Project Vitamin C-10

[Alan's Classic]

I got my Silverado seats set in temporarily. I have not tried to bolt them in place. The center console is not sitting down on the floor. The front legs will not stradle the hump enough.







I'm in the process of setting the column. I got a tilt column with a key. I don't know what it came out of. Me and Sdailey took the column apart. It had alot of play. I found the pivot plate screws to be backing out. I'm going to see if I can get it adapted to hold the factory ebrake. I also have to work on the neutral safety switch by relocating it further up the column. If so I'll change the bearings since I've got it apart.





I removed the dash today. Here are the spot welds along the top pinch weld.



Something is missing.

[Dinos63]

duuuude always love the nice work, thats going to be on nice truck , great job alan

[Alan's Classic]

Thanks Dino, I appreciate the comments. It keeps me going.

I've got the lower bracket mounted on the column. I had to remove 4 welded nuts to allow it to bolt up. I've still got to bolt the lower bracket to the column. I will wait till I get the dash in.





Made a cardboard dash to get a good visual.



With the cardboard lined up on the steering column cutout the 65 dash is alot higher than the Impala. The cardboard is not angled down to reflect the 65 angle. From what I can tell is the Impala dash will be flat to the bottom of the windshield. The 65 dash dives down to the windshield pinchweld. The gauges appear to be located at the same height, since the Impalas gauges mount toward the top of the dash.







I sprayed white paint around the cardboard to give me an idea where I might need to cut. Don't worry I plan on cutting it long and whittle down from there. I've got several ideas of how I'm going to attach it to the pinch weld, but I'm open to suggestions. I'm going to try to use the Impala pinch weld and modify it to make it fit. I've also got to cut the dash down the middle because it is about 3" short on the passenger side.

[4dranch]

Alan,
Thanks for the pictures and all the extra information. I know most of these guys know this stuff, but I'm sure learning alot from you. and I'm glad to see you give your helpers their union breaks..

[jonzcustomshop]

maybe keep the pinch weld from the 65 dash, and cut the dash off from it about an inch in, then use that to weld the impala dash to.
you might even be able to overlap the impala dash over what is left of the 65, then spot them together , and seamseall it in the pinch by the winshield.

[joe231]

sorry to hear about your father in law
be safe, see ya when you return

[jonzcustomshop]

sorry to hear that alan, If you need any help at this end, let us know.

[joesscamaro]

Sorry to hear about the loss in the family. Ya'll be careful in your travels and best wishes to you and the family

[4dranch]

Alan,
Sorry to hear about your father-in-law. Your family is in our prayers.

[jonzcustomshop]

or if you don't find one, we can cut one out of my parts truck while you are up here, you can just put it with your carry-on for the plane.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

or if you don't find one, we can cut one out of my parts truck while you are up here, you can just put it with your carry-on for the plane.

I'd love to see the look on their faces as the longer than ususal length bag rolls thru the x-ray . . ...

[Alan's Classic]

[Alan's Classic]

I've gotten started on the dash transformation.

First cut



There is no turning back now





It is centered on the column, it's just the angle the pic was taken at.







I've still got alot of work to do just to this side. finishing the pinch weld area, around the column and the mounts to the column and firewall.

I had to start somewhere so I just jumped in. Due to my inexperience with custom work I think I've done pretty good so far. If you have any pointers feel free to share. I don't need an old dash. I will make this one work.

[Bazooka]

That Impala dash is going to look great. Wish I could do it to mine..

[Rollie396]

Lookin great!What did you end up doing for the pinch weld flange on the imp dash?

[Alan's Classic]

Originally Posted by Rollie396

Lookin great!What did you end up doing for the pinch weld flange on the imp dash?

Since the Impala dash is pretty much flat across the top, I cut it about 1" long and cut reliefs along the edge and folded up the edge to make a flange. So far so good. Next I'm going to get the passenger side roughed out then tie everything together.

jonzcustomshop Re: My 1965 build thread

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
that is looking nice, I want to put one of those dashes in every car I own.
It is already cut now, so I guess that you are deleting the radio, and ash tray?

I'm going to block both of them off for now and redesign the openings for a pop out DVD player and aftermarket AC control where the ashtray is now.

[sdailey]

The point of no return..........


Looking good Alan.

[ChiefRocka]

That dash is gonna look SICK !!!

Great job so far.

Also, sorry to here about your pops...your family is our prayers as well.

[Alan's Classic]

Originally Posted by sdailey

The point of no return..........


Looking good Alan.

ChiefRocka Re: My 1965 build thread

That dash is gonna look SICK !!!

Great job so far.

Also, sorry to here about your pops...your family is our prayers as well.

Cyclone44 Re: My 1965 build thread

I went all the way through your build thread....Man you do some great work......

Thanks for all of the comments.

I got the other side fitted and the 2 center mounts roughed out and ready to weld.

Here is my cut line on the right. The left line is my bend. If I did it again I would have cut up my old dash and used a 2" wide strip all of the way across the pinch weld. Then I could have laid the Impala dash right on top of it and welded it. It would have been alot easier to line up.



Notches to make it easier to bend up to make the pinch weld.

[jonzcustomshop]

that is looking nice, I want to put one of those dashes in every car I own.
It is already cut now, so I guess that you are deleting the radio, and ash tray?

[joe231]

very nice work!

[jonzcustomshop]

wow! that is a lot wider than I thought it would be.
Now I feel bad, I had the entire center of one of those dashes that I cut up, and I just sent it to the junkyard with a 60 elco 2 days ago, I thought about your build, and was thinking that you might need a patch, but I figured that it was only going to be an inch and a half, so I didn't grab it.
I guess it won't be that hard to bend up some sheet..

[Alan's Classic]

Pic showing right center brace. Going to weld to the back of the cowl panel and tie the 2 together.



Starting to make the end cap that will tie the dash to the A pillar. Made a template out of cardboard.

[283 Man]

Alan, wish I had million dollars Id hire you to do all the metal work on my 63 & 66 you are doing a superburb job

[Alan's Classic]

Originally Posted by 283 Man

Alan, wish I had million dollars Id hire you to do all the metal work on my 63 & 66 you are doing a superburb job

I wouldn't charge a million just 900K . Thanks for the compliment.

Frizzle Fry Re: My 1965 build thread

The more I see those dashes the more I want one!

I think it is the best styled dash of all time.

1963chevyshort Re: My 1965 build thread

Great work Alan. Seems like alot of hard work that is paying off.

Thanks man.



I didn't like the way the pinch weld was turning out so I sacrificed my old dash that came out of the truck. I cut the pinch weld off the 65 dash to make a shelf for the Impala dash to rest on. I'm glad I did because it is alot cleaner job.







For those that don't know, these are kleeco's (sp). They are excellent in fitting up panels. They are like temporary rivets.



This is what it use to look like. I just didn't feel good about it.



This looks alot better.



I'm going tommorrow to look at a new Vintage Air kit that someone is selling for half price. It's new in the box. I need it to make sure it will fit behind the dash before I weld everything solid.