1155 replies to this topic

[minimaxie]

Heres mine, not quite finished, need air vents and I have a smiths coloured vacuum gauge and ammeter to go in, need to drill the holes. I would love one of those "fasten seat belts" gauges!

 

 

 

Very nice :) Is that an MPi twin speed heater I spy there?!

[DannyTip]

 

 

Absolute work of art that dash and column. Obviously many hours of design, planning and work gone into it. A triumph!

 

 

Thank you.

 

I started this during the winter. At the beginning, I just had the idea for the instrument panel, but after I got the first part finished, I saw it wasn't enough. So I continued on the switch panel, and move all the electrics from the column. 

 

I'm working on two last parts, a center cap for the steering wheel, and a shifter bezel. 

 

 

I love that.  For some reason it reminds me of willy wonkas chocolate factory.  But it looks amazing :)

[thelegg]

agreed, so original and its nicely laid out too :)

[miniman24]

 

Heres mine, not quite finished, need air vents and I have a smiths coloured vacuum gauge and ammeter to go in, need to drill the holes. I would love one of those "fasten seat belts" gauges!

 

 

 

Very nice :) Is that an MPi twin speed heater I spy there?!

 

 

Well spotted, it is Car is a daily drive so I need some comfort haha! Heres a few updated pictures with my new wheel (still no vents though!)

 

 

 

[diogoteix]

Here is mine, custom made from the template I attached in a previous post

here:  Mini_Dashboard_v2_w_units.pdf   20.31K   1616 downloads

 

 

 

 

 

[Miniac86]

How was the fit from that template? ^^^

[diogoteix]

How was the fit from that template? ^^^

 

I had to trim it a bit, because in my case I needed 1/2 cm more on each side, and 1/2cm less in height (if I remember well, it was 2 years ago). When you do it with plywood covered with suede, you want a perfect fit because you will not fit a rubber seal to hide any imperfection. So it's better if you leave the board with a small margin that you can then finish with sand paper. And every Mini is different, I'm quite sure 1 cm is the margin of error they had when building cars at that time!

[diogoteix]

By the way here is the "right hand drive"

 Mini_Dashboard_v2_small_led_RHD.pdf   62.08K   1591 downloads

 

You will see that I changed my plans regarding the dials layout !

Edited by diogoteix, 10 September 2013 - 08:59 PM.

[Miniac86]

Thanks for that, I've got quite a selection of templates including these and rather than using trial and error would prefer something more factual, like what you have stated above which would lead me in the best direction. I'm thinking of using a wood called Panga Panga or possibly Mozambiquen Kiyaat as they both have their own appealing characteristics and would much rather not stuff it up.

[diogoteix]

Making it with one of these woods will be REALLY nice and you're right to leave it simple. I first tried to make myself a real carbon fiber board out of CF fabric and epoxy, but it was really a mess to polish and I had to abandon. I just kept a very small carbon fiber panel for the switches.

Plywood and black suede was chosen because my car is white and I wanted a black interior. It's obviously much easier.

With a "nobel" wood panel the cutting will have to adjust perfectly so take good car to confirm every dimension from your own car and give a little margin for adjustments. The varnishing/polishing will be easier than with CF/epoxy so you shouldn't have much trouble here.

Good luck end enjoy!

[Miniac86]

I'm going to start out with some MDF and get it right down to within the slimmest margin before transferring over to the final wood. I'll probably spray my varnish on and flat it back a few times to get a glass like finish.

[diogoteix]

I'm going to start out with some MDF and get it right down to within the slimmest margin before transferring over to the final wood. I'll probably spray my varnish on and flat it back a few times to get a glass like finish.

Yes it looks like the safest way to get a perfect fit

[uk mini man]

check out my gauges that I am going to fit, leave a calling card on my site www.ukminiman.weebly.com

[diogoteix]

check out my gauges that I am going to fit, leave a calling card on my site www.ukminiman.weebly.com

 

Waou (that's French, I don't know the English equivalent...).

These gauges are quite impressive! And for a clean and simple panel you will have anything you need, without having to fuss around with loads of "anologic" senders.

In my case I've gone the "analogic" way and can tell you that "smith" gauges are of poor quality... I like the look though!... But the speedo has parkinson and water gauge has to be replaced (after 2 years only)...

[MINI MAD RKH]

check out my gauges that I am going to fit, leave a calling card on my site www.ukminiman.weebly.com

 

Cool  I've been wondering if this type of gauge would fit a Mini, just a shame they don't do a mph version

 

 I left a msg on yr site