Does anyone know where to get a (real not synthetic) carbon fiber dash kit to replace the stock speedo section? I have a 71' Chevelle Custom. Thanks :beers:!!!

...probably going to have to lay up one on your own or pay big bucks for someone to make you a one-off piece. I'm not aware of any on the market now or anyone planning to make them. It would be an expensive niche item and probably a money-loser for whoever decided to make them.

Does anyone know where to get a (real not synthetic) carbon fiber dash kit to replace the stock speedo section? I have a 71' Chevelle Custom. Thanks :beers:!!!

these guys can do it, but no idea of a price. Their work is excellent, they did some console and interior pieces for me.

http://www.wabbitsww.com/

Jody

Thanks for the help! I found a post that had the answer. :hurray:

The following website has what I am looking for and yes its synthetic :(

http://covansclassic.com/

I suggest you check out a Covan's in person if possible before you buy to know what you're getting into.

Many, including myself, are not happy with fit & finish. They're somewhat flimsy and tend to "dance" and bounce while going down the road-- some reinforcement bonded to the back takes care of that issue.

Also, the carbon printing they do doesn't look that good in person IMO. It looks OK from a quick glance walking by at a car show but not from behind the wheel.

I've put in a couple for other guys and while they were happy with the end product I would not put one in my own car... so I'm building my own. I'm a picky SOB though so keep that in mind. :p

I suggest you check out a Covan's in person if possible before you buy to know what you're getting into.

Many, including myself, are not happy with fit & finish. They're somewhat flimsy and tend to "dance" and bounce while going down the road-- some reinforcement bonded to the back takes care of that issue.

Also, the carbon printing they do doesn't look that good in person IMO. It looks OK from a quick glance walking by at a car show but not from behind the wheel.

I've put in a couple for other guys and while they were happy with the end product I would not put one in my own car... so I'm building my own. I'm a picky SOB though so keep that in mind. :p


Thanks... How about making one for a 71' and I will by it...:thumbsup:

I suggest you check out a Covan's in person if possible before you buy to know what you're getting into.

Many, including myself, are not happy with fit & finish. They're somewhat flimsy and tend to "dance" and bounce while going down the road-- some reinforcement bonded to the back takes care of that issue.

Also, the carbon printing they do doesn't look that good in person IMO. It looks OK from a quick glance walking by at a car show but not from behind the wheel.

I've put in a couple for other guys and while they were happy with the end product I would not put one in my own car... so I'm building my own. I'm a picky SOB though so keep that in mind. :p


yeah, and guess what's in my 64? :D I don't think it's that bad, but probably should have had Wabbitts cover it in real carbon fiber when they were doing the other stuff, but my budget was already stretched to the breaking point. :p

Jody

Thanks... How about making one for a 71' and I will by it...:thumbsup:

LOL! I figured that was coming. :p

I make CF parts for my day job. It's somewhat messy with prepreg, very messy with wet layup. Either way, it's time consuming, and a pain if you want them to come out looking really nice.

For smaller parts like your speedo section, about the best way to do it is to mold release the section you want to duplicate and then make a splash mold off your current dash with Bondo. Take it off and lightly fill & sand any imperfections out then cover the mold with self-adhesive skived teflon sheet for a mold release (or use liquid sealer then release compound), then get some 4x4 twill carbon fabric or similar (the twill conforms to contours quite well and looks good) and proceed with a wet layup with a polyurethane resin. Vacuum bag it and let cure. You can then finish it with automotive clearcoat and cut and buff it for a perfect shine & deep clear surface.

I can go the route home-users usually can't when making CF parts, I can use scrap/leftover prepreg from work and then autoclave cure it-- however I need a good solid mold to survive the trip through the autoclave.

I'm actually not making my new dash in CF as I don't really like that "look" in the interior-- I want to keep it looking mostly original at a first glance. I really like CF but I don't want my interior to have it everywhere. I'm going to use textured ABS plastic that matches the look of the original dash material and I'm only making an insert that fills where the factory gauges go currently. It will be heat & vacuum formed to match the curvature of the factory gauge section. I might make a carbon fiber insert to try too, but I doubt I'll like the look once installed in the car.

Only reason I haven't made it yet is I haven't managed to cough up the money for the dash centerpiece, a Stack ST-700 digital display tach and matching pressure sensors.