Fiberglass Dash?

Discussion in 'Drag Racing' started by 232Maverick, Aug 19, 2015.

  1. 232Maverick

    232Maverick Member

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    Anybody know a place that sells fiberglass dash for a Maverick? Any ideas?
     
  2. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    I am certain nobody makes one in fiberglass. Why would they?
     
  3. airford1

    airford1 Member

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    Make it your self. Not that hard to do, but I don't think you will sell one to C Snively.
     
  4. groberts101

    groberts101 Member

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    I'm also quite positive you're right about that. And nobody will make em' because there's just not enough demand to warrant the R&D cost and the part is rather complex in shape with everything that needs to bolt onto that thing. It's surely not a simple DIY weekend project. Good quality(more user friendly/long lasting) resins and materials needed to make a nice one-off piece isn't cheap. I'd guess around $200 build cost at a minimum. The cheaper you go here on resin and cloth type/quality.. the more resin and layers required to maintain the same strength.. the heavier the overall part will be to eventually negate much of the added benefit of making it in glass in the first place.

    But I would consider buying one, and will likely fabricate my own(whether it be AL and/or glass/hybrid) at some point in the future, because the part is heavy and the weight is located higher up in the chassis where I don't really want it. Every pound of weight I can shed puts more power to the wheels and helps keep it on the road or track.
     
  5. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    Having removed many of them.....I find they don't weigh much at all. I can't imagine the weight savings could be that great.
     
  6. groberts101

    groberts101 Member

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    Ok thanks Craig, good to know. Then apparently it must just be all the other stuff attached to it that drives the weight up then.
     
  7. rthomas771

    rthomas771 Member

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    I took the bathroom scales out to the shop. Weighing me holding a dash and me without holding the dash...after doing the math and borrowing a one...I came to the conclusion that a naked dash weighs 9 pounds without the dash pad. With dash pad it tips the scale at 12 lbs.
     
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  8. groberts101

    groberts101 Member

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    wow.. thanks for the extra effort there, Jeff. Either way I go here, I know there is much weight to be lost with all the other factory junk piled onto and under that thing. I figure once it's all gutted out(dash, package tray, heater, steel sterring column, and all the rest) and replaced with shell pieces to create a factory facade.. I should be down about 25 lbs or so.

    Every little bit helps and I'll rationalize the best weight loss candidates on how long it takes to get me there moreso than the overall cost. I can weld and do glass work but I guess why bother if it takes me near a hundred hours to lose 3 more lbs.
     
  9. lowteck101

    lowteck101 Member

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    SHOWCARS BODYPARTS UNLIMITED has a dash listed under maverick no price and i know nothing about them
     
  10. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    I know when it comes to shaving weight off of a car....every little bit helps. But in the end...might be easier to shave the weight off of the DRIVER of the car. :D
     
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  11. groberts101

    groberts101 Member

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    lol.. already started the diet, Craig. I think I mighta just lost .002 in the quarter over the last few weeks too. Unfortunately, winters coming fast though.. so I might end up a half tenth slower come next spring again. :hungry:

    PS. And if it really was that easy to go really fast?.. I'm almost positive I'd have an eating disorder related to going in the other direction. :ignore:
     
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  12. Bryant

    Bryant forgot more than learned

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    a few years ago i looked into fiberglass dashes for mavericks. i didnt find one but what i did figure out is that ford seemed to keep the same dash width on mustangs from the 60s to at least the eary 00s the same width. also mavericks use the same width. i had really considered using a fiber glass dash for a sn95 mustang before i ended up building the aluminum dash that was in my black car.
     
  13. RASelkirk

    RASelkirk Retired!

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    FYI, Studebaker Hawks from the mid-50's to mid 60's had 'glass dashes. I grafted one onto my '63 Rambler dash after trimming away everything but the steel frame with it's mounts...

    100_3516s.jpg
     

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