Mild 79 Z

[Dirtmod08]

I actually only wanted to make this part - but I want the gauges sunk into a tunnel like they are stock.

[Dirtmod08]

Well, I got my "blank slate" done tonight, 16 ga. Mild steel plate, don't want my gauges wobbling around in the dash. I'll just have to take my time figuring out exactly what I am going to do. The goal here is to make it look better than stock.

[Dirtmod08]

OK, spent a little more time on this. Bought a few hole saw blades this morning.

Stopped by the local trucker shop and bought a tailpipe coupling.




Welded the buckets in, have a ton of grinding to do.

[Dirtmod08]

More grinding, more welding.

[Dirtmod08]

Gauges came in today, I've been widdling away at this thing, seems like it takes an hour or so after work every night to get one thing mounted. Got the light switch mounted tonight.


Mounted the light switch deeper in the panel so it doesn't stick out so far. Will still have to do bodywork and paint on this thing. Yes, that's the knob off my 78, I didn't like the dinged up aluminum pie plate 79 knobs, lol. Still have to put in the a/c vents, but not doing the lighter, maybe not the seatbelt light.

[Dirtmod08]

Getting more crap mounted, this little stuff is time consuming. And, I just spent $30 at the hardware store for the little hardware I needed - $30, really? On a handful of little bolts and spacers. :screwup:

[Dirtmod08]

This thing ended up being like building a damn sculpture, lol. Still need to make a trim cover for the a/c vents and paint the whole thing.

[Dirtmod08]

Still picking away at this thing. You guys are probably getting sick of seeing this thing, I know I am, lol. Put the LED turn signal lights and high beam LED in last night. Used 5/16" chrome bushings 3/4" long with washers welded onto the back for the 5/32" LED's to fit into - in the back of this thing - so the LED's will glow in the chrome tunnel. have no idea what it will look like lit up, but I decided to hide them in holes bored to look like the bolt holes around the edges instead of my other thought of having the chrome edge protrude from the face of the panel.

[Dirtmod08]

I finally got to try the fit, and they seem to fit fine - relieved. Also finish sanded the panel to 800 grit and scotchbrited it - clear will not stick to it. I'm going to have to send it out to a powdercoater sometime.

[Dirtmod08]

I'm no metal finisher, I did this on my workbench with basic tools and grinders - so there are a couple pits here and there in the welding. I plan to get this powdercoated sometime after I decide what I want. I am leaning toward a transparent smoke coating. I painted the mounting flanges black for now, and I'm good with that for now.