My long term 57 project

[ChuckDriver]

Bigblue and Kawbe,

Thanks for the kind words! I can't wait to get it back together. I'll post more pic's of the progress soon!

[ChuckDriver]

I hated to cut a nearly perfect dash. I had fixed the radio opening a few years back so it looked great. But I wanted to have a custom touch that some folks might not recognize.

The first shot is of the empty dash.

In the second I used the Dash trim as a guide to mark my cut.

In the 3rd it shows the under dash mount for the wiper motor, the black line shows where I trimmed it.

[71'tahoe]

Looking good!!

[ChuckDriver]

Here are a few more of the Dash Mod. I put a tape line around the back of the dash apprx 1in wide. After cutting the braces an each end I used a jigsaw to cut it out. You can see that the Impala Dash is about 4in wider. I sectioned it from the center, cutiing out the radio and ash tray openings. But I now plan to put the ash tray back in to possibly hide a radio controller.

[dennis57]

Very cool. I can't wait to see it in place.

[bensimmons_05]

Too sexy! Too sexy!!

[ChuckDriver]

A little progress made. The pics show how much has to come off the back of the Impala dash after the flange was cut off. You can see that I'm trying to get the two halves trimmed and lined up as best as possible before I tack them together.

[Kim57]

That is going to be sweet when its finished.
every time I see a different dash in one of these it makes me want to change mine.
Kim

[dennis57]

That is going to be nice. Keep the tech coming.

[GRIMSS]

Nice progress on the dash.

[daverod]

Sweat build. Got to love the dash. Still have to finish mine. I haven't decided on what to do about the defrost holes/heater set up.

[Kabwe]

looking good, keep up the good work.

[dennis57]

How's the project going?

[ChuckDriver]

Howdy Dennis! Not much progress lately. I did get the column opening filled, after removing what was my first attempt. Had a good metal man help me with it. Then I got the ash tray reworked into the dash after I had planned to remove it. I think it will look more like a factory install with the ash tray.

I'm trying to decide what to do for AC vents. May go with a under dash panel and install them there. But I would really like to find some 59 Impala or 55-57 Chevy factory dash vents. Would you happen to have a set laying around?

What have you deceided to do with your's??

[dennis57]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Howdy Dennis! Not much progress lately. I did get the column opening filled, after removing what was my first attempt. Had a good metal man help me with it. Then I got the ash tray reworked into the dash after I had planned to remove it. I think it will look more like a factory install with the ash tray.

I'm trying to decide what to do for AC vents. May go with a under dash panel and install them there. But I would really like to find some 59 Impala or 55-57 Chevy factory dash vents. Would you happen to have a set laying around?

What have you deceided to do with your's??

There is a local guy that has lots of 55-57 car parts I'll see if he has something. I was kind of thinking about some aircraft wemac style round ones. It still depends on what the console looks like.

[ChuckDriver]

Got a little work done today. Working on securing the lower edges of the dash to the lower A pillar/door frame. Hope to get this done soon, can't believe it's takeing so long, but that how it goes!! More pics soon!

[dennis57]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Got a little work done today. Working on securing the lower edges of the dash to the lower A pillar/door frame. Hope to get this done soon, can't believe it's takeing so long, but that how it goes!! More pics soon!

I hear ya. Take your time and have fun with it. I can't wait to see how it's coming along.

[ChuckDriver]

A little more work on getting the lower part of the Dash fitted to the cab. I'm using a lip that was left over after the original was cut out. It's almost like it was made for the impala dash to rest on. You can also see how I hid the wires to feed the IGN and Fuse Panel from the Battery

[ChuckDriver]

This is it after cutting off the excess and redoing the filler panel.

[ChuckDriver]

After cutting it out I've decided to put the ash tray back in. It actually flows well with the new width of the center section. May use it to hold a radio controller. Now I need to decided what AC vents to use.

[ChuckDriver]

A few more! Hope to get more done this week. It's taken months and I'm missing driving it!!

[ChuckDriver]

A little progress! Worked on the passenger side of the dash extending it just a little, using some metal that was cut from the dash. Trying to close the gap between the end and the A-pillar, not completly just even it out. I tacked on a wider piece and then cut it down to size. Hope to get more down today!

[ChuckDriver]

I used a 1in strip of card stock to lay out the width that I was looking for. Putting the "witness marks" helped to re-align it after I tacked on the recycled strip. Marked the line and cut off the excess. This method work great for me! Just a few more things to finish up and hope to get it completed soon!

[JML55]

Nice work.

[ChuckDriver]

Here's one more with the dash just bolted/screwed in. Still need to fine tune a few things before welding it in solid. Check out the shirt my son just happened to be wearing!!!