I'm home sick and bored to death for the second day. Daytime TV is mind numbing, so I'll probably be on the internet instead. Anyway, I want to do the dash of my modified project to look like a '20s-40's race car. I have collected aircraft switches and lights from that period. Let's see some samples...firewalls too.
and heres the one i made http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=191068&d=1148581128 Zach
18 gage stainless. 1/2" wood dowel. Coarse valve grinding compound. The traditional way. If some of you are posting a pic of an engine turned aluminum panel, please note such. I'm thinking of doing the turning bit on the aluminum panel in the 2nd pic and would like to see how it turned out.
Nice post Kirk, I've been trying to come up with some ideas for my A coupe as well. I've decided to run 2 5/8 oil amp & water gauges in the dash and a Moon tach on the column, just need ideas for the dash treatment/insert. Lucky, that looks sweet. Are those rivets or screws around yours?
http://www.motorsportscenter.com/article_688.shtml Some nice work in this link. There is actually a lot here that will be inspiring, besides just the engine-turned stuff.
I'd love to see the picture of Shirley Temples? brothers Deuce roadster from the 40's. The engine turned dash was loaded with SW gauges. I had the picture once. I tried Google.
My firewall. I love this photo. (photography by raven61) Also check out the fuel block. Haven't got around to doing the fuel pump blockoff, but I think a few different items turned in varrying sizes (proportionate to each piece) really adds something... can't put it into words really. BTW - My firewall is aluminum turned with fine Cratex. I suggest going with at least medium if you're going to try it.
its in one of the don montgomery books i THINK "authentic hot rods" but im at work so im probably wrong Zach
I know it's not much. I used the outside edge of a 36 Chev pickup glovebox, dash side as a frame backed with flat steel plate. Made the dash insert by using wet/dry sandpaper on thin aluminum sheet. Had a thin steel template with a 1/2 in hole and just gave the sandpaper a twist with the thumb and moved it over a quarter in. and did it again using a guide. Wrong picture in thumbnail.
Yeah, it does. I was looking to see the difference between engine turned aluminum and engine turned stainless, but your pic gives a good idea of what it would look like. If I didn't like it I could always turn it over and try something else. One thing I came close to doing was countersink the gauges into a piece of 1/4" thick aluminum. Already made the aluminum panel, cut out, laid out for instruments etc. then I changed my mind and made an 18 gage aluminum panel. Not to mention that I made a stainless panel that's set up to be a jig. Wouldn't be a problem to holesaw the instrument holes using the small holes in the jig as a guide and then use the jig as a panel. So many panels and so few cars.... Some of the stuff I've seen guys do with photo shop programs is pretty remarkable. Thanks.
thats what i'm doing on my 57, engine turned with bead rolled edges. i was hoping no one had thought of that . does anyone know the history behind the name engine turned? every time i mention it to someone they dont know what i'm talking about, then when i explain what i'm talking about they try to correct me and say it's called something else..... matt
This is a simple aluminum bracket I made to mount a master cutoff switch, and I engine turned too. Got the idea and technique from this site! -Scott
That's all I have ever heard it called. Remember the tape that was made of some kind of faux-engine turned material? And the late 70s Trans Am dashboards?
Hey Kornbinder -- That's way kool. Couple of questions: How is it done / how'd you do it? and, what's the steering wheel from? I'll be using one that looks just like it, but don't know it's origin. Michael
Thanks Gator, They are aluminum rivets on a polished stainless trim band on top the engine turned panel....Luck
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