Valve Cover Dashboard for my bucket

I haven't been posting much of the new project but for some reason I felt compelled to post the progress of my custom dash.

I just picked up and have been saving a 23 (glass) T from car show hell and one of the things that I knew had to go immediately was the 70's wood dash.

After trying out a few ideas I decided to see if I could scavenge any of the metal from my old Buick valve cover and to my surprise it damn near fits. I still have a great deal of finishing work to do and the gauge holes still need to be cleaned up, nothing is aligned yet just set in for pics, I need lights for turn & high beams and the old oil fill hole will get a nice cap and a 12v socket behind it.

Well, on with pics;

 

Would never have thought of that. I like thinking outside of the box.

Rod

 

I think you get an A for inspiration, being different, and making a T bucket cool. I like it. Will you be keeping the jackstand dash support structure, LOL!

 

very creative!!!!

 

I like it. Very imaginative.

And hey man, hole saws are your friends.

 

Well that's different...
Yeah.... I think I like that.

 

Wow that is great

 

That is just cool, I like it!!

 

I'm lazy and own a plasma cutter though, it's hard to beat that combo.

 

Cool..

 

I dig it!

 

Damn, I like it.

 

cool as, i like it

 

Hey, thats cool and yea the wood dashboards gotta go.

 

Cool man. Hope it doesn't leak.

 

cool as hell and almost fits right on

 

Thats very COOL, way to think outside the box, normally I try to stay with in the lines, but about 6-7 years ago roothawg was building a low bucks bucket and I came across a 50s gas oven that had a super cool deco looking control panel on it, when you turned it upside down it made a dash that was to neat for words, it had a back lit gauge that he wired to the ignition that said oven lit when running. maybe he has some pictures.

 

One word... Cool!

 

That sick!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a plasma cutter as well and lazy I can relate.

 

Just my opinion, but I'd go all out with the theme.

Resto the VC, fresh high gloss paint, and the buick script on the top side [for everyone to see].
Secure it to the firewall thru the factory bolt holes with chrome acorn nuts, and for the oil fill hole, a chrome or exposed element VC breather.

Also, see about getting it pin striped.

One more thing, try to paint it a color that contrasts with the car's final color so it's uniqueness and coolness sticks out!

 

Are those the wheels & tires that were on Craigslist here locally?

 

It will be getting pinstriped, I have been practicing for awhile and I fairly confident so far. I will definitely do an oil cap or breather as I am going to put a 12v power plug behind it. There have definitely been thoughts about keeping it standard valve cover looking - I keep going back & forth.

The bolt holes will have acorns on it, rest assured

Yep - those are them.

 

Now that is badass!

 

Thanks for all the compliments, I will be doing a bit more finishing to it tonight including the support structure and possibly the indicator lights

I will post pics of it as I go if anyone is interested.

 

Update:

I made the inner skeleton that supports the dashboard and braces the windshield, cleaned & painted and put the dash lights in. I still need to do some minor tweaking, fully mount the gauges and of course add a little pinstriping.

 

Now that is thinking outside the T-Bucket!! I bet in the next few months we will be seeing a few more of those popping up. Remember imitation is the strongest form of flatery. Congratulations. I have a vision of Chrysler Firepower Hemi covers split and welded together.

 

Love cars with a little sense of humor. Not too much. Not LMAO but getting a good chuckle on the creativity side. Gary

 

Yep, That's killer cool!

 

When I first thought about I already had the vision of having to split this one in the middle, and stretching it with some sort of box in the center and putting the gauges in there - it wasn't until it was sitting in place that I realized just how big this valve cover was and that I didn't need to do anything but put it on

I already have a couple buddies who will be using this idea in some other cars, I can't wait to see if this spawns any ideas from others trying it out.

I just can't wait to be at a show and listening for the one guy who "figures it out" and is able to call what it is or even better, where it's from.

 

Now thats totally bitchin'..way to think on your feet, use what ya got.
the near finished product looks like it was ment to be there