Going To Attempt To Make A Real Aluminum Dash Kit - Need Help!

[Blue Bomber]

It'll be similar to this:

http://www.everythingcelica.com/gal2/albums/tony_20020603/RealAlumDash.jpg

http://www.everythingcelica.com/gal2/albums/tony_20020603/DCP_0036.jpg

http://www.everythingcelica.com/gal2/albums/tony_20020603/DCP_0037.jpg

http://www.everythingcelica.com/gal2/albums/tony_20020603/DCP_0040.jpg

http://www.everythingcelica.com/gal2/albums/tony_20020603/DCP_0032.jpg

I figure it will be more durable than just getting the center console painted. Plus, if it does get a scratch here or there, I can just sand or grind it out.

Making a template for everything is the easy part. What I need to know is how thick the aluminum should be. Also, what kind of tool(s) do I need to cut the aluminum sheet?

[Jesse IL]

Please do the part around the gauges. I'll buy one of those from you for sure.

Edit: let me clarify. The black, kind rough-textured thing that people usually paint.

[Blue Bomber]

Well, if it comes out good, I may consider selling them. At the moment, though, I'm just doing it for myself. It all depends on how hard this project will be.

[Mistrimeat]

Yeah and please dont put the rivets in there

[beth]

i was totally thinking about doing that same thing, so i bought the imitation ''diamond-plate' plastic material crap from Foliatech and it was so hard to do. Even with that plastic crap, i couldn't get the round edges to line up or anything. I can't afford to have a shop custom cut the real diamond-plate for me, so if you come up with a way to do it, let me know cuz i will be your first customer!!!

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by Mistrimeat
Yeah and please dont put the rivets in there The reason that guy's kit has screws/rivets is to hold the plates on. From what I can remember from his post (EC.com's board is down right now), the aluminum was very hard to bend, so I'm sure the screws are there to keep the plates flush to where they're mounted. I doubt double-sided tape or glue would hold up, especially in warm weather.

[Mistrimeat]

Originally posted by Blue Bomber
The reason that guy's kit has screws/rivets is to hold the plates on. From what I can remember from his post (EC.com's board is down right now), the aluminum was very hard to bend, so I'm sure the screws are there to keep the plates flush to where they're mounted. I doubt double-sided tape or glue would hold up, especially in warm weather.

In that case...:thumbdown

It just looks to "industrial" for me. Like its unfinished or something. I duuno.

[S|Lv3rBu||et]

i kinda like the rivets.... they're not that bad at all. The whole thing is kindof industrial looking. I say stick with em.

[baNanA_ryCe]

looks kinda ugly with the rivits..i gotta agree w/ mistrimeat

[LiqSilv01]

Those rivets make it look bada$$

[WillyWonka]

The rivets are small enough to pass by. Tiny rivets that fit an allen wrench head would be an option for a different look.

I'd buy if I wasn't already painted.

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by WillyWonka
Tiny rivets that fit an allen wrench head would be an option for a different look.That's actually what I was thinking about using. They'd match my shift knob:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid11/p7ff27d433e05f78ad6ec233db8fde0e9/fe0ddf6f.jpg

:)

[Mistrimeat]

Maybe if the rivets were recessed like that shift knob, it wouldnt be so bad. But you'd still have to drill holes in your factory plastics, so if you ever wanted to remove the kit, youd have several tiny holes in it.

[WillyWonka]

BB,

You have just been witness to my mind reading capabilities. Allen heads are a better look.

[skamikaze]

jus a heads up, apsignworks has the real aluminum (not cheapy plastic) dash kits. i think the guy's name is jeff kuo. i havent seen it, but he says he has them.

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by skamikaze
jus a heads up, apsignworks has the real aluminum (not cheapy plastic) dash kits. i think the guy's name is jeff kuo. i havent seen it, but he says he has them. Yeah, but have you seen how much they cost? :eek: Most of their real aluminum dash kits are $250+! :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Toaster]

i have a real alum kit , it is so thin that the edges are razor sharp and it is held on by 3m tape. I would consider changing it if you could get your kit to look like his. that is beautiful and I personally like the screws but allen screws would look better.

[Blue Batmobile]

That's Tony's car(UNISON 69). Looking forward to seeing the finished product Christian:). Here's another pic of his kit with my AC Vent Overalys;).

Bat

[baNanA_ryCe]

i like it...the fact that its custom made makes it cool. Its totally original so its gotta be cool.

[Toaster]

I thnk he paid in the neighborhodd of $300 for that alum kit. and he nstalled it himself. look like a pain in the arse to drill all those hole.

[Blue Bomber]

OK, I just PM'd him. :)

Like I said before, the only way he could get the kit to stay on was to use those screws. He tried some adhesives, but nothing worked since the aluminum didn't bend so well.

[Shearak]

I am interested in buying this kit. I got your grill kit and its was a nice fit.

[Blue Bomber]

OK, so does anyone even have a vague idea of how thick the aluminum should be? I'm thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of the thickness of a CD.

[nate22]

Originally posted by Shearak
I am interested in buying this kit. I got your grill kit and its was a nice fit.

blue BOMBER........ not BATMOBILE

[LiqSilv01]

I think it oughta be a little more thin than a c.d but not by much.

[unison69]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the compliments and suggestions. The rivet idea is cool. I will have to look into it. :)

Blue Bomber - I have a small piece of sample that the shop gave me. Looking at the it, the thickness is close to the CD. So, you're pretty much right on. Anywayz, if you want, PM me your address and I will drop the sample in the mail. Good luck with the project. Looks like there is a huge demand. You may be able to make a "killing". hahahhaha....

Tony

[baNanA_ryCe]

Originally posted by nate22


blue BOMBER........ not BATMOBILE

but he/she was referring to the grills that blue bomber sells...not the grill kit that bat sells...

[GulfCoastGTS]

wow...those first pictures are...riveting...


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


nevermind....

[baNanA_ryCe]

haha i got it :chuckles:

[Chris25NJ]

i like

[Blue Bomber]

Woohoo! :D Just got the aluminum in the mail today:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p951bade88746c798a2c0455311705255/fd83a479.jpg

And the template is almost ready:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/pc1b5ad9b45b3d39c884b4216fc93db44/fd83a473.jpg

The aluminum is stronger than what unison69 used, so there shouldn't be any denting or bending-out-of-shape problems. :)

[unison69]

Hey, Good job. How do you plan to cut the aluminum?

[Blue Bomber]

Either aviation snips, a nibbler, or an electric saw, plus a drill. Whichever makes the cleanest cuts. If I do start to sell them, then I can afford better tools with whatever profit I make.

[01 Spectra GT-S]

wooooooooooo

NICE, I'll be interested to buy a set if the price is fair.

[rearendman0]

soo......? are you going to cut the aluminum first, or bend/stretch it first. Oh and what thickness did you end up with?

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by rearendman0
soo......? are you going to cut the aluminum first, or bend/stretch it first. Oh and what thickness did you end up with? No bending and stretching, just cutting. The aluminum is .040", basically the thickness of a CD.

[HilfigerCelica]

Can't wait to see pics.

[dj_casanova]

good luck bomber...i just asked my dad about doing this and he said he'll help me...he has a machine shop, so he said its gonna be easier to do. ne wayz good luck with yours

-cas

[sdcaliceli]

that rivet stuff makes it look hardcore, kinda a jet cockpit. props unison69.

[valkyrie]

so i have to drill it in order to install it?

[CelicaNamja79]

Blue Bomber,

If you are successful in making the kit, then I am buying one for sure. I will hold off on my CF dash kit for now then. Make that thing work! As I am a lazy a$$, I don't think I will be looking for an alminium shop or whatever to develop the kit for meeh. I will just wait until the Apple drops. :chuckles:

[01 Spectra GT-S]

agree, make it work and I'll get one.

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by valkyrie
so i have to drill it in order to install it? Yup. There's no way the aluminum I'm using will conform to the shape of the dash without screws. You don't need to drill holes, just put screws in through the holes of the kit. Adhesives won't work, either.

[01 Spectra GT-S]

so any update or pic?

[Blue Bomber]

Been a busy week:

Mon: Recovering from Sat/Sun meets
Tues: Repainting a friend's interior plastics
Wed: Hanging out
Thurs: Looking for the place I needed to go for an interview twice (and never found it)
Fri: Unknown. Either hanging out, finishing up the plastics, working on the new TSS website, or working on the dash kit. In order of priority, of course.

[ZZT 231]

if the price is right
i'm in
u should start a GP if u really want to sell
i've help install a CF interior kit for my friends IS300
my advice in making these is, make sure the tape is very VERY sticky, especially with alluminum, if it's harder to bend and $hit
u don't want the pieces too pop out later on
there was a guy that sells at http://www.importclassifieds.com, the same kit u posted, i was going to buy from him but lost his site

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by ZZT 231
my advice in making these is, make sure the tape is very VERY sticky, especially with alluminum, if it's harder to bend and $hit
u don't want the pieces too pop out later on
No tape at all. You need to screw it into your dash. I already know for a fact that any type of adhesive won't work. unison69 (who owns the original kit) tried to use glue with his kit and it wouldn't work. The aluminum I'm using is twice as thick.

[CSteckel]

If it's bent right, adhesive will work. You'd need to actually bend it too far so that when you pull is back and set the adhesive, the natural "spring" force in the sheet will keep perssure in the adhesive instead of it pulling it apart (as from what we've seen). It's definitely worth a try!!!

Chris

[Shearak]

Make it happen and I will buy one at a good price. I like the screws on the kit. The srews on this kit stand out from other kits. Good luck.

[AP-Signworks]

Hey guys, this is Jeff from AP-Signworks. We're one of the sponsors of this page, and we supply Larry with the decals that he sends out.

Just so you guys know, we already have a real brushed aluminum dash kit for the Celica. We've just held off on selling it because without the rivets you see in that pic, the kit won't work. The curves in the dash make the metal bend in weird ways and the tape won't hold it. Also, without the rivets, the kit tends to "wrinkle" and look creased. It looks very similar to the kit in the picture, same finish, etc. We do use a thinner aluminum which helps some.

So if anyone is interested, please email us at apsignworks@hotmail.com or call us at 770-925-8740.

We normally sell the kit for $215, yes it's more than the synthetic aluminum kits, but not by a lot, and the real aluminum is much more expensive to purchase and work with. But if enough people are interested, we can work out an intro price for this forum just to get some kits out there.

Also, Blue Bomber, the .040 may be too thick for this application. We initially tried a .032 and had problems with it, so we went to an even thinner material. Good luck though.

[MuleDoe]

$215 is kinda high. But then again the kit does look nice.

[skamikaze]

what would be that special intro price?

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by AP-Signworks
Also, Blue Bomber, the .040 may be too thick for this application. We initially tried a .032 and had problems with it, so we went to an even thinner material. Good luck though. unison69's dash was made out of at most .020" aluminum, and he said it was kinda easy to dent. The .040" is pretty much impossible to dent unintentionally.

BTW, how many pieces are in the kit (how many things does it cover)?

[skamikaze]

yeah, it would be interesting to see pics of the AP signworks kit

[rearendman0]

Originally posted by Blue Bomber
No bending and stretching, just cutting.

It's going to have to be (bent/stretched) pressed into shape in order for it to lay over the dash. thats some thick aluminum to stretch into shape. A good way to stretch it would be to drag it over something and somewhat strech mold it into shape. thats if you dont have te tools to press it . hope it works out peace

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by rearendman0
It's going to have to be (bent/stretched) pressed into shape in order for it to lay over the dash. thats some thick aluminum to stretch into shape. A good way to stretch it would be to drag it over something and somewhat strech mold it into shape. thats if you dont have te tools to press it . hope it works out peace It's gonna have a few bends here and there, but it's not gonna conform exactly to the dash. unison69's kit is the same way. In parts that won't bend enough (mainly the shifter surround near the ash tray and cigarette lighter), separate pieces are used.

[nate22]

Originally posted by AP-Signworks
Hey guys, this is Jeff from AP-Signworks. We're one of the sponsors of this page, and we supply Larry with the decals that he sends out.

Just so you guys know, we already have a real brushed aluminum dash kit for the Celica. We've just held off on selling it because without the rivets you see in that pic, the kit won't work. The curves in the dash make the metal bend in weird ways and the tape won't hold it. Also, without the rivets, the kit tends to "wrinkle" and look creased. It looks very similar to the kit in the picture, same finish, etc. We do use a thinner aluminum which helps some.

So if anyone is interested, please email us at apsignworks@hotmail.com or call us at 770-925-8740.

We normally sell the kit for $215, yes it's more than the synthetic aluminum kits, but not by a lot, and the real aluminum is much more expensive to purchase and work with. But if enough people are interested, we can work out an intro price for this forum just to get some kits out there.

Also, Blue Bomber, the .040 may be too thick for this application. We initially tried a .032 and had problems with it, so we went to an even thinner material. Good luck though.

this is the kinda crap that pisses me off......had this post been in OT ;), i would have used two phrases, both starting w/ STF*.

This is Bomber's show, step off. If you wanted to simply give advice to Chris, you should have pm'd him instead of stepping on his toes in full view of everyone on this board.

Chris stepped to the plate and at least brought the idea to light, unlike you, who waited and used Chris' BALLS to jump on a possible market. This just happened to somebody else...it's like C-blocking.....

EVERYONE ELSE, wait and see what Chris comes up w/, he'll make it worth your while, TRUST ME....and affordable as well....

[vatik]

For $215, you are better off just making a mold of the old one and actually casting an aluminum replacement piece. Brushed up it would look a lot better anywyas. Aluminum melts at rather low temperatures... there might even be a forge around town somewhere that could quote you a price for making the mold