finally got my dash mod done

[etlsport]

took me forever to do it because ive been all sorts of busy.. but i finally mostly finished fiberglassing the spot of the fuzzy hole so i could add my own switches for my fan, lights etc..

Switches off
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/dashboard_030.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11756)
Switches on
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/dashboard_029.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11753)
Whole dash
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/dashboard_023.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11752)
Glowing!
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/dashboard_027.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11754)

[LittleBeast]

Nicely done. However if anyone else tried to drive your car I am afraid they might not know which switch does what. But then again that might be the point, lol. Looks good though. Very professionally done.

[tomdietrying]

Yep, very clean. I like it.
Peace.
Tom
012009

[nfpgasmask]

Pimpy, Eric, very pimpy. How did you do it?

Bart

[kodiak]

Nice job! I like it, you do some quality work.:eek:

[Ldub]

WAY sweet...very clean, a job well done!...:thumbup:

[etlsport]

originally i fiberglasssed over the entire area with a very thin layer so to hide the seams... well as soon as i got it painted it cracked as i was trying to drill out the holes for the switches.. :cryb:

so i broke out a big hammer and screwdriver and knocked the fiberglass out completely and started over just filling in the fuzzy hole

after lots and lots and lots and lots of sanding...
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/shelves_003.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11757)

then after even more sanding it was smooooooooth

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/shelves_004.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11758)

then a few layers of rustoleum metallic all purpose spray paint... some wet sanding and a clearcoat i drilled out the holes for the switches and voila!

except after a day of being dry bubbles started to appear around the edge of the fuzzy hole.. so ill one day repaint it.. but it doesnt look bad at all

thanks for the good comments!

[etlsport]

btw does anyone have a photo of the stock fuzzy hole? i do believe thats the ONLY photo i dont have of a vx (right tom?) i wanted a photo of it stock for comparison at shows/ in my portfolio

[VehiGAZ]

Beautiful work, Eric!

[rowhard]

Kind of like what I did. But I used a piece of plexiglas using the cubby hole thing as a pattern, epoxied it in and used some as a filler, sanded and painted after cutting hole for the clock.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/IMG_00011.JPG

[etlsport]

yep, rowhard, your clock was my inspiration for this mod!

littlebeast, i dont let anyone else drive my VX! haha my next mod (probably will go in the center of those switches) is an ignition safety with an analog coded "key" that must be inserted before the ignition will work... i am considering labeling them though, not sure the best way to do it

[tom4bren]

"ONLY photo i dont have of a vx (right tom?)"

I'm speechless.

I'd offer to take a pic of the stock config but my camera went Tango Uniform recently. That's why I haven't posted pix of my offset for the other thread yet.

BTW - most excellent work. KUDOS

[Knigh7s]

For the labeling, you could pick up a sheet of inkjet waterslide decal paper (Same kind that comes with those plastic models that you dip in a solution and slide it onto the model.) throw a sheet in your inkjet printer and make the labels of your choice, cut them out and slide them onto the location you want and let dry, then spray a nice clearcoat over them. You can pick them up at any model/rc hobby shop.

[workmeistr]

I just painted my dash after installing the Kenwood KVT-512 with iPod adapter. I probably wouldn’t have done it in any color other than Foxfire. I’m not sure how it would look in Proton (on a Proton, that is), but hey, I was jealous of the Silvers having a colored-keyed dash. It will come off and on many times as I add the XM, and eventually the Nav to the Kenwood. I bought a Trooper dash harness off eBay that had switch pigtails for one Trooper Light switch and 4wd switch. I repositioned the right switches to have the door popper (not yet installed) alone under the hazard and alarm light (I may move the light to another position if I ever need another switch, but definately not need now...). I’m looking for local Rodeos and Troopers in the yards to get pigtails for the other light and door popper switches so I don’t have to fab, and the dash-drill stays fluid (I’ve got it down to under 5 minutes, now). Now if I can just figure out why my cup holder doesn’t even fit a soda can… And don’t forget to remove the CD’s from the changer before you install the new stereo…

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/14.JPG http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/39.JPG
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/24.JPG

[don moore]

is there a picture version of how to remove and replace the dash panel..

[workmeistr]

I did a search, Don, and I didn't see a pictoral of a removal. I had an extra Rodeo dash so I knew where the attachment points were that pop out. I also looked at the CD. Maybe I can do a write up with multiple pictures the next time mine comes out (likely this weekend.)

There is a sequence: remove lower panel from around ashtray, remove 7 screws to main panel, push down lower under-steering-wheel panel to free upper dash panel tabs, etc. You start releasing the panel from the springy clips by pulling the dash free from the fuzzy hole left side. Don't pull out the left side of the dash too far before shifting to the radio area. The recessed screw hole above the radio has to be freed before you pull the left side of the dash completely out. The same recessed screw hole issue also applies to the two screws above the gauges. (This has become more of an issue for me with the Kenwood that sticks out farther than the stock radio. The stereo surround area of the dash gets hooked up on the stereo if I pull the left side of the dash completely free before I release the stereo screw area).

I did this completely by feel the first time, along with the Rodeo dash for inspiration and the CD. Once removed, I put a light coat of dialectic grease of those clips, dialectic-greased the switches to make plug removal easier, and extended the wires and changed to a friendlier plug for the alarm light (the factory plugs are a PITA to free the first time you remove the dash).

[don moore]

very nice..I wanted to get a dash and try some stuff to it ...I cant wait for your pics.. thx

[pbkid]

does anyone know of any extra dashes available online??

im looking to do something similar to these but i dont want to guinea pig my own dash =D

thanks guys....

[workmeistr]

Search "Rodeo Dash" on eBay. I got the main dash from eBay (with the fuzzy hole switch plate and all Rodeo switches for $55. Pricey for just the dash, but good deal with the bezel and switches, I thought. I got the lower (ashtray area) dash bit from a local yard, no upper dash or pigtails (whole dash harness gone), available from that Rodeo.

I, too, did not want to paint the factory dash. It's hermetically sealed in the attic. I have since bought a new Trooper dash harness to get a few switch pigtails, to include one Fog Light pigtail.

96 97 Isuzu Rodeo dash gauge bezel trim w/ all switches
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=160253877650

[twistedsymphony]

you should also checkout the classifieds at http://forum.planetisuzoo.com/

just yesterday I found a guy parting out his SUV and I did a straight up trade of my fuzzy hole piece for the 3 switch plate with an OEM tailgate open button, a fog light button and a blank complete with pigtails for a clean wiring install.

sure beats paying $45 just for that tailgate button from an OE parts dealer. :cool:

[kodiak]

You need to visit you local do it your self junk yard. In SLC we have “Pick and pull” and “Tare A part” there like Disney land for me. I’ve past up dozens of good $90 4L30E’s in totaled Isuzu’s and Hondas. The odd thing is I never see a rusted out Isuzu.:p

[etlsport]

pbkid, ill take a look at the scrap yard for you when i go next (probably friday) if i find one ill send it out for 25+ shipping

[etlsport]

workmeister,

you inspired me to paint my dash again...

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/dashboard_009.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11931)
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/dashboard_008.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11930)
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/dashboard_007.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11929)

[Ldub]

Nice Work!:thumbup:...:cool:

[workmeistr]

That is nice, etlsport:grino:

I do like the blue.
I was considered doing mine in a contrasting, yet Foxfire-friendly color, as I was worried that the aftermarket Foxfire spray wouldn't match the actual color on the vehicle. It is slightly off, but not really noticeable.

I had intended to paint the door panels, too: Grey-to-black, Faux carbon fiber-to-Foxfire. That's on hold until I find a quality flexible black vinyl paint for the door panels (though regular, high-quality spray paint would probably do), hopefully a vinyl/flexible paint of better quality than what I used on the rear Rodeo headrests. That was a painful process to dye/paint the grey headrest to black without it looking light a spray-painted headrest.

For those that are on the fence about painting you dash, or just have a need to remove the dash panel for whatever reason, I did a dash removal step-by-step guide and Scott hung it in the "Tip's and How To's" section on the left of the screen.

[etlsport]

in my search for the right color i came across a few vinyl dyes at napa.. looked pretty easy to use but i didnt look that close


i was also thinking of doing my door panels.. but still torn on how or even if i want to do it.. if i do it i think i will leave the gray as is and paint over the carbon fiber to match the dash

although i LOVE this door painting job.. and think it would look nice in my vx in blue instead of red of course.. but i kind of like the lightness of the interior i dunno.. but this just looks so sexy
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/Interior_Mods_-_01.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/8140)

[workmeistr]

Yep, I have a similar picture saved with a similar paint scheme. I hadn't thought of doing the pocket in color, and I still haven't decided to do the whole CF area in color or just a section, like your example. I do think that the grey door panels would look better black, to match the rest of the panels; if I had a red interior, I might think differently.

[etlsport]

installed!

boo yah!

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/dash_of_blue_007.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11947)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/dash_of_blue_009.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11948)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/dash_of_blue_025.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11949)



and just cause im bored.. a brief history of my fuzzy hole (btw my stock one is still for sale for $15)


http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/parts_005.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10414)
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/switches_012.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=9058)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/photos_076.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=9519)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/switch_022.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=9820)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/shelves_003.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11757)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/dashboard_030.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11756)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/dash_of_blue_007.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11947)

[circmand]

Say what you want but I like a fuzzy hole. Love that red dash board

[So-CalVX]

hey Eric... I've noticed u like blue a bit... are u planning on painting the VX too? I think that would be pretty cool (if not a curse...) and everything would match....
sooooooo.... whats the verdict?:confused:

[etlsport]

hey Eric... I've noticed u like blue a bit... are u planning on painting the VX too? I think that would be pretty cool (if not a curse...) and everything would match....
sooooooo.... whats the verdict?:confused:


I thought about it.. i would really like my VX in a similar color to the dash.. but I also really dig the blue and silver look.. plus a lighter color is easier to care for

i think if my VX ever does get repainted its going to be a gunmetal color

[Knigh7s]

Great looking dash there etl!!!

I just bought a dash off ebay. I have something in store for this one! Stay tuned...

As for the paint, that dark blue and kaiser silver really go well with eachother... I am working on getting some dark pearl blue vinyl graphics for the exterior... just havn't decided on the design yet. But when my VX is all payed off, I will be going matte black all around!!!