BCM Community
Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: eddieboy on April 25, 2011, 04:47:14 PM
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I am getting close to starting on building a new dash for my 4106. I would appreciate seeing some ideas on dash designs. I am keeping the door handle in the middle, so I have to work around that. Just doesn't seem like a bus without it. Thanks in advance for the pics.
Ed
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Maybe go here and look for some ideas.
www.custominstrumentpanels.com (http://www.custominstrumentpanels.com)
Russell
MC8
Lexington, K
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I would love to have a custom dash!!!
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I used an R&M dash and modified it to fit.
(http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/46221/2318170330053449967S500x500Q85.jpg) (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2318170330053449967iQTluV)
(http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/44464/2247977410053449967S500x500Q85.jpg) (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2247977410053449967lNXFmm)
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I used an R&M dash and modified it to fit.
I assume you upholstered the dash with some sort of vinyl. Did you use some sort of foam under the vinyl?
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Mine is still basically the really nice one it came with...... in 72. I sure get jealous looking at some of the pics that others have done. Eric's is obviously one at the top.
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Here is a couple pictures of ours, I got it from custom instrument panels as mentioned earlier. Jason
(http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu30/jmblakebus/tmpphpBjmQru.jpg)
(http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu30/jmblakebus/bus3006.jpg)
(http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu30/jmblakebus/bus3005.jpg)
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The dash is padded with 1/4" foam. The cover was cut and stiched to fit. Don't ask how many patterns we went through!!LOL
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Not to Fancy put it works for me
(http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp351/wrightwy/DSC05072.jpg)
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The other side
(http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp351/wrightwy/DSC05071.jpg)
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They make a material for dashes comes in sheet you ruff cut the sheet lay it on your base take a heat gun in a few minutes it forms to dash Country Coach used it
I don't have photo of the dash in my x Eagle but it was black Plexiglas engraved under each gauge with back light lighting same layout as Eric's but I had Eagle gauges Eric lol
Now I have question for you Eric with the new transmission are you going to use the keypad shifter or use a electronic shift tower and install it in the same place as the manual tower.
With all the electronics you are changing over too how about one of the glass dashes like Wayne those are nice but a little pricey
good luck
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Here's ours. We redid the original (drivers side) dash, and installed a basic box on the Pass side
(http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq292/cwvanhagen/Feb2211008.jpg)
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I wanted those eagle gages but, my hero didn't have a set I could afford!!LOL I am using the push button shifter mounted in the same place. Steve Seims had the glass dashh in his Neoplan at Arcadia. Decided I had to have it until Jim gave me the cost!!!! I am going to mound a monitor overhead and use the software.
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Yea I know after days of negotiating my banker( wife) let me buy one from Newell then she found out I had to change the engine and transmissions for the dash to work so it was bye bye glass dash lol lucky for me Karl let me return it.
I like the electronic tower better than the pad they don't give as many problems
good luck
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Clifford, i will get some dash pic,today and one tonight with it lit up,OUR dash looks dam fine day or night.
Matt
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Had an R&M for a while but didn't like it. Went down to the Country Coach conversion shop (before they went under) and got a brand new Prevost dash out of the dumpster for free. Have a few analog guages in it but rely on my Silverleaf VMS 400 and love it. Lusted after the glass dash but at the time was quoted 10 grand! 3,500 for the 400 and could not live without it. I wonder if a guy could find a good glass dash out of a wrecked CC somewhere?
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I made the mistake of telling the boss that the glass dash was 10k!!! If I hadn't I could have said it was an ebay special!!!LOL. I looked a several before I did mine. I cut the R&M in half and made the back taller so it would be level on the top. I wanted the console underneath for the cd changer and a drawer. It also covers the area under the steering area as you walk in.
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Hang tight Mark I know where this a wrecked Newell if they don't repair it I'll get you dash I really want the whole Newell but the insurance co is doing a song and dance number on me I want the 625 hp Cat C-15 from it 11,000 miles
good luck
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Here's the pass side on ours.
http://prevostmotorhomes.ning.com/forum/topics/dashboard-upgrade (http://prevostmotorhomes.ning.com/forum/topics/dashboard-upgrade)
Put it togeather out of leftovers.
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Van, that eagle dash is a hard one to beat. When they came out in the model 10 it set a new standard!!
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If you get it Clifford I would like the stainless exhaust tip for the Silverside.
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Van do you have to wear sunglasses when you look at your dash? ;D ;D ;D
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Eric, we were going to trash the dash, but after taking it all apart, decided it looked half @$# decent with some new paint (hate that grey) and a little TLC. I know how alot of folks here are fond of the analog gauges, my hearts desire is to do it up with Dakota digital one day, but I'm still fond of the lil' birdies on mine ;D, now that I can read the little suckers, I drive mine by the temperature gauge by the way, Don't ask me why though ;D ;D. I like your center console, and as soon as I can figure out the million dollar question of how to curve wood :D ;D I will re visit my dash project forth with ;) ;D
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HCB, I have a dimmer, it is pleasing on the eyes too ::) ::) Repainting the gauge needles when I had them all apart was a plus, along with scraping 20+ years of gunk off of the inside of glass made them look like new ;)
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Here is mine pre-install, curved corian and an assortment of VDO gauges. The big hole is for an Alpine head unit.
TM
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That one is very very well done.
Curved corian..........do that yourself? I suppose you decided it is safe from cracking? glue it to a plywood backer?
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That one is very very well done.
Curved corian..........do that yourself? I suppose you decided it is safe from cracking? glue it to a plywood backer?
I have the same question about how do you curve Corian?
I'm thinking Corian might a good material to use for my dash. Would it be too reflective when the sunlight hits it? I found some Corian countertops cheap on Craigslist I could get.
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If any of you guys looking for corian are any where near northeastern OK, I have piles of it. My shop fabricates corian and I have drops and full sheets left over from jobs from the past that I would be most happy to see fellow busnuts make use of. As far as curving or bending goes, I have thermoformed several pieces in my bus and its not to hard to do. I usually make a form and put the corian in the oven on about 375 for around 30 minutes and then just lay it on the form and let it cool and your done, if your pieces are small you can just use your household oven.
I should have the corian fabrication manual in pdf which has specific info about thermoforming if anyone is interested.
TM
Your dash looks good, do you have any other pictures? I am just about to start my dash and was not planning on corian but would like to study yours a little closer.
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I haveto say that is a beautiful dash. I would love that in my Flxible!! I wonder if that could be done. Eventhough it has a huge windshield. I don't like the dashboard that is a fishbowl or a Flxible Newlook. That is a beautiful dashboard... Nice work.
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I've got some photos of the dash under construction, somewhere..... I'll post up when I find them. Lots of clamps and and a special jig made it happen.
TM
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how about a dash photo of a gorgeous 49 flx (this photo came from ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1949-Flxible-Clipper-Starliner-motorhome-conversion-/330558326084?pt=Buses&hash=item4cf6cfc544 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1949-Flxible-Clipper-Starliner-motorhome-conversion-/330558326084?pt=Buses&hash=item4cf6cfc544) )
(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr315/happycamperbrat/1949%20flx/49flx.jpg)
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I wish I had the money, time and the eye for that kind of detail
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Now that is Classic!! Gotta luv it! :)
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Photos are such good things, because now I see how it went together. Curved plywood was the key, that and lots of clamps. I cannot take credit for the dash as that goes to Larry at PCI.
TM
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On another forum, someone once told me that an easy way to make a dash is to:
1) frame it out
2) tape cardboard in the shape you want the dash over the frame
3) use spray foam over the cardboard and shape it
4) fiberglass it
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On another forum, someone once told me that an easy way to make a dash is to:
1) frame it out
2) tape cardboard in the shape you want the dash over the frame
3) use spray foam over the cardboard and shape it
4) fiberglass it
Actually that might have been on this forum. This thread discussed making a dash using foam and fibreglass:
http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=16556.0 (http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=16556.0)
Jeremy
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On another forum, someone once told me that an easy way to make a dash is to:
1) frame it out
2) tape cardboard in the shape you want the dash over the frame
3) use spray foam over the cardboard and shape it
4) fiberglass it
Actually that might have been on this forum. This thread discussed making a dash using foam and fibreglass:
http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=16556.0 (http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=16556.0)
Jeremy
actually it was a fiberglass forum..... I missed this one, it happened while I was on vacation. Thanks for bringing it up though!
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It still isn't finished (they tell me it never will be) but here are some pictures of my dash
Melbo
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Is that fiberglass and blue plexiglass or something else Melbo? It looks like an airplane, very cool!
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I built a metal frame and used blue plexiglas so I can take out any one of the sections so I don't have to crawl under the dash any more (getting too old) When finished it will have white vinyl trim -- I have driven to check how I like it and it works pretty well --- had to do some minor changes -- trickiest part was getting an led to light up when the cruise is engaged but it has been fun and a good learning experience.
Melbo
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dolson, if maybe u could post a couple of pics of the form, n piece heated, etc it would be easy to do. We could use our powdercoat ovens since its 375. I suppose you use a form a wee bit smaller than the actual finished product, but not the 15% as in ceramics.
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Here is a couple of pictures of our Eagle model 10