73 Camaro "Black Pearl"

[ar0ck]

I love that you can get at it from both sides!

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by ar0ck

I love that you can get at it from both sides!

With the wheels and suspension off it is even better. don't have to lean at all to get to the engine, still can like this, just have to stand behind the wheel

[PolarBear]

Worked on my other bezel tonight. I cut the hole out for the indicator cluster that I bought and mounted it.





Then I put my Carbon FiBear Veneer on the panel and trimmed it all to fit. I bonded the veneer to the bezel with contact cement. After it was set up I cut the excess off, cut the holes for the gauges and sanded the edges of the veneer so it is the same size as the panel.

Took a few hours to do all this and a few cuts, and a few bleeding fingers...... The plastic is still on the veneer in this picture. I have to open up the 2 1/16" holes for the angle rings that I am going to use, going to use the die grinder tomorrow to make short work of that, then I can peel the plastic and mount the gauges in this panel instead of the factory one that I modified in the other picture.



I do have two switches to mount in the panel and I am not sure whether I want to put the cigarette lighter in or leave it out. Alternatively, I bought a dual USB power charger that mounts like a cig lighter, but I am not sure whether I want to put that in the panel either. I REALLY like the carbon look, but the panel kind of looks empty without anything over there. I guess I'll see how the panel looks with the gauges in there and make my decision afterwards.

[transmaro93]

dude that looks awesome... very nice work.i made one of these out of sheeetmetal for my 73 when i was like 17 and it didnt come out nearly as nice as that. what gauges are you going with or your not sure yet?

[PolarBear]

I bought Autometer Ultra Lite II's they are a few pages/posts back

[sweetbmxrider]

Make me one?

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

Make me one?

Me too

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

Make me one?

Originally Posted by WildBillyT

Me too

You both want one for a '70-'77 Camaro? It'll be like $400

[Featherburner]

Originally Posted by PolarBear

You both want one for a '70-'77 Camaro? It'll be like $400

Including all the gauges? Sound like an awesome deal!

[PolarBear]

$1600 with gauges

[sweetbmxrider]

Sounds like its worth more than my car, lets duit.

[PolarBear]

You send money first

[PolarBear]

Here is the mostly completed panel with the gauges.



I am a little disappointed with a few minor things, but it won't be noticeable mounted in the car. When I used the hole cutter for the lighter it forced some chips in between the bezel and the veneer. I picked out what I could but there is still some crap in there and the hole around the lighter isn't flat so it looks funny in the light. And I am also not happy with the veneer in the bends to the sides, it pulled away from the aluminum even though I used a dowel and clamps there. It's not the end of the world, but I know it's like that. I have another piece of carbon veneer that I can re-do it if I ever really want to fix those problems.

I have to file out the notch for the headlight switch a little as the one cut is too small for the headlight switches I have, that won't take long to fix though. Also the little red switch under the speedo is a momentary for the reverse lockout solenoid. I will wire that in series using power from the brake light switch so I have to brake and press the button to engage the solenoid. Unfortunately I broke this switch when I was mounting it, the back side is plastic. As I was holding it and tightening the nut on the front the plastic on the reverse tore and it isn't going to work.
I also have to make up a bracket for the dash side, all the tabs on my dash are broken, so I have no way to mount the cluster in there. For now it sits in the spot and will stay put, but it may move around a bit.

[Blackbirdws6]

Came out great.

[PolarBear]

Honestly, the picture doesn't do it justice

[Featherburner]

I can see why you are disappointed. I'll help you out and take that mess off your hands for $150.

[Blackbirdws6]

Originally Posted by PolarBear

Honestly, the picture doesn't do it justice

Take a pic with a nice clean white background. Basically minus the other stuff in the pic.

[PolarBear]

Uhhh, I don't have that

[sweetbmxrider]

A white blanket? White paper? White out?

Looks nice.

[PolarBear]

No, not really, and no.

Yous people will just have to see it in person. I don't have good lighting or camera so I am not going to get a good picture of it

[sweetbmxrider]

Google how to build a light box, you'll make it look absolutely amazing with just a camera phone. I'm not trying to ride you here, just a suggestion.

[PolarBear]

That takes away from the parts budget If you mooks want to see it better, come on down

[PolarBear]

Been sick a few times over the winter but I finally got out into the garage this weekend. I finally got the fuel pump relay trigger wire run down the wiring channel and the old wiring harness from the Holley EFI out. I had temporarily run the control wire out the window and over the quarter panel into the trunk! Got that cleaned up and started to re-wire the fan. Looks like I am going to need to buy some heavy gauge wire to run the fan though. The current circuit is a bit cobbled.

[PolarBear]

AutoRad ordered, my wallet is angry at me right now

I decided to go with the suction and return for the hoses on the passenger side instead of the return on the LH side. This will allow me un-interrupted access to run the air intake to the drivers side without having to cross over the upper cooling hose.

8 week build time, so I'll have the rest of the cash, after the $500 deposit, from my income tax return.

[BonzoHansen]

did you order the whole rad support setup?