custom dash panel

[IRKillroy]

I have an '88 ford ranger and found a site where they will do a custom dash panel with which ever kind of coating...

what do you guys think about covering the radio up and having angled aux gauge holes?

this is intended for people who have the radio built into a center console or in the LMC speaker headliner thing.

 

[Duggo]

What is the site? Need to see pics...

 

[That Baker Guy]

 

[IRKillroy]

haven't gotten the pics of it 'cause I haven't commissioned it yet... you guys can't use your imaginations can you?

look at your dash, see where the radio goes

instead of an opening there you'd have 3 openings for 2" gauges slightly angled so you can better see them.

the radio would then be relocated to your desired location either in a center console or in the overhead area of the LMC truck head-liner with all those speakers.

this doesn't take a PS expert to illustrate for you.

the reason I'm asking is that if I go through with this and make the hard work of getting the measurements and what not, who would be interested in something like this in case there is a discount for buying more than one.

I don't know what their designs are but it would posted once I get prices.

 

[JoshT]

As Duggo said what is the site. I'm interested, but I would want to see some of their other work before agreeing to buy one. Honestly I'm not sure that I would anyway I prefer the dash location for the radio. If I got the headliner you mentioned I'd be using it to mount a CB, or a switch panel. As for the center console location for a radio, I got a manual and a bench seat so that's a no-go.

Honsetly if I were going to get one made I think I would prefer mostly stock looking but with the gauge area cut and reinforced for mounting 2 5" gauges. Also have the factory indicator lights deleted.

 

[IRKillroy]

As Duggo said what is the site. I'm interested, but I would want to see some of their other work before agreeing to buy one. Honestly I'm not sure that I would anyway I prefer the dash location for the radio. If I got the headliner you mentioned I'd be using it to mount a CB, or a switch panel. As for the center console location for a radio, I got a manual and a bench seat so that's a no-go.

Honsetly if I were going to get one made I think I would prefer mostly stock looking but with the gauge area cut and reinforced for mounting 2 5" gauges. Also have the factory indicator lights deleted.

they can make that happen, you just need all the measurements. also you have the ability to have a larger radio installed or beveled so it looks like a stock install.

my plan is to have a HDD eclipse head unit put into my manual '88 with a custom center console with a cutout for that size... and I'm thinking about having them do face plates for that as well to make it as stock as possible looking.

 

[IRKillroy]

dash site

I have to get the size of the dash with a graphic to include the chrome trim piece around the edge before I can get the wood grain types and if the chrome piece is possible for them to do.

anyone good at cad??

 

[hidesertlivin]

I am planning on blocking off my right panel vent (the one on the right side of the cluster) and use that space for gauges and reroute that vent elsewhere or block it off completely.

 

[Sighman]

Here's what I did in my 88, managed to keep the radio and vents...

Lit up...

 

[Sighman]

Local Oreillys and no I didn't have to change the float!

 

[sohc86-06]

Here's what I did in my 88, managed to keep the radio and vents...

Lit up...

sweet looking dash setup man

 

[86rangerxlt]

Here's what I did in my 88, managed to keep the radio and vents...

Lit up...

how did you wire that up? did you bypass the ecu? or did you pull the cluster and use the wiring off the ecu? ive been thinking about doing this to mine just wasnt quite sure on how to wire it all up.

 

[Sighman]

I am not using the ECU and most the gauges came with their own sensors. The only exception was the fuel gauge, I used the existing wiring for it and the lights so they dim via the switch. The turn signal lights also come from the existing wiring.

 

[olranger]

nice dash i would like to do that with mine someday

 

[mp3deviant721]

what do you guys think about covering the radio up and having angled aux gauge holes?

Kind of like dis: http://www.glowshiftdirect.com/Universal-Triple-Gauge-Single-Din-Gauge-Pod.aspx

I was thinking of getting something like that if I ever buy a 95+ truck with a double din radio opening.