Rebody Retro flat dashboard

[Mrpandy]

Hi All I’ve just bought this Nubodi kobra and I want to convert the dash to a flat style with analogue dials. I have seen an example on here but wondered if anyone could give me some pointers on how to get the top part. I’ve seen the tribute dash but I am after a flat front. If I cut the old dash back to the vents I am guessing I will still need to put a curved top in place before I mount the front dash. Is there a GRP moulded top around? Cheers Andy

 

[Duncodin]

It is posible to make your own flat dash panels using GRP sheets and profiles from fibreglass roofing suppliers.

Did you see my dash? I know it's not Cobra style but the 'flateness' might give you ideas?

Yes. Lots of the original Z3 dash is chopped back. There's lots of posts in here showing how much to chop off. Some people chop the original dash right back almost to the air vents leaving just a lip to attach the GRP to. I didn't chop off quite as much. I left as much of the orginal as possible to keep it as rigid as possible. The idea of keeping the original z3 dash is because of the mountings to the metalwork - chassis. You want to attach your fabricated dash to the original z3 'stub'. You really don't want to be fabricating mounts to the chassis.

Those GRP sheets are around 1mm thick but using resin you can sandwich multiple layers to get whatever thickness you want.

My ReBody is a tribute 507 and there is no dash available for that so I had to make my own.

The falt panels gave me the basic frame but still lots of shaping and modling and laying of fibreglass etc. I think the dash took longer than the car so avoid making your own if you can.

The BMW 507 isn't a sports/racer. It has a plain flat dash. No extra gauges etc. Just the radio in the middle with loudspeaker above the radio which is the look I'm going for..

In the long term I'd like to get rid of the z3 instruments and make my own cluster with period dials. I might buy another z3 dash off fleebay or one of our breakers and fiddle with that over winter but still using the same 'roofing GRP panel' technique which IMO is the easiest way to get the flat panels I wanted.

Oh. and the original glove box still fits underneath neatly.

So, there's an idea for your flat panels. GRP Roofing materials. Lots of surface area for your analogue dials.

But, now I think about it I've seen a few cobra style kit cars with dash like the one in your picture. If you can find something ready built.

 

[Pond]

Hi All I’ve just bought this Nubodi kobra and I want to convert the dash to a flat style with analogue dials. I have seen an example on here but wondered if anyone could give me some pointers on how to get the top part. I’ve seen the tribute dash but I am after a flat front. If I cut the old dash back to the vents I am guessing I will still need to put a curved top in place before I mount the front dash. Is there a GRP moulded top around? Cheers Andy

Post a picture of what it looks like at present.

You need to be very careful with any new dash, as there is a LOT of 'stuff' in the Z3 that can't be moved, most notably the huge crash bar and the top windscreen vent ductwork/outlets. If you remove the vents it won't pass an MOT.

 

[Mrpandy]

So it looks like 1st pic ie quite original and I am looking for something like 2nd pic. I like

 

[Pond]

@DaveP has a tribute Kobra. Maybe message him?

 

[Pond]

So it looks like 1st pic ie quite original and I am looking for something like 2nd pic. I like

The top piece of the second picture would need to be bespoke made as far as I know, as I don't know of anyone making flat topped dashes. There is a lot of work gone into that dash IMO.

My car has a moulded GRP dash, attached to a Z3 dash 'lip' under the windscreen. That was hard enough to get to fit and was made for the car.

 

[Pingu]

So it looks like 1st pic ie quite original and I am looking for something like 2nd pic. I like

The dash you are wanting is one of the best I have seen. Good choice.

The things that are hardest to reposition are the heater controls. It looks like the whole dashboard has been designed around their position - a very good piece of design, in my opinion.

It also looks like a very simple fabrication with one flat piece and one curved piece.

As said above, you need the windscreen vents, so you will need to butcher an original Z3 dashboard, but that's easy enough. The hard bit is getting all the curves correct, and those look pretty simple.

I'd start with cardboard, and work upto aluminium sheet, fibreglass and body filler. Aluminium sheet is an excellent material to work with as it is strong enough to hold shape, and is easy to manipulate. Fibreglass and body filler are excellent for making things look smooth.

It's not the one you are after, but here's some videos of how I made my dashboard...

 

[Duncodin]

I am looking for something like . . . .

Your picture looks like the one from ClassicCoachWorks.
Click this > See here <

Don't know what your thoughts are on that price (£375) but IMO it's a bargain for the amount of pain you'll avoid

 

[Mrpandy]

The dash you are wanting is one of the best I have seen. Good choice.

The things that are hardest to reposition are the heater controls. It looks like the whole dashboard has been designed around their position - a very good piece of design, in my opinion.

It also looks like a very simple fabrication with one flat piece and one curved piece.

As said above, you need the windscreen vents, so you will need to butcher an original Z3 dashboard, but that's easy enough. The hard bit is getting all the curves correct, and those look pretty simple.

I'd start with cardboard, and work upto aluminium sheet, fibreglass and body filler. Aluminium sheet is an excellent material to work with as it is strong enough to hold shape, and is easy to manipulate. Fibreglass and body filler are excellent for making things look smooth.

It's not the one you are after, but here's some videos of how I made my dashboard...

Thanks for the videos really helpful.

 

[Pond]

Don't know what your thoughts are on that price (£375) but IMO it's a bargain for the amount of pain you'll avoid

Seems a very good price to me. Gauges are available from ETB instruments (John) aswell I believe