Don't forget your sunglasses with an ali dash!

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Nissan Bluebird - S15 SR20DET
Nissan R30 Skyline - RB26DEmassiveT Project car
Nissan R32 GTR - RB26DETT

Dave,

Of all people!
The Z's dash is probably the best looking out of the datsun range, and you wanna change it?

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1972 Datsun 1600, S14 SR20DET Engineered (204rwkW @ 17psi.)
viewtopic.php?t=6579
#SR20Datsun @SR20Datsun

Just to throw something else out there - what about polycarbonate sheet? It's the stuff safety glasses are made out of. Cheap, easy-to-get, light. Comes in a range of colours (and a free set of steak knives). I seem to recall it's lighter than carbon fibre (but not as strong/stiff).

Not sure if it will take the high temps near your trans tunnel?

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Recommended trading: datto-510

Nik,

Of all people I expect you to understand that the zed is a race car, and I'm not going to cart around anymore weight than I have to.

datto_boy,

10 minutes with a can of matt-black spray paint should fix that.

Beef,

How would you get it to bend? Or how would you join it?

Dave

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USA Daily: 2014 Nissan GT-R, very minor modifications for the track
USA Project: 1978 280Z, minor suspension upgrades, VK56DE conversion in progress. SOLD
AUS Race Car: 1973 240Z, L28ET, Autronic, GT35R. SOLD
AUS Project: 1972 1600, 3200km old S15 SR20DET, ground up rebuild. SOLD

Dave,

Of all people I would've expected you to chastise me!

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1972 Datsun 1600, S14 SR20DET Engineered (204rwkW @ 17psi.)
viewtopic.php?t=6579
#SR20Datsun @SR20Datsun

MDF, BOG, PAINT!


no i think some vaccum plastic like the ones they came with originally would be the go, or just someone to make new crash pads.

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120Y Coupe- longest build ever!

Dave,

Depends on what you have in mind for your dash. If you're picturing this curvy, swoopy 3D shape (for want of better words!), it's probably not the best. Most club racecars I've seen have something closer to a flat panel with gauges plonked in. It would suit that very well.

Bending: Can be done to a point. Heat before bending. I don't know how you'd go with large radius bends - I've only done tight 90 degree bends before (like bending sheet metal).

Joining: Depends on what joins you mean. Obviously things like bolts & pop-rivets can still be used. I've also used body filler to join little fiddly bits - works a lot better than you'd think! Body filler can also be used to round off edges, fill in gaps...

If you're talented, ally can be made to flow over some pretty speccy shapes - just look at old, hand-beaten racecar bodies. However, it's normally just used as flat sheet with the odd tight bend. In that regard, polycarb is an alternative.

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Recommended trading: datto-510

Sounds good beef. I wonder though, is it lighter than the equilvalent strength alu? Both are likely going to require matt-paint, is it paintable or will it just chip off first time it bends (when I lean on it).

I am not thinking of a terrible complicated dash shape. The dash will likely be only as wide so as to house whatever display I end up using.

Dave

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USA Daily: 2014 Nissan GT-R, very minor modifications for the track
USA Project: 1978 280Z, minor suspension upgrades, VK56DE conversion in progress. SOLD
AUS Race Car: 1973 240Z, L28ET, Autronic, GT35R. SOLD
AUS Project: 1972 1600, 3200km old S15 SR20DET, ground up rebuild. SOLD

Dave,

Equivalent stiffness? Wouldn't need to be all that strong? Guess it depends on the shape of it (more bends = more stiffness), whether it has extra gussets, etc. Don't know.

The plastic might not need to be painted. I bought some black textured stuff for my datto. See pic. I think this stuff comes only in certain thicknesses. Best to ask your local supplier.

Textured black stuff looks good mate. How flexible is it? I think I just need to get my hands dirty, but for now I won't discard any material, except that which could kill me.

PS. I assume that the guage on the left is for tyre pressure and the guage on the right is for boost pressure?

Dave

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USA Daily: 2014 Nissan GT-R, very minor modifications for the track
USA Project: 1978 280Z, minor suspension upgrades, VK56DE conversion in progress. SOLD
AUS Race Car: 1973 240Z, L28ET, Autronic, GT35R. SOLD
AUS Project: 1972 1600, 3200km old S15 SR20DET, ground up rebuild. SOLD

Dave,

That stuff I got was fairly thick/stiff. That's why I made the comment about available thickness.

Oooh! You're so close about the gauges. That is the boost gauge on the right, as you say. It's the oil pressure gauge on the left. I figure any more pressure than that would be wasting engine power. I reckon that's at least 100HP gain. Not sure if my boost gauge reads a high enough pressure. It's not really big and bright either. Fully sik bro.

Fuly sik I agree

(why aren't you logged in Beef?)

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1972 Datsun 1600, S14 SR20DET Engineered (204rwkW @ 17psi.)
viewtopic.php?t=6579
#SR20Datsun @SR20Datsun

Nik,

I'm not logged in because every now and then, Ozdat won't let me. It's an intermittent thing, and I get it with other forums too. I don't know why!

this happens to me when i'm using mozilla sometimes.

Who said that?

I only connect at work these days, and they insist I use IE. So it's not a mozilla thing.

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Recommended trading: datto-510