getting close now though so although this is still a photoshop (instruments and heater controls mocked up) it is pretty close to how it'll look with the centre console boomerangs protruding up either side of the radio.
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2016
- Points
- 144
- Location
- Spaldingski, Lincs
- Model of Z
- 3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
I like that. I really like the sliding heater controls. Are you going to change the switchgear in the console for something more 'period'?
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Points
- 145
I didn't think I'd like the OEM instrument cluster, but I was wrong.
I'd change the centre console dials so they are white as well.
Other than that - spiffing
As I said, heater controls are mocked up. That rectangular opening is where heater controls will eventually go but that'll be later once the nice weather arrives and I can sit outside rather than in a dark cold garage. I'm getting sick of the sight of this dashboard now though. Very slow going. Been at it nigh on 3 - 4 months solid. So, in the first instance, I'm going to put the OEM heater controls back into the console in their original place just so I can get the dash back together, trial fit so to speak, and go for a drive.
But when I get round to it the sliders from the 60's ford cortina might do the job and fit in that narrow opening.
As for switch gear. Yes. I'll have to look for something 'period', as you say, but german cars of the period weren't big on switches. They were big on Knobs. Look at this 50's Merc. More knobs that a german, er, movie. and not a proper switch, as we know it, in sight.
507 also just knobs, but not as many.
The germans in those days weren't big on centre consoles either. So I, kinda, want to play that down a bit. I need to hide all the junk under the dash but don't want to draw the eye down there. That's why I'll likely keep the console in black and have the larger flat dash panel in body colour - whatever that might be.
There's overlays for the OEM instruments to change the background colour, fonts, style etc. The Z3 has plain analogue dials that should look OK in any period with a carefully chosen overlay. Although I won't be able to hide the LCD and LEDs.I didn't think I'd like the OEM instrument cluster, but I was wrong.
I'd change the centre console dials so they are white as well.
Other than that - spiffing
The ferrari builders have a decent GRP dash whereas us 507 guys have nothing. The OEM Z3 dash really started to grind my gears. I really wanted to make a boring flat dash top and coloured face with just a slight 'nod' to the 507. Using the original binnacle was the only way I could imagine it with my tools and skill set.
Centre console. Not sure about white dials down there. As I said above, the germans of that period didn't have centre consoles so I don't really want to do anything down there to draw the eye, if you know what I mean. But I don't know. Maybe.
I'm glad you like where it's going though.
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2016
- Points
- 144
- Location
- Spaldingski, Lincs
- Model of Z
- 3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
You obviously need something to cover the heater matrix box, but you can use anything to do that and paint it out (or cover it) in black.
The hardest part is positioning whatever you do so there is enough room behind for things like heater control cables. Mine is 'stepped' to pull it away from the matrix box but it is still very tight for space behind there.
On the 250 cali, many people upholster the vertical piece in matching leather/ vinyl or carpet to the rest of the interior which makes a feature of it. Personally I wanted to hide mine, so it is covered in black leather which makes it almost disappear, especially as my dash and carpets are black too.
For comparison to explain what Andy means, mine is carpeted and more visible.
My preference would be for the black front consul and carpets. Seems to set off the brown seats/centre consul/door cards better.
Health warning: I'm generally considered poor at colour choice though!!
Health warning: I'm generally considered poor at colour choice though!!
That's the beauty of building your own car. You choose whatever you want!My preference would be for the black front consul and carpets. Seems to set off the brown seats/centre consul/door cards better.
Health warning: I'm generally considered poor at colour choice though!!