Here is a photo of the burled walnut material that I will be using for my dash face.
I really like the color and the pattern of the laminate.
Steven
Here is my test fit of my burled walnut on my gauge cluster. I have a little more sanding to get the clearances I want. After the sanding I’ll move on to the openings for the wiper switch, turn signal, belts and brake. Once everything is cut and sanded I’ll remove the clear plastic protector over the material.
Steven
I’ve been continuing with my dash restoration and modification. One thing that was bothering me was the indicator lenses for the dash. They were tired and faded. While shopping for school supplies I found a rather inexpensive solution to my indicator lens problem. I purchased a pack of notebook tab dividers, The dividers have transparent colors of red, green, blue and yellow.
I removed the worn indicator lenses from their bezels at cut the tab dividers to fit over the lenses. I inserted the cut tab dividers into the bezels followed by the factory lenses. The end result is a clean transparent lens in the proper colors to correspond with the indicator.
Steven
Brilliant!
The dividers have transparent colors of red, green, blue and yellow.
As Bill said, “Brilliant!”. I was looking for something for my shift indicator as the plastic shield in there was covered in goo and proceeded to return to particle form on cleaning. This should do just perfectly!
Thanks guys. The pictures show everything well but the indicators look better in person. I think everything will really look good when I get the LED bulbs I ordered from WCCC’s installed. Between this, LED’s and the new blue diffusers I installed I can hardly wait to see the end result.
Steven
I finished dressing up the high-beam indicator lens this afternoon. I ordered a used one from WCCC’s, even after cleaning it needed a bit more help. A clear tab divider did the trick.
Steven
Great idea!, thinking outside the box!
I may have to steal this idea from
You when I get to this point in my build.
Here is another picture of my dash overlay. I’m getting close to having all 3 of the pieces fitted.
Steven
I’m pretty much complete with my dash overlay. I’ve been working on installing a mini-tach. Seeing that the Cougar mini-tach is unavailable I opted to use RCCI’s Mustang mini-tach.
I follow up with Brian “BAC” on his install and he was great at answering my questions. You can read about Brian’s mini-tach here: https://cccforum.discoursehosting.net/t/6000rpm-mini-tach-diy-install/6422/5
The picture below is a test fit with my custom lens using the Cougar clock lens’s center. I cut it loose with an exacto knife and mounted to the new lens. The new lens has a green appearance because of the protective coating of the plexiglass. I’ll remove the protective coating when I’m sure no more cutting and sanding of the lens needs to be done.
Steven
Looking good Steven. Like all these small details.
Great work you’ve done there Steven. Your game is wired tight. I’d like to ask you a quick question. I’ve got a replacement driver side quarter panel on my G car, it fits great to the door but is riding high at the hood and cowl. What do you think would be the best way to correct that?
Thanks, Ray.
Ray thanks for the kind words. Without seeing a picture of your Cougar I’d have to guess. You might be able to adjust the hood and or flange area of the fender or even the inner fender apron where the fender bolts up.
Steven
Thanks Steven,
If I told all of what I think of your skills, folks would think I was a brown noser! The inner Fender apron had crossed my mind, and it’ll help to have my ducks in a row when I start visiting body shops. Hope to have my car back sometime this week, and I’m excited to see how it handles. Thanks again. Keep up the good work TC.
Here are a couple of updated pictures of my dash with the Mustang mini-tachometer installed. I also used the gold Cougar portion of a reproduction XR7G dash emblem. Now I just need to get my toggle switches and A/C vent installed and this part of my project will be complete.
Steven
Very classy. Love the new woodgrain.
great attention to detail, nice work man!
That is a great-looking project you got going Steven. That instrument cluster looks… I can’t even think of an adjective to describe it. I wish you were working on mine!
Ray.
Thanks guys. I appreciate the kind words. Next on my list is restoring my console.
Steven
Great work on the burl Steven!
I recently found out something very interesting about burl, from a farmers market vendor who was selling items fashioned from this sort of wood. Burl is caused by a tree virus that make wood grow weirdly. Apparently burl can be found in many different woods for this reason. I never knew this and thought I would pass it on.