Glock and HuggerCST's official "Project 68" build thread

[glock35ipsc]

No need for one..... I kinda sometimes smoke, mostly when I am working in the shop, but I never smoke in the house or any of my vehicles.

[killer71]

hmm...you payin attention 68 ss?

[glock35ipsc]

If I had more time (which I do) and really wanted to do it (which I don't), I would make build-outs (like I did for the gauges) for the A/C vents, HVAC control, and stereo. But that is a lot of work, and I don't want to keep pushing this thing any farther behind.

This is the third attempt at doing something different to the dash. It started with cutting out the center and welding in a smooth piece. I didn't like the end result, and about a year later I cut it out. I then welded in a piece that made the dash smooth all the way across, and would use the stock gauges and glove box. It looked alright, but I still wanted something different. So this is the end result, and I really like this one.

[glock35ipsc]

Well, the dash is starting to take shape. I got the billet A/C control panel yesterday, so I laid out the center section pieces on some template paper and got everything cut out. I left room at the bottom for the two pop-out cup holders that will come later on down the road.

The glove box door is basically done as well. I just need to work a little more on figuring out the opening size and shape, get the hinge tweaked, and figure out bracing for the back side of the dash. The bracing will not only stabilize everything, but provide the means for attaching the hinge, the latch, and the eventual glove box compartment that will be made after the A/C is installed.

Also had a little help last night, even though Momma thought he was sound asleep in his spider web!

[glock35ipsc]

A couple more of the dash, and the finished glove box door.

Something else I finally got done was to drill and tap the back side of the gauge bezel so that it can now be attached to the dash. No more fear of it falling out! I know, it probably should be safely stored in it's box, but it just looks too darn cool in the dash to have it hiding out in it's box!

[glock35ipsc]

Next up is figuring out where to mount the headlight switch, the wiper switch and the ignition. I have several ideas shown below, but I just can't make up my mind.

I can either mount the lights and the wipers side-by-side to the left of the column, low on the dash, with the ignition in an equal location to the right of the column.

Or I can put the lights on the left side of the gauges, the wipers on the right side, and the ignition down low (the purple circle in the pic below). That leaves me with the decision of having the switches just above center of the gauges (green), inline with them (blue), just below center (yellow), or directly under the outermost gauges (red).

I think I am making this part more complicated than it needs to be, but I don't want things to look cluttered, or look like an afterthought as if they were thrown on there wherever they would fit.

At this point, I'm leaning towards under the outer gauges (red circles), with the ignition in the spot shown (purple). That would help fill the big open area on either side of the column. Thoughts, ideas, suggestions????

[Stoney]

Cig Lighter for Cell Phone......Too

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by Stoney

Cig Lighter for Cell Phone......Too

Dang, how could I forget that?!?! OK, so maybe the ignition on the left of the column, and the 12v outlet on the right....... That would balance everything out nicely. Or, I could mount the 12v outlet inside the glove box, hidden and out of the way.

[Lemield]

Looking great Bob!

You do nice work!

I think you may have inspired me to put some custom gauges in my little green CST...

[glock35ipsc]

I think a nice set of gauges would look great in that truck!

[Frizzle Fry]

That dash is looking soooooo classy! What are you doing for seats? If you'll have buckets and a console you could put the cig lighter in the console. Maybe even the ign sw? That would keep your dash clean.

I was thinking on my 61 I might try to put the wiper and lights switches on the column. There are aftermarket switches available that are made to go on the turn signal, tilt, or shift levers.

Otherwise I like the red position or halfway between red and yellow, even with the outside of the outer gauges. Just to make your decision that much more complicated

[Stoney]

Could use a colum out of a Later model with all that on it to conserve space.

[glock35ipsc]

Thanks for the help Mike!!!! But I do agree, the more I stare at it, the more I am leaning on the lower corners as the best spot.

I haven't really made up my mind on the seat yet. Since I plan on cruising the kiddos around with me, I will definitely have a bench of some sort, either the original, or a 60/40, or a 40/20/40. I actually like the original, it had been rebuilt just before I bought the truck so the foam is new, but I would have a new cover made for it. Or, I would like to find a late 80's bench, or a late 80's/early 90's 60/40 split bench.

[ColoradoK5]

that dash is coming around!! Just keep in mind for the ignition switch that the keys\keychain will swing and scratch up the paint. you could always use a single key? Lower corners would be good!

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by ColoradoK5

that dash is coming around!! Just keep in mind for the ignition switch that the keys\keychain will swing and scratch up the paint. you could always use a single key? Lower corners would be good!

Yup! That's exactly why I decided to keep it low. I had thought about using an ignition from Ron Francis, but came back around to the OEM style. I will still use Ron Francis headlight and wiper switches. I'm going to use the 67 bezel so that I can mount it on the flat surface. I have already modified the spacer on the lathe so that it sits flat on the backside, and allows enough room for the bezel to screw on far enough (picture below). I have a couple idea for the backside of the dash to keep the spacer from turning when turning the key.

So a new set of matched ignition/door locks will be in order.

Also, I had thought about doing clear film on the lower part of the truck when done. I have to travel 3 miles of gravel road round trip to see pavement, so I had the idea of doing a little piece of the clear film around the ignition area to.

Headlight and wiper switches:



Here is what I did to the ignition. You can't see it in the second pic, but the spacer sits flat on the cardboard.

[glock35ipsc]

Hmmm, yeah, I think I like the new look better that what I had going on before!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Try this out???? Mount em on a pannel here it might be awkward at 1st but I am sure it will clean up the dash ...Mount the pannel horizontal to the dash am I makein sence or

[glock35ipsc]

Hmm, that does give me an idea! I still need to weld in the piece under the dash to fill in were I cut the center out. I could make a piece that gently curves down then back up and mount them something like:

Lights - Ignition - Wipers

Thanks! I kinda like that!

[msgross]

Is the center section going to have any contours like the bezel or is it staying flat?

[glock35ipsc]

Mike, if you are talking about where it radio and all that is, it will stay flat. Actually, the my original intentions were to have everything flat to the dash, but since I couldn't see the upper numbers on the speedo when it was flat to the dash, that's what led me to make the angled build-out for the gauges.

[msgross]

I like the angled parts since it keeps the dash from looking like a large piece of sheetmetal. I know that your far from done on it but it's looking good.

[glock35ipsc]

I had though about making build-outs for the radio and A/C controller, and making build-outs for the two vents that angle them slightly to each side. It's not totally out of the question yet, but it's a lot of work to make those.

I've been thinking of different options for the glove box door too. I'm looking at other doors that might have a unique shape, like a 61 Corvair Monza door. corn also posted a pic in another thread I started of an Impala door that is steel, but has "grooves" in it like ball milled grooves in aluminum. I think I could make a similar door from a piece of billet and do the ball milled grooves. Laying in bed last night, I though "why couldn't I make the door thicker at the bottom than the top? That would fit right in with the angled gauges..... I have a mill, so I'm not sure why I couldn't at least try it.

[manimal]

Why not use a later model column with the ignition switch,wiper controls in the column? That would kill two birds with one stone! Just a thought........
-Lance
BTW this is looking GREAT!

[glock35ipsc]

I have thought about it, but a couple of things keep coming back to me:

- I like the simplicity of the van column, and I will be using billet handles/knobs on it, so I would like to keep those as clean as possible.

- The light and wiper switches are real nice billet pieces from Ron Francis, and have a color matching band around them. I think they would look pretty cool sticking out of the dash. Right now it's just a matter of where they will stick out!

Thanks for the suggestion thought! I'm always open for new ideas for this truck.

[Frizzle Fry]

How bout installing "The Clapper"