Custom made wood dash & door trim panels - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

ECU PIRATE · 02-18-2010, 08:51 PM

I just wanted to throw this out there and see if there was any interest or comments...........

My day job is working for a custom cabinet maker and distributor (amateur wood worker / fabricator on the side). I got tired off pulling off a dash pad and finding some if not all, of the mounting tabs and the back of the dash trim to be broken. Looking for that dare to be different situation, I decided to see if they could be made out of wood.

With the help of my buddy who is the shop manager, I came up with these mock ups. I decided to use a 73-80 dash as my model since I like the rounded style. These are just preliminary right now for fit before we shave them down a little bit, sand them and, spray them. The wood you see is Cherry but, I was thnking about using some Black Walnut or Mahogany on my truck. I am also thinking about using the same color but a thinner woodgrain skin over my dash bezel.

I am working on a template for the 81-87 dashes next but, the key would be to shave the wood down as much as possible where the dash meets the door panel on the passenger side. My hope is to possibly upgrade my membership and put these into production if there is some interest. If not, I will be the only joker rolling around like this. I got the idea from a Big 10 that i saw in the junkyard over the summer. It seems the PO did the same thing.

Let me know your thoughts men. I can get some better pics for you once we work on the mock up a little bit.

74 C-30 · 02-18-2010, 09:01 PM

i like the dash piece, my truck has a factory woodgrain one and that would be a cool replacement

1LowToy · 02-18-2010, 09:17 PM

Looks like a great idea. Sure would be nice to give the dash piece a personal touch with a little engraving. Mine has AC vents and I gotta keep my co-pilot cool.

DubDubU · 02-18-2010, 09:05 PM

Very nice

**old Rusty C10** · 02-18-2010, 09:29 PM

1 low said it best there needs to be one to accomodate ac vents and perhaps if its not a copyright infringement the logo for the trucks engraved into it or wood burned in

b454rat · 02-18-2010, 10:54 PM

My crew has an interior similar to those. Course those are much nicer....I like it, it's different than the fake aluminum that most have.

54Caddy · 02-18-2010, 10:57 PM

what would also look good is some wood grain affect painted panels, we will be learing this at school maybe ill give it a try on an old dash piece here in a couple of weeks.

Driveway Dreams · 02-18-2010, 10:59 PM

I think that would be a cool touch with a dark stain. Like almost black kind of dark.

54Caddy · 02-18-2010, 11:04 PM

yea ill try a few different colors maybe well see how i do

**old Rusty C10** · 02-18-2010, 11:40 PM

you could also make an accomodation for the pull strap too

britnjc · 02-18-2010, 11:44 PM

How about make a whole dash outta wood. Now that would be cool

wklink · 02-19-2010, 07:45 AM

Not in the PNW, it would start to rot.

Nice inserts though. I might have to consider those when I eventually start to redo the truck.

TexasJeff · 02-19-2010, 08:32 AM

I remember back in the day when these trucks were new, Choo Choo Customs
used to do the same type of parts for trucks and vans.

Oldschool82 · 02-19-2010, 11:34 PM

nice work.

*C-10 simplex* · 02-20-2010, 01:30 PM

1) Thanks for referring to me as a man; Because, sadly, i am not a yet a man. But thanks anyways.

2) i may be interested in this as a custom job, but can you show me how these, or the stock pieces are attached to the dash/dash pad?

ECU PIRATE · 02-22-2010, 05:22 PM

As far as the mounting goes, I have planned on using a small threaded bolt with the head cut off, recessed into the back of the trim. The dash trim will be installed into the pre cut holes in the dash with a washer and a nut. The same can be done on the door panel trim. Per old Rusty's insight, I am thinking about how to incorporate the mounting location for the door pull strap and how thge original covers can be re-used (if @ all). Should not be too hard although the factory screw can be used due to the panel depth. I will post some updated photos next week. These were just planed down ot the thickness I as looking for.

bradf74 · 02-22-2010, 07:56 PM

I just did this about a month ago in the dash. I added a couple pieces for guages and a custom console. I will post pics tomorrow

bumslie75 · 02-23-2010, 04:55 AM

I might have to try this if its OK with you

ECU PIRATE · 02-23-2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bumslie75

I might have to try this if its OK with you

No problems. This is a place to share ideas and gather information. We are all trying to accomplish the same things..............to have sick ass trucks

*Stitch* · 02-23-2010, 08:21 PM

It's a little too think for my liking...there is a guy here in town that can airbrush wood grain on anything...I was thinking about getting him to airbrush the wood on my stuff, but it's expensive...he uses acetylene or something to make it look like wood grain...very cool stuff...

ECU PIRATE · 02-23-2010, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Hoe

It's a little too think for my liking...there is a guy here in town that can airbrush wood grain on anything...I was thinking about getting him to airbrush the wood on my stuff, but it's expensive...he uses acetylene or something to make it look like wood grain...very cool stuff...

I have them down to about 1/2" thick right now. Can't take them down to much more or I will not be able to mount them. I saw Chip Foose do exactly what you are talking about on an episode of Overhaulin'. Very nice indeed. I have a buddy who does custom spray work. I may have to talk to him (same guy that is going to spray up my molding with one of his custom finishes..........

motornut · 02-24-2010, 12:00 AM

The truck i got was custom built in texas with all inlay wood,all signed on the back by who ever made them,Vacation Customs from texas.....just found another plainsman this weekend on here(only two i know of). I have since removed all the "good stuff" and replaced with blue bits till body work....mounted with screws threw oak to the scrap wood braces under panels

ECU PIRATE · 02-24-2010, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motornut

The truck i got was custom built in texas with all inlay wood,all signed on the back by who ever made them,Vacation Customs from texas.....just found another plainsman this weekend on here(only two i know of). I have since removed all the "good stuff" and replaced with blue bits till body work....mounted with screws threw oak to the scrap wood braces under panels

I guess some of us like to keep it old skool with wood and metal over plastic. Good stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GmtGmt · 02-25-2010, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECU PIRATE

I guess some of us like to keep it old skool with wood and metal over plastic. Good stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yep that why my choo choo custom truck get all new made

bumslie75 · 02-24-2010, 12:26 AM

there was one like that today in the pick a part to bad it was all broken to heck

02-18-2010, 08:51 PM	#1
ECU PIRATE Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Centreville, Virginia Posts: 846	Custom made wood dash & door trim panels I just wanted to throw this out there and see if there was any interest or comments........... My day job is working for a custom cabinet maker and distributor (amateur wood worker / fabricator on the side). I got tired off pulling off a dash pad and finding some if not all, of the mounting tabs and the back of the dash trim to be broken. Looking for that dare to be different situation, I decided to see if they could be made out of wood. With the help of my buddy who is the shop manager, I came up with these mock ups. I decided to use a 73-80 dash as my model since I like the rounded style. These are just preliminary right now for fit before we shave them down a little bit, sand them and, spray them. The wood you see is Cherry but, I was thnking about using some Black Walnut or Mahogany on my truck. I am also thinking about using the same color but a thinner woodgrain skin over my dash bezel. I am working on a template for the 81-87 dashes next but, the key would be to shave the wood down as much as possible where the dash meets the door panel on the passenger side. My hope is to possibly upgrade my membership and put these into production if there is some interest. If not, I will be the only joker rolling around like this. I got the idea from a Big 10 that i saw in the junkyard over the summer. It seems the PO did the same thing. Let me know your thoughts men. I can get some better pics for you once we work on the mock up a little bit. Attached Images __________________ The Fleet........ 68' Camaro - 1st car (restored & still have it) 09' VW Tiguan (Wife's Daily Driver) 14' VW Passat SE TSI (my personal) 14' Ford Edge Sport (Daily Work Vehicle) 73' SWB Stepside - 77K org. miles 74' LWB 454/TH400 - drive train transplant for my (Sold) 98' SWB C1500 W/T - shop truck (Sold) 90' GMC Sierra SLE short step - aka " Jezabelle " (Sold)

02-18-2010, 09:01 PM	#2
74 C-30 Dually Pride Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NH Posts: 540	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels i like the dash piece, my truck has a factory woodgrain one and that would be a cool replacement __________________ If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand. '74 Chevy C-30 350/4 speed/dually '94 Ford Ranger

02-18-2010, 09:17 PM	#3
1LowToy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sonora California Posts: 860	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels Looks like a great idea. Sure would be nice to give the dash piece a personal touch with a little engraving. Mine has AC vents and I gotta keep my co-pilot cool.

02-18-2010, 09:05 PM	#4
DubDubU Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: st louis,mo Posts: 313	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels Very nice __________________ '79' shortbed

02-18-2010, 09:29 PM	#5
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,310	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels 1 low said it best there needs to be one to accomodate ac vents and perhaps if its not a copyright infringement the logo for the trucks engraved into it or wood burned in __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!! Last edited by old Rusty C10; 02-18-2010 at 11:40 PM.

02-18-2010, 10:54 PM	#6
b454rat Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 3,469	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels My crew has an interior similar to those. Course those are much nicer....I like it, it's different than the fake aluminum that most have. __________________ 2000 GMC CCSB 454/4L80 6” lift SAS 1999 Chevy CCSB 454/NV4500 4” SAS 1999 GMC Yukon 350/4L60 6" SAS

02-18-2010, 10:57 PM	#7
54Caddy GM Addicted Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Visalia, Ca Posts: 2,294	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels what would also look good is some wood grain affect painted panels, we will be learing this at school maybe ill give it a try on an old dash piece here in a couple of weeks. __________________ ..Mac’s Garage.. 73 GMC, 54 Caddy, 2010 Silverado, 68 C10 RIP DAd My 73 GMC Truck Build Pic 2010 Silverado 4/6 on 24s IG:MacsGarage

02-18-2010, 10:59 PM	#8
Driveway Dreams I have car A.D.D. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Greeley, Northern Colorado Posts: 4,147	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels I think that would be a cool touch with a dark stain. Like almost black kind of dark. __________________ -Gerald Building vehicles in memory of the first "car guy" I ever knew, my Grandpa. Bob Dunham 1935-2009. Rest in peace. 61 GMC Suburban SOLD The 86 build thread SOLD Are you a Colorado member?Click here.

02-18-2010, 11:04 PM	#9
54Caddy GM Addicted Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Visalia, Ca Posts: 2,294	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels yea ill try a few different colors maybe well see how i do __________________ ..Mac’s Garage.. 73 GMC, 54 Caddy, 2010 Silverado, 68 C10 RIP DAd My 73 GMC Truck Build Pic 2010 Silverado 4/6 on 24s IG:MacsGarage

02-18-2010, 11:40 PM	#10
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,310	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels you could also make an accomodation for the pull strap too __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

02-18-2010, 11:44 PM	#11
britnjc Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Helena, Alabama Posts: 453	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels How about make a whole dash outta wood. Now that would be cool

02-19-2010, 07:45 AM	#12
wklink Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 122	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels Not in the PNW, it would start to rot. Nice inserts though. I might have to consider those when I eventually start to redo the truck. __________________ I let my 16 year old son drive my every car that I own. I don't let him drive my truck. A man has to draw a line somewhere.

02-19-2010, 08:32 AM	#13
TexasJeff Don't Crush em Restore em Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pinehurst, Texas Posts: 764	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels I remember back in the day when these trucks were new, Choo Choo Customs used to do the same type of parts for trucks and vans. __________________ TexasJeff 2009 Silver with Linen Interior Cadillac DTS 1990 Red with White Top and Interior Ford Mustang GT convertible 1998 Red with Gray Interior, C3500 Chevy Crew Cab Dually Last edited by TexasJeff; 02-19-2010 at 08:35 AM.

02-19-2010, 11:34 PM	#14
Oldschool82 Balls to the wall! Join Date: May 2009 Location: Shreveport Louisiana Posts: 231	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels nice work.

02-20-2010, 01:30 PM	#15
C-10 simplex Account Suspended Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: indisclosed Posts: 1,515	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels 1) Thanks for referring to me as a man; Because, sadly, i am not a yet a man. But thanks anyways. 2) i may be interested in this as a custom job, but can you show me how these, or the stock pieces are attached to the dash/dash pad?



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02-22-2010, 05:22 PM	#16
ECU PIRATE Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Centreville, Virginia Posts: 846	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels As far as the mounting goes, I have planned on using a small threaded bolt with the head cut off, recessed into the back of the trim. The dash trim will be installed into the pre cut holes in the dash with a washer and a nut. The same can be done on the door panel trim. Per old Rusty's insight, I am thinking about how to incorporate the mounting location for the door pull strap and how thge original covers can be re-used (if @ all). Should not be too hard although the factory screw can be used due to the panel depth. I will post some updated photos next week. These were just planed down ot the thickness I as looking for. __________________ The Fleet........ 68' Camaro - 1st car (restored & still have it) 09' VW Tiguan (Wife's Daily Driver) 14' VW Passat SE TSI (my personal) 14' Ford Edge Sport (Daily Work Vehicle) 73' SWB Stepside - 77K org. miles 74' LWB 454/TH400 - drive train transplant for my (Sold) 98' SWB C1500 W/T - shop truck (Sold) 90' GMC Sierra SLE short step - aka " Jezabelle " (Sold) Last edited by ECU PIRATE; 02-22-2010 at 05:23 PM.

02-22-2010, 07:56 PM	#17
bradf74 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Summit, MS Posts: 56	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels I just did this about a month ago in the dash. I added a couple pieces for guages and a custom console. I will post pics tomorrow

02-23-2010, 04:55 AM	#18
bumslie75 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Reedley Ca Posts: 360	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels I might have to try this if its OK with you __________________ "There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die."

02-23-2010, 08:21 PM	#20
Stitch Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Where I come from, it's cornbread and chicken... Posts: 3,122	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels It's a little too think for my liking...there is a guy here in town that can airbrush wood grain on anything...I was thinking about getting him to airbrush the wood on my stuff, but it's expensive...he uses acetylene or something to make it look like wood grain...very cool stuff...

02-24-2010, 12:00 AM	#22
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels The truck i got was custom built in texas with all inlay wood,all signed on the back by who ever made them,Vacation Customs from texas.....just found another plainsman this weekend on here(only two i know of). I have since removed all the "good stuff" and replaced with blue bits till body work....mounted with screws threw oak to the scrap wood braces under panels Attached Images __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350 Last edited by motornut; 02-24-2010 at 12:07 AM.

02-24-2010, 12:26 AM	#25
bumslie75 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Reedley Ca Posts: 360	Re: Custom made wood dash & door trim panels there was one like that today in the pick a part to bad it was all broken to heck __________________ "There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die."

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