Hi.

In the next month I plan to swap out an aluminium dash for carbon fibre. This will also involve changing to a digital dash from analog gauges. I am a litttle daunted by having to disconnect everything but I assume with careful labelling it shouldn't be that complicated.

I guess I will use the existing dash as a template for the carbon and thus simplify locating holes for rivnuts.

Any tips on making the procedure more painless? It is for a race car so no SVA hassles.

I'd check your rule book as quite a few of the race series including 750 I think won't allow carbon fibre....dunno if thats a safety issue thing or if its to do with keeping it cheap.....HTH Oli.

Hi Oli,

Never thought of that! made mine from ply in the end and covered it in vinyl, had better check the blue book!!

Rich.

Not a problem with the regs unless I try to redo the chassis in it.

In the 750 Locost 2006 regs, carbonfibre is prohibited.

What championship are you racing in?

750MC Bikesports.

I wish my season started in April!!!!

Are you going to be out for the first round at Brands?

No have to miss it due to a holiday already booked. Will be at Cadwell at the end of April.

(actually just noted it is 1 May- very civilised)

[Edited on 28/2/06 by jecuk]

It has been rumoured that in the days when F3 outlawed cfrp, some people made parts with carbon and black pigmented resins! This may also apply to some cars racing with 750mc. It's only a rumour though! I would never do such a thing, nor could I be involved in making the parts.

Had to do a double take on the posting...

Last night I started designing and planning a new dash... going from ali & analogue to CF & Digidash - must be summit in the water

Could I chuck a few questions in? If anyone knows.....

(MAC1)

Is the Mac1 CF dash the only "off the shelf" dash with the drop down center?

Is their GRP dash the same shape? (just checking)

(MK)

Their parts Cat. = "Dash Board Panel (Black Embossed Plastic)"
How does this look? (& assuming flat bottomed?)

Do MK do a CF look dash? (read a posting that they were developing one)

If anyone's got any of the above and have pics archived could they stick a hand in the air so I can have a quick peek? (Kev R1's recent posting I've seen (Mac1 CF) - looks good )

Cheapest & quickest option to achieve what I have in mind is a cheap flat bottomed CF look dash, and attach an ali plate in the middle that is deeper for the switches, but I can’t think how to finish off the edging for it to be compliant (and look good!)

...Then there's ply and vinyl!

Sorry (jecuk) to hijack your post, but seemed daft opening a new one.

FYI - Fluke do a blank CF dash.

and when we're done, I'll show you mine if you show me yours!

No problem. Good tip on the fluke piece. Might be able to use a caterham blank for the car.

[Edited on 1/3/06 by jecuk]

>> Is the Mac1 CF dash the only "off the shelf" dash with the drop down center?

I think it is but on a normal car it only comes halfway down as the MAC1 car has a higher tunnel that comes up to meet it.

>> Is their GRP dash the same shape? (just checking)

Yep

>> Their parts Cat. = "Dash Board Panel (Black Embossed Plastic)"
How does this look? (& assuming flat bottomed?)

Looks ok but flat bottomed and very flimsy and will need some backing (ali or ply)

>> Do MK do a CF look dash? (read a posting that they were developing one)

Not really, just a look alike afaik

>> ...Then there's ply and vinyl!

Yep, exactly what I did, very cheap and looks fine and alot stiffer, and one key thing I found was that it's easy to fit the Digidash as you can just screw fixings into the ply.



[Edited on 1/3/06 by shortie]

Cheers for all that - Shortie

Mmm... think I'm being converted to ply! -

Been-n-Queued at lunch then!!! - see wot the wood section has.

(jecuk) Got a couple of mates with the Fluke CF, and they swear by it - its not as flimsy as the CF look stuff - £75 on ebay at the mo (Id got my eye on it, but think things have just changed)



[Edited on 1/3/06 by skidude88]

What about 4mm carbon look ABS plastic? see this thread
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=39798

4mm shouldn't be too flimsy, or 2.5mm glued to ply or ally

[Edited on 1/3/06 by iank]

If anybody is interested im thinking of having some made with the radius on the bottom the same as mine without the dash recess just flat depending on the amount of orders i can get.

Description
the abs sheet is carbon effect and can also do the dash with the 03 r1 clock recess in it.

[Edited on 1/3/06 by desyboy]
Rescued attachment radiused dash 1.jpg

Very minimalistic.
Me likes!

Ive got 4 savage switches to go under the clocks yet.

Go proper carbon fibre and be done with it.

Can you use this in 750 MC?

Triton carbon dash, full SVA radius etc as std, just the job, similar price to ESP plaggy one.



dash fitted 1



dash cleco 1

[Edited on 11/4/06 by NS Dev]