Gene:
The only thing I have reservations about if using a hinge, is fear that with
time, vibrations from driving will overstress the soft plastic material of
the instrument panel enclosure due to the suspended weight of the under dash
panel. As a result, the hardware used to secure the top left and right
sides of the under dash panel will strip out. Otherwise, why did GM go to
the trouble of providing the channel to the right of the steering column for
the top tabs of the panel to fit into???
Did you just drive the top screws into the soft plastic??
What did you use to grind the glass??
Paul Bartz
From: JDDP32B [mailto:JDDP32B]
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 1999 8:00 PM
I used brass flat head screws (to match the hinge) with washers and nuts on
the glass side. I think when I am finished I will put a strip along the
outside of the panel to make a sandwich of the glass. There are a lot of
screws but worry in time there would be a lot of stress from the bolts on
the glass. It would not show since it is on the bottom. On the dash side,
so far I have just used the original two mounting bolts to hold the hinge to
the dash support strip. They were a perfect fit to the hinge.
To get started, I mounted the hinge with two bolts and just aligned it with
the edge of the glass panel. As I ground and ground and ground away the
glass. I moved the right side out a little by drilling a new hole. I say
this, because I had a real hard time trying to decide how to start aligning
the panel. good luck and send me pictures as you go along.
gene
Date: Thursday, 09-Sep-99 11:17 AM
From: Bartz Paul \ Internet: (s9d3452
)
Gene:
What kind of fastener hardware, including type of head, did you use to
secure the hinge to the panel??
Haven't tried to layout yet, but so far, the items I hope to locate on my
panel are: lights: TBI check engine, low oil pressure warning: switches:
driving, road, docking, floor, and ceiling lights, horn; and gauges: oil,
transmission fluid, and differential temperature, battery meter.
From: JDDP32B
[mailto:JDDP32B]
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 1999 8:00 PM
Yes the hinge has great support and was very close to a direct fit from the
metal brace at the bottom of the dash to the bottom of the under dash panel.
I agonized for several days about those tabs..... and finally I decided to
cut them off. I have a thumb screw on the right and one one the left of the
new panel and that seems to hold it up tight. We will see when I get it
loaded. The tabs also seem to be in the way of switches I might want to put
up there.
Have you figured out what gauges and where you are going to put them ??
Date: Wednesday, 08-Sep-99 05:28 PM
From: Bartz Paul \ Internet: (s9d3452
)
Gene:
In looking at subject pictures on your web site, I see you've used a piano
hinge, which I like, to secure the bottom of the panel. To the right of the
steering column, on the bottom of the instrument panel, there is a small
channel in which you fit the tab of the under dash panel into. That
requires an upward movement to fit it into place. I'm assuming you
eliminated that feature with your hinge arrangement??
If not, please explain how you accomplished.
The only thing I have reservations about if using a hinge, is fear that with
time, vibrations from driving will overstress the soft plastic material of
the instrument panel enclosure due to the suspended weight of the under dash
panel. As a result, the hardware used to secure the top left and right
sides of the under dash panel will strip out. Otherwise, why did GM go to
the trouble of providing the channel to the right of the steering column for
the top tabs of the panel to fit into???
Did you just drive the top screws into the soft plastic??
What did you use to grind the glass??
Paul Bartz
From: JDDP32B [mailto:JDDP32B]
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 1999 8:00 PM
I used brass flat head screws (to match the hinge) with washers and nuts on
the glass side. I think when I am finished I will put a strip along the
outside of the panel to make a sandwich of the glass. There are a lot of
screws but worry in time there would be a lot of stress from the bolts on
the glass. It would not show since it is on the bottom. On the dash side,
so far I have just used the original two mounting bolts to hold the hinge to
the dash support strip. They were a perfect fit to the hinge.
To get started, I mounted the hinge with two bolts and just aligned it with
the edge of the glass panel. As I ground and ground and ground away the
glass. I moved the right side out a little by drilling a new hole. I say
this, because I had a real hard time trying to decide how to start aligning
the panel. good luck and send me pictures as you go along.
gene
Date: Thursday, 09-Sep-99 11:17 AM
From: Bartz Paul \ Internet: (s9d3452
)
Gene:
What kind of fastener hardware, including type of head, did you use to
secure the hinge to the panel??
Haven't tried to layout yet, but so far, the items I hope to locate on my
panel are: lights: TBI check engine, low oil pressure warning: switches:
driving, road, docking, floor, and ceiling lights, horn; and gauges: oil,
transmission fluid, and differential temperature, battery meter.
From: JDDP32B
[mailto:JDDP32B]
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 1999 8:00 PM
Yes the hinge has great support and was very close to a direct fit from the
metal brace at the bottom of the dash to the bottom of the under dash panel.
I agonized for several days about those tabs..... and finally I decided to
cut them off. I have a thumb screw on the right and one one the left of the
new panel and that seems to hold it up tight. We will see when I get it
loaded. The tabs also seem to be in the way of switches I might want to put
up there.
Have you figured out what gauges and where you are going to put them ??
Date: Wednesday, 08-Sep-99 05:28 PM
From: Bartz Paul \ Internet: (s9d3452
)
Gene:
In looking at subject pictures on your web site, I see you've used a piano
hinge, which I like, to secure the bottom of the panel. To the right of the
steering column, on the bottom of the instrument panel, there is a small
channel in which you fit the tab of the under dash panel into. That
requires an upward movement to fit it into place. I'm assuming you
eliminated that feature with your hinge arrangement??
If not, please explain how you accomplished.
