I'm just mounting the dash into the Indy at the moment and I'm trying to figure out what to do where the column goes through the dash. I guess the only two options are to:

a) cut a circular hole for the column only and have it going through the dash

or

b) cut a hole so that the column and cowling sit in a sort of inverted U shaped hole although this will probably leave exposed edges of the dash underneath?

What have others done here? My main problem I'm ashamed to say is that my measuring and cutting skills are absolute tosh and no matter how many times I measure I know I'll make a bit of a bodge of it

1. cardboard template of dash.
2. cut hole
3. fit column
4. if in wrong place, cut piece of carboard and tape over hole
5. go to 2.

simples.

buy a couple of pieces of MDF, cut them to the size of your dash and use this as your template, once happy lay the MDF ontop of the dash mark the cuts out onto your dash.

I would think that you are better to have the steering cowl fitted as Im sure you have to cut the dash around this

I cut a squarish hole for the cowl to sit under, I have an adjustable column so set it fully in and up first then made the template.
If i were you i would make up a thick cardboard template, you can hack this to your hearts content and just stick back cardboard till you get it right, then lay the bodged carboard over a nice new sheet of new cardboard, cut to suit then when you are finally happy transfer to MDF/Plywood and mark out. When you mark out it may be a bit generous but this is fine, you should then sand back to fit, this can take a while but the time taken here makes a world of difference.

When i fitted my Carbon Dash, I was also scared of getting it wrong as the expense of a mistake is costly. I then realised that the outer steering column on my car was below the area of the dash. I simply disconnected the inner steering column at the uj and slid the inner column down. Applying grease to the end of the column first. then fitted the dash in place and slid the column up until it touched the new dash. it provides a perfect mark on the back of the dash that was then cut to correct diameter with a clearance. From there, you can then decide whether you wish to keep that size of hole or make it larger for the indicator sitches etc.

There was a thread done some time ago were we all posted up pictures of our dashes - A search might reveal but I didn't keep it as a favourite...

you can see the finished article if you check out my photo archive.

I cut an oval (adjustable column) in mine . However the advantage of an inverted U is that you can remove the dash without having to strip the column.

adrian