Fabricated Dash Woodgrain Replacements - 1968 8-Track GTX

[GetX'd]

X2 on the above post. As a current 68 X owner I’m very impressed with your work and dedication to making something that doesn’t otherwise exist in the repro world. I feel fortunate that I have a perfect original set - but if I didn’t I would be thrilled to buy a set from you. Congrats on your progress and good luck with the advancements.

 

[SoCal440GTX]

X2 on the above post. As a current 68 X owner I’m very impressed with your work and dedication to making something that doesn’t otherwise exist in the repro world. I feel fortunate that I have a perfect original set - but if I didn’t I would be thrilled to buy a set from you. Congrats on your progress and good luck with the advancements.

Oddly enough I was able to buy an entire 68 dash assembly for a few hundred dollars from CL which had a near perfect set as well. Only problem is I have an 8-track and finding a good 8-track bezel is nearly impossible.

Thanks for the kind words.

 

[SoCal440GTX]

Here are close-up photo's of the black Coronet trim pieces that I have. Before I pay a Photoshop jobber to try to recreate this texture I'd like verification that this is what descent pieces look like. Can someone with nice trim snap a close-up photo or 2 to verify?
There seem to be 3 distinct elements:
1) Deep Vertical Valley
2) Vertical Ridge
3) Shallow Valley w/ small horizontal tic marks

It repeats 1,2,3,2,1,2,3,2,1,2,3,2,etc.

Thanks.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

1968 were the vertical lines. I believe later years had a textured look.
Here's the pictures of my '68 Coronet R/T.

 

[SoCal440GTX]

Thanks for that but unfortunately the reallye dash is not the same as the non rallye dash. The surface of the non rallye dash trim is smooth.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Sorry, I didn't see where you specified non-rally dash.

 

[SoCal440GTX]

Ouch!

 

[SoCal440GTX]

I decided to put a little time into the 68 Coronet version. This is a snapshot from Photoshop. I'm going to have to send several sample prints to the printer with different brightnesses to get the black hues as close as possible to the originals and the scale of the pattern correct.

 

[69 GTX]

Great work

 

[SoCal440GTX]

Samples came back from the printer today. I had hoped to get it closer on the first run. I'm terrible at photoshop. I tried to hire a guy but that hasn't worked out. I'll keep at it.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

You need to clear your inbox. Tried to send a private message but couldn't.
Got the piece yesterday and will let you know when I shoot it.

 

[SoCal440GTX]

Here I thought I had it all figured out and then I hit another snag. The small left piece and radio bezels worked out great, but the hockey stick acrylic shrank 0.140" in the length. I'm oversizing the piece in the hopes that it shrinks to fit. Had to order material and get laser cut. Probably 2 weeks out.

 

[themechanic]

Here I thought I had it all figured out and then I hit another snag. The small left piece and radio bezels worked out great, but the hockey stick acrylic shrank 0.140" in the length. I'm oversizing the piece in the hopes that it shrinks to fit. Had to order material and get laser cut. Probably 2 weeks out.
View attachment 739719

Since I have not installed them yet, will I have that issue with my 69 Coronet R/T set?

 

[SoCal440GTX]

Since I have not installed them yet, will I have that issue with my 69 Coronet R/T set?

Your set was made before I worked on adding the clear acrylic. You may want to send them back and I'll add it to them. I'd wait until I work the bugs out though.

 

[themechanic]

Your set was made before I worked on adding the clear acrylic. You may want to send them back and I'll add it to them. I'd wait until I work the bugs out though.

OK

 

[SoCal440GTX]

You have to give this guy credit. If you didn't know what you were looking at you'd think the dash trim was original. Rare 8-track too. I'm not sure why he did the console since it's a 68.

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/ssd/cto/d/bonita-plymouth-1968-gtx-show-drive/6826518639.html

 

[SoCal440GTX]

After almost 2 years I think I have achieved my goal. Recipe: Water jet cut dye sublimated aluminum, machine cut chrome vinyl, laser jet cut thermo-formed acrylic. Hand assemble and this is what you get.

 

[69 GTX]

Looks great SoCal!

 

[rakort]

sign me up for a set when you have one available!

 

[themechanic]

Fantastic.