jon_89

Has anybody built a complete dash? All I can find are ones for cj's that look pretty sweet but none for xj's. Any ideas?

guest03

yeah but its easier just to leave what you got

jon_89

Did you do one for an cherokee or something else? It sounds pretty straight forward but actually doing is probaly a whole diffrent story.

posjeepxj

i have done several full fiberglass ones back when i was into stero stuff. IT IS WAY TO MUCH WORK unless you are guna go to car shows with it. What exactly do you wanna change about it?

jon_89

I dont know just looking at random stuff and came across it for cj's but not cherokees. I would use all new gauges, switches, radio, cb, etc. This is probably one of those things I'll think of for awhile and then change my mind a month later.

posjeepxj

cj dont exactly have difficult hvac systems in them. you on the other handle have vents and a bunch of other stuff that cjs dont. Im all about aftermarket gauges but it would be easier to work with waht you got. make your own cluster that fit i stock spot. take the grey plastic off and make one out of alum and swirle it or something. You could always put in a 97 plush dash if you are going after market gauges, you lose leg room but man do they look better. lots of write ups on how to do it also

wheeler

just take the dash peice off and paint it to match ur xj

jon_89

Thats why I am looking into an aftermarket heater as well. I would love to make my jeep as simple as possible and maybe get rid of that under the dash clutter.

Hommersimpson

This was car i just sold... I spent more time then i care to remmber building just the dash, let alone the rest of the mods i did to the car.. It was a 90 supra turbo targa..
Its way way to much work for anything fancy.. now something simple.. can be done very easy with just some angle iron and some aluminum.. like what they do in race cars and trucks..
here is link to what all was involved.. rember now this was a fully workin dash to.. a/c heat vents and also a computer..3 lcds...
http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/f.../Dashfinished/

jon_89

Yeah thats a little more than I was thinking. Probably some aluminum from side to side and down in the center with some holes cut in it.

jon_89

What thickness aluminum would you guys recommend?

Hommersimpson

1/8" cheap and easy to get...

Tankerblade

1/8th is way to thick. I dont know about you but 1/8th in is still thick, it'd be hard to bend and im sure your not trying to repel any hard objects. 16 guage is a good size, easy to bend. and if you did get into a accident of some sort, it would cumple more then be a solid wall causing more damage

jon_89

Played with the idea some and even made a template with exact sizes of gauges radio, etc.I dont think I will go door to door to keep it simple. I am going to try and avoid bending by using angle iron.

Tankerblade

if you have access to a metal break it helps bend it and makes it look really nice.