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Custom Dash for 1991 Chevy G-20 Shop Project Van:
Beginning of dash makeover:
This started as a repair mission. There was a short somewhere under the dash. The previous owner had lots of Scotch-Locks under there. Those are bad news. Of course, the short was related to one of those Scotch-Locks. While the dash was out, I rewired the entire stereo, added a DVD player and navigation unit, with a vehicle dynamics processor. The dash now holds a triple DIN radio enclosure for the stereo and video, angled at the driver. A 7 inch TV was added to the passenger side of the dash. The A/C vents in those areas are being replaced with round vents from an RV. The headlight switch was removed and the lights are now wired through the ignition switch with a
relay and an override switch. The dome light switch will now be a rocker switch under the radio, along with fog light and other accessory switches. The dash dimmer is from a 2000 S-10 Blazer, as are the power window and mirror switches. The door panels will need to be made to fit those and will be updated.
Laying the foundation for the fiberglass covering.
I added a triple DIN dash face for the DVD/Navigation, the stereo and the graphic equalizer/sound manager. There's also a mounting area for the 7" video screen on the passenger side. I also added 4X6" speaker mounts in the stock location, but angled toward the passengers for better sound quality. Other changes are the switches added to the radio plate and the headlight switch changed to a bypass switch. Panels were added at the bottom of the dash to replace the cheap plastic inserts that were down there.
Gluing the felt fabric on that will be the first fiberglass layer
This is much easier on a flatter surface. I still have to smooth most of it out before adding the fiberglass resin. I bought red only because they had it and it was on top of the pile of fabric. The radio section will be getting a real wood overlay, made from cherry. Originally, the dash was going to get covered in vinyl, but the vinyl guy at the shop left for personal reasons, so it will now be getting painted. I'm not sure if I will paint it with the vinyl color or to match the outside of the van.
Applying the fiberglass resin. This was done is sections, to avoid the cloth being stretched too far by the wet resin, which can get quite heavy.
Test fit of the cluster cover. Some trimming is needed.
Grinding this down is a project....
LCD TV test-fitted:
Body filler time: Some resin needed to be redone as it was sanded through.
I added a DVD player for the passenger side, plus a remote holder.
Next comes primer and paint. I have decided to paint it the same color I will paint the outside of the van.
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