66'-67' GTO dash gauge pod

A friend has been nice enough to send me his 67' dash pad to make molds for a three gauge cluster like the one i laid up for my car. His pad is in good shape aside from a few cracks so i decided to make a mold of the foam nose which as far as i know is not reproduced. It has a bullet shape which i was not able to reproduce on mine. Next step will be to mold in the gauge cluster with PVC and clay on his original to get my slug. After that i will make a silicone mold of the cluster and passengers side of the dash. The goal here is to be able to reproduce them in either fiberglass or a gel coat with foam fill so the do it yourselfer can simply graft it on to the dash pad core with panel adhesive and take it to the local upholsterer for a re-stretch....here goes, remember i am an amateur at this.

boxed in with cardboard for foam mold



GREAT STUFF....is great stuff

 
http://s1098.photobucket.com/albums/g372/instg8ter/1966%20Tempest/

"learning as i go, and going as i learn"

Brian

man that's awesome g8ter"! I always got P.O'd when I scanned the catalogs and a three gage cluster either on the dash or the "a" pillar. they only seem to offer to "select cars.. neccesity is the mother of invention! rock on dude!  
Widetrack,Superduty,Ram-Air.The chief will never die!

How is this project coming along, g8ter? Did you put anything in there before the Great Stuff?  

Thanks RumRunner, more to come shortly....ID, no i first wanted to make a mold to create the stock nosing before i started cutting into the original as they are not available for re-stretching a stock pad, i broke it free today and will be working on the gauge layout this weekend, once that is done i will make a silicone mold of that so i can do the multiple pods in fiberglass and/or foam core. The cost at the Dash place to do one like mine with new vinyl and without the gauges is around $900.00. I am hoping i can pop them out for under $100.00, you would have to bond it to your core with panel adhesive and drill holes to fit your gauges. i was quoted $250.00 at local upholsterers for the re-stretch, so the do it your selfer could have one for 1/3 the cost and unlike the pods Rum is talking about it would be integral to the dash once the vinyl goes on.

This is the goal to be able to reproduce in small quantities, as you see it conforms to the core on the whole passenger side, i am using a 67' on this as the 66' is deeper so it would fit both years.



Panel adhesive and RTV to smooth the seams



1/8" headliner foam before stretching the vinyl



And for the ambitious they can be stretched at home

 
http://s1098.photobucket.com/albums/g372/instg8ter/1966%20Tempest/

"learning as i go, and going as i learn"

Brian

cut up the dash pad this evening and got the forms in for the gauges, want them to face the driver at the same angle as the eyebrow slopes off at and upwards a bit. I used hot glue to get them positioned right and will mold them in with modeling clay for a smooth transition into the existing pad.



 
http://s1098.photobucket.com/albums/g372/instg8ter/1966%20Tempest/

"learning as i go, and going as i learn"

Brian

molded into the pad....





 
http://s1098.photobucket.com/albums/g372/instg8ter/1966%20Tempest/

"learning as i go, and going as i learn"

Brian