Gauge Project (NOTHING FOR SALE) FINISHED!!!!!

19sho90 · Nov 28, 2011

Alright so I got bored today and decided to tackle a project i've been wanting to do for a while. The little Slide door on the gen 1's i wanted to put some gauges. SO i went down and bought a block of styrofoam. and went to work. (Dont mind the kitty, he was just interested on how to make a gauge pod..) It by no means is done, I'm thinking of a fiberglass cover. (Will i need to cover it in some thing before I lay fiberglass resin over it? I do intend on peeling off the fiberglass to reuse the "mold" anyone have a better idea/way of doing it?

By putting a very light layer of paint on at this point i need to "Round out" the spots for the gauges. and work on a few corners.

SHOspazz92 · Nov 28, 2011

You will need to cover the Foam before you start fiberglassing over the mold.. The resin/acetone will eat up the Styrofoam as your laying down the fiberglass if you don't. I used masking tape myself.

-Sam

intimdatr · Nov 28, 2011

This could be interesting. i've never been a fan of gauge pods along the pillar, feel like it would get in the way of vision or id always be snaking my head on it, that seams like a really unique and cool place to put them.
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19sho90 · Nov 28, 2011

SHOspazz92 said:
You will need to cover the Foam before you start fiberglassing over the mold.. The resin/acetone will eat up the Styrofoam as your laying down the fiberglass if you don't. I used masking tape myself.

-Sam

Good idea i was thinking bondo??? But the Tape is a good idea.

19sho90 · Nov 28, 2011

intimdatr said:
This could be interesting. i've never been a fan of gauge pods along the pillar, feel like it would get in the way of vision or id always be snaking my head on it, that seams like a really unique and cool place to put them.
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Thank you. Ill be adding to it as i make progress. I have a A-pillar Gauges and OInce you have em for a while you learn to look passed them. But i like this place too cause its more of a "sleeper effect" :omgsho:

SHOspazz92 · Nov 29, 2011

19sho90 said:
Good idea i was thinking bondo??? But the Tape is a good idea.

Bondo should be used to finish the product, For instance... I made a Dash Cap for my 92 SHO (I cut the dash in half, so it ends at the shifter and made a cap to put over it). I wrapped the the Styrofoam mold in masking tape, fiberglass around it and let it sit. Once the Fiberglass was dried and cured I just pulled it away from the Mold.

I then cut off all the rough edges, Sanded it, smoothed it over with Bondo, sanded some more and then painted. It turned out pretty good, especially considering it was my first time using fiberglass.

Here is how it looked after I separated it from the mold.

Here it is installed and painted.

Notice how uneven and waivey it is?

And here it is as it sits now. This is after I removed it, put a bit more glass on it and went over it with Bondo and flat black paint. It still needs a bit more touch up to smooth it out some more and make it "SHOw" quality, but again...trial and error, it was my first time using fiberglass and I kind of rushed it.

Good luck!

-Sam

19sho90 · Nov 29, 2011

Thanks. Talk about weight savings. and it looks way better in the second Picture.

I "rounded" out the Gauge holes they look a ton better..at least more like a circle now. Still a little more work to do. Lol. I was thinking about Elmers Glue?? Cause I would use tape but i think it may be a little to small of a piece and the tape will crinkle in a couple spots?? So elmers wont eat the foam and it will dry flat.?? Hmm. Like you said trial and error with glass. Ive used it Twice before. I made a Speaker Box for my Blazer. (Second Picture.)

CAnt really see it to well but i was happy with it. Used bondo to finish it.

19sho90 · Nov 29, 2011

Update, I was taking a shower while thinking of ideas for a material to put over the foam, and Elmers glue poped into mind, so today i went down to Wally World and for a 1.44 i got a big thing of glue. and went to work again.

A little bit of tape so it wont run too bad

93rev2sev · Nov 29, 2011

Spray it with glossy latex paint. Like that water based H2O stuff.

Spray it with enough layers of that and you'll have a mold that you can peel off of the styro and use for the final creation.

19sho90 · Nov 29, 2011

93rev2sev said:
Spray it with glossy latex paint. Like that water based H2O stuff.

Spray it with enough layers of that and you'll have a mold that you can peel off of the styro and use for the final creation.

DAmn where were you like 6 hours ago...you know...before i covered it in Elmers glue)