Hanging the Dash?

[Railroad]

With some good help, I have the gauges and attachments wired up. I need to hang the dash to fit and wire the Russ T steering column.
I have no problem with having exposed screw heads showing on the front of the dash, but need help in positioning the dash and advise on any other issues involved with this.
I think I can cut the dash for the steering column and have a diagram for the wiring.
I have the plastic, pre covered dash that comes with the anniv kit.
Body is not on the frame, so I need the up and down position and are spacers needed behind the dash?
If you have link to your work, that might help, please include with any suggestions.
Thanks,

[Papa]

I centered the steering column for left to right and then aligned the center of the dash with the top of the hoop. There are several pictures in my build thread (link in my signature). I used stainless screws with finish washers set into nut-certs in the hoop. Like you, I don't mind the look of fasteners along the top edge of the dash. If you prefer not to have visible fasteners, this stuff is amazing:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It would easily provide a secure attachment of the FFR plastic (padded) dash to the hoop without the need for drilling any holes.

Dave

[Railroad]

Dave, your reply gives me a lot of confidence in getting the dash right. I will order the high strength velcro.
I see it allowing easy adjustments if needed. Thanks for the help.

[initiator]

Papa - have you verified that you can remove your dash with the body on? I thought the fasteners had to be moved below the hoop so they wouldn't be covered by the body...

[broku518]

I wish I knew about the velcro or installed the screws bit lower. I used rivnuts and screw/washer to support my dash. After I installed the fiberglass is covering half of the screw, looks kinda funny. Tried to remove the washer, but it leaves imprint in vinyl dash. Guess I will have to live it it.

[Papa]

Papa - have you verified that you can remove your dash with the body on? I thought the fasteners had to be moved below the hoop so they wouldn't be covered by the body...

I hadn't intended to make the dash removable with the body on the car, and after test fitting the body, the screws are mostly covered by the body. A removable dash is something a lot of guys have done, but it is more than just getting the dash loose. To do it right, you need to plan for a few modifications in the wiring to make it easy to unplug everything.

Dave

[Papa]

I wish I knew about the velcro or installed the screws bit lower. I used rivnuts and screw/washer to support my dash. After I installed the fiberglass is covering half of the screw, looks kinda funny. Tried to remove the washer, but it leaves imprint in vinyl dash. Guess I will have to live it it.

Martin,

Sorry about that. I know you followed my lead on the rivnuts and screws. The good news is that those indentations in the dash from the washers will eventually fade away and return to the original smooth surface. When I installed the glove box latch and then changed it to the VW part, I had a similar impression left by the original latch. It slowly faded away.

Dave

[broku518]

Martin,

Sorry about that. I know you followed my lead on the rivnuts and screws. The good news is that those indentations in the dash from the washers will eventually fade away and return to the original smooth surface. When I installed the glove box latch and then changed it to the VW part, I had a similar impression left by the original latch. It slowly faded away.

Dave

No worries, papa. I see it fading already.

[initiator]

I hadn't intended to make the dash removable with the body on the car, and after test fitting the body, the screws are mostly covered by the body. A removable dash is something a lot of guys have done, but it is more than just getting the dash loose. To do it right, you need to plan for a few modifications in the wiring to make it easy to unplug everything.

Dave

That's cool, thanks. My shell is stored about 15 miles from where I'm working on the chassis, so don't have an easy way to take those measurements. Greatly appreciate the intel. I do plan to add connectors for all the dash connections.

[CraigS]

Do not screw right into the 3/4x3/4. The body will cover the screws. Get a short piece of 1/8x1 inch aluminum angle. Cut pieces off about 1.5 inches long. Attach them to the underside of the 3/4x3/4 so the other side of the angle sits flush w/ the dash side of the 3/4x3/4. Run your screws into the angle. Be careful on positioning these pieces as some of the gauges will be right up very near the underside of the 3/4x3/4.

[Murd]

I did what Craig described, I used rivnuts in the aluminum angle to screw the dash into, and yes it takes some figuring to make sure it doesn’t hit your gauges. I would wait till the body is on, do something else to hang it temporarily until then, you can hang it off a couple zip ties at either end or some Velcro.