The Super Duper Haggis Hauler

[Captainfab]

A 20 ton press should be just fine.

[MacQuigley]

I'm really hoping that one of you wonderful chaps out there is going to tell me that the hole Ive just noticed tonight, despite the fact Ive been working on it for 6 months on and off, in the far right hand side of my dash is actually meant to be there for some reason I'm not aware off.....



If not it looks like I'm going to have to weld it up which would be a F^%*(&G shame as ive just about finished the dash! How I could possibly have missed it is completely beyond me. It only jumped out at me when I went to rub down the first coat of epoxy!

On a more positive note my 20 tonne press arrived tonight. I though the 20 tonne reference was the force it extracted, not its weight! Hell its heavy!

[Captainfab]

I hate to be the one to say it , but that hole should not be there.

[MacQuigley]

Sadly I knew that would be the answer. Oh well its out with the MIG again tonight!

I don't know how I missed it! But it jumped out as soon as I primed the dash.

[MacQuigley]

First a little welding



Then a little grinding and dressing



Then after some filling, sanding and painting



Should be finished soon, say sometime around 2037! That's the year not the time!!!

[MacQuigley]

Just before I put up the "after" picture, lets look at the "before". This is how it came to me



And this is how it looks now after a few hours work



Its still to be cleared and Ive got to try and get the instrument collar in without scratching the new paint but its way better than I ever thought it would be when I first say the dash. Still cant figure out what the hell the PO was thinking or trying to achieve!

[61K10]

looks great--nice job

[Captainfab]

Yes, your dash turned out very nice Bill

[MacQuigley]

Thanks guy's. Its definitely better than it started! Hope the rest of the truck comes out as well!

[AJCK87]

Awesome job on the dash! I'm really digging you work

[66-PMD-GMC]

Curious. ..
How ya gonna weld that dash in and not burn the paint??

[MacQuigley]

Carefully! Very Carefully!

I'll be spot welding it from the outside. Obviously I will burn some paint round the welds but with care (and lots of masking and a fire blanket) I should be able to prevent damage elsewhere. The only pit that should get burned will be under the windshield rubber.

[MacQuigley]

Not getting much done this week. Been away the first half of the week and on site until late today with much of the same tomorrow. Hopefully get a fair bit done over the weekend.

Shame work has to get I the way!

[62 Barnfind]

Nice job n your dash?

[62 Barnfind]

Originally Posted by 62 Barnfind

Nice job n your dash?

See if I can type right.

Nice job on your dash! Came out good.

[niterider65]

looking pretty good

[Grizz1963]

Awesome transformation Bill.

You are a brave and skilled man.

Having started with a dream and vision, you certainly lived the nightmare to wake up this side of midnight with your dream firmly gripped in hand.

[mjh1965]

The dash looks great Bill . There is nothing worse than priming a panel then realising you have missed a bit .

[MacQuigley]

Cheers guy's, appreciate the comments.

And Martin your absolutely right. Couldn't believe it when I saw that hole! (Oh and if Pete hasn't mentioned it, he should have your anti roll bar tomorrow if not already)

New hinges arrived during the week, so its back to door fitting this weekend.

[Chevy Apache]

Originally Posted by MacQuigley

Cheers guy's, appreciate the comments.

And Martin your absolutely right. Couldn't believe it when I saw that hole! (Oh and if Pete hasn't mentioned it, he should have your anti roll bar tomorrow if not already)

New hinges arrived during the week, so its back to door fitting this weekend.

They haven't arrived yet be here tomorrow lol.
Thanks again Bill, nothing worse than missing a bit looking good though keep the good work up,
Wonder what I will be doing next week lol

[MacQuigley]

Anyone know where I can get valve covers similar to these?



I am looking at a set in black with etched lines and Chevrolet on them but Id quite like the 454 on them.

[Captainfab]

Not those exact valve covers, but I did find these.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Big-Block-Ch...1W-sZM&vxp=mtr

Edit: Looked a little further and found them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Big-Block-Ch...3D261537731160

[MacQuigley]

Thanks John, that's the very one's.

So I asked by technical support (my 17 year old son) which he preferred ie these or the one's with Chevrolet engraved on and got the usual shrug of the shoulders and the inevitable "eithers fine"! Lot of use he is!!!!!

[MacQuigley]

Guy's I'm after some opinions/suggestions/advice.

I fitted the instrument bezel tonight and I'm not happy with it. First up I'm not sure I actually like the colour contrast. What do you think?



More importantly I'm not happy with the fit and all the gaps.







I though I could live with this but I cant. I know its and perhaps I shouldn't be looking for perfection but I'm going to be spending a lot of time staring at that dash and I'm not going to be happy.

Has anyone out there successfully filled these gaps and if they have was the bezel still removable? Assuming the bezel was permanently fixed in thanks to bondo, fiberglass or even steel can an instrument panel still be fitted with the steering column in place? I guess its no biggie to remove the column if I had to remove the instruments but its part of the decision process.

Opinions??????

[MacQuigley]

PS the instrument panel will probably be charcoal grey to black as I think I'm just buying one from LMC off the shelf. So I'm thinking the blue is wrong!