Ultra Custom GT

[opelspyder]

I received a car from Wyoming not too long ago, and the owner wants something different. Please note I will not be doing a weekly digest on this car, I'm pretty tired of doing that, honestly...but I like to show the goodies of the project and such. So please post if you wish, and give me your input. This car is going to be like nothing I have ever done, but only imagined doing, just couldn't afford. So I am going to start with a poll. The dash I am using, or planning on using is a fiberglass dash made for a Camaro. It is actually a copy of a 59 Impala dash. Now I have hacked away at this dash to make it fit, and have also relized I will have to change some curves and add fiberglass. So please note this. This is custom, not a direct fit, so heavy modification is going to happen. I actually trimmed on the column, but now after changes, it will not be necessary. This will get a custom steering wheel, and hopefully will not block the gauges as bad. The gauges are going to be custom, the center will have a speedo with tach built in. I want you all to look at this dash and visulize a finished painted product. You hate it, great! Love it!! Great. I am opening this up so post. Here are the first pics
Keith Lundholm

[Dirk]

I think it looks good, as long as the sight lines for the driver aren't bad.

[Phoenix]

I always want to see people trying something different. Thinking outside of the box, going off grid. I like the gauge cluster but would like to see the top line brought all the way across. I'm not partial to the smaller gauges having the bubble exposed. Paint it body color. I think Vikki and Allen's Hot Rod maybe the only one that I've seen that way IIRC. I'm going to make one myself from scratch this summer.

[2 Fast 4 U]

Keith, did you make the dash?? looks good, how does one start to design?

[opelspyder]

No actually the same guy that makes my fiberglass parts, makes these. This will have a swooping console and it may go straight across, it may not. Thats what is fun about custom stuff, its custom-make it how you want. Sitting in the car, the gauges do not stick out in the line of sight, so I do not think any issues will arrise there. But on you question of design.....well no real designing going on here, I liked this dash when we put it in a 69 Camaro, and thought, I wonder if I can make it fit an Opel. Now not many people have the balls to cut a 59 Chevy dash, especially when it is made of fiberglass, and very expensive!!!! Not for a cheap conversion for sure. If someone wanted to use the original Opel gauges, I believe they would work, you would mount maybe a rallye tach from a kadett elsewhere. This is just one idea on this car that I am in the works on, just wanted to show you all whats going on
Keith

[markandson]

I love the idea and the custom fabrication part, I am not sure I like the layout, but that is sort of personal preference. I am sure when you are done it will look great.

[newman27]

Keith,

My favorite part is how the center speedo / tach overlaps the dash in that conical shape. I would emphasize that even more if possible. I would also make the custom instrument panel more flush with the dash along the edge running behind the left and right smaller gauge clusters.

Matt

[heimue]

Originally Posted by markandson I love the idea and the custom fabrication part, I am not sure I like the layout, but that is sort of personal preference. I am sure when you are done it will look great.

+1

I like out-of-the-box design.

Dieter

[Aardvaark]

The 1959/1960 Chevy dash is such a classic. It should look great in a GT.
Will you be using the passenger side dash and grab handle to?
I think a narrowed 59/60 chev dash would look very cool in a GT.

[saxybiker]

Keith - I think that looks great. All you need is a tilt column and a banjo style steering wheel to make the gauges easier to read. The banjo wheel might not quite fit an ultra modern design, but it would tie in really well with the 59 dash! Just a thought...

Allen

[opelspyder]

I haven't figured the passenger side out yet, I would like a glove box, and want to keep that side simple, but the console will blend up into this and is going to be a cockpit style curve as the middle hump is over to the left more. I also will try to fit an A/C unit under the dash
Keith

[opelspyder]

Here are the new meats for the car, wheels are being made as of right now, but in the pictures I think you will get where I am going on this part. The yellow car is just being used as reference as I already had the wheel off, but some comparisons of old size and of the front size
Keith

[broszzy]

Who's making the wheels Keith?

[opelspyder]

Let's keep the wheels "under the table" right now, as it will be some weeks before I get them, but will say I have wanted them for 3 years now,so I hope they look as good in person, but keeping the manufacturer under wraps for now
Keith

[opelbits]

I like the look of the dash. If you keep in mind early-mid 60's Italian stuff in mind, it goes well with the GT's style. If it were me, I'd go with the classic white on black gauges with a chrome bezel, pad the dash, but use black wrinkle paint on the gauge 'pods'. For the console, maybe use parts from a genuine 60's console, 65-66 Mustang stuff would work well and it would keep that vintage polished/matte black interior look.


Have you thought about making the dash assembly two pieces so you have access to the heater core-a/c parts without having to remove the entire dash? Using that dash also gives you the opportunity to use different defroster vents and maybe put some 'eyeballs' (vents) in the dash itself.

[kwilford]

Those tires look familiar. Are they BF Goodrich G-Force Sports? I have a set on my Lexus IS300, and I am very happy with them, at least after one summer of use. Decent ride, good dry grip, quite good in the wet, VERY reasonable price, and an excellent tread rating (340) for a performance tire. They TOTALLY suck in any kind of snow, so I have Michelin X-Ice Xi2's for the winter, but I am looking forward to spring when the G-Forces can go back on.

[hrcollinsjr]

Keith can you send them back? I have the wheel tire combo for you! I totally forgot about this wheel & tire combo.

Harold

[bgdowski]

I have 225's all around, I love the stance and the handling :

[Killer Texas GT]

The first thought that came to my mind was "Bat Mobile" on the dash, but once in the GT it was not the same, nice improvement. Does the area below the steering wheel remain that low or does the picture just make it look that low? I would be banging my knees on it all the time.
As for tires 295/50 15 rear and 225/50 15 front are working for know but I think a 245/50 15 would be better. the 295 is to tall. Now this is on my car now with some custom racing wheels, and have a set of Boyds 17" just as wide as my 15"s but not all that crazy about their looks.

[opelspyder]

The tires are G-Force Sports, 275/40r17 rear 205/45r16 front. On the dash it will more than likely be body color, but looking at white on black face gauges, actually also looking into the grays as the interior will be charcoal or dark gray. The dash is loosly fitted, but the column has been dropped not even 1/2inch, May look at the Ididit shorty for this car, just have to measure.
Keith

[saxybiker]

Originally Posted by opelspyder May look at the Ididit shorty for this car, just have to measure. Keith

Keith:

That is what we have in our custom.

Vickie

[opelspyder]

Did you ever wonder about that guy you talked to that stated he was going to do all this crazy stuff with his GT and buy lots of stuff and it would be the wildest thing you ever saw? I found that crazy guy in Cookeville, no other statement necessary-check pics
Keith

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by opelspyder Did you ever wonder about that guy you talked to that stated he was going to do all this crazy stuff with his GT and buy lots of stuff and it would be the wildest thing you ever saw? I found that crazy guy in Cookeville, no other statement necessary-check pics Keith

So this is all for your car?

Harold

[opelspyder]

Yes it is mine!!!! Thanks for asking. I guess I'm glad I didn't wait for your arrival before opening the crate, it would have brought a tear to your eye seeing all that cool stuff and its mine-na,na,na. Harold don't youhave other posts to comment to and pretend you are a moderator-

[jtb]

Any kind of custom work you do to your car, you are ultimately trying to please one person - yourself (unless you're building a competing show car). So, go for it!
My car has a lot of unusual features that people may love or hate, but... it's not their car! My co-worker cut his classic triumph in half and widened it, and stuck Nissan running gear in - much to the chagrin of the purists! But he's happy.

JMTCW,

jtb