Glass-Action Ghia Dash
- FJCamper
- Moderator
- Posts: 2901
- Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 2:19 pm
Glass-Action Ghia Dash
Above: (Top) Reverse side of the product, showing molded-in mounting studs. (Middle) As delivered, the exterior is a smooth gel-coat. (Bottom) A race-only dash with instruments installed. While the dash can be cut to allow use of the glove-box door, we won't do that on this race version, giving us a smooth cover to the edge, same as the Porsche Speedster.
Glass-Action Replacement Dash
Ghia dash pads crack and warp. That declasse fake wood cover facade tatters and peels. The thin black plastic dash covers used at the end run of Ghia production also split and break away. Most Ghia fans regard the painted dashes of the early cars as the best.
Here at Retroracing, we needed an entirely new dash for our road-race only car and a racing style dash for our daily driver project. Glass-Action had the best product, a smooth, blank-slate bolt-on fiberglass dash. The fiberglass dash bolts on using existing holes in the original dash.
The product fits well, right to the windshield. We're painting the top edge of the dashes flat black to decrease glare, but will paint the dash faces body color
If you need a cockpit makeover, Glass-Action offers these for about $120 each, delivered. We're more than happy with them.
FJC
-
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:27 pm
Re: Glass-Action Ghia Dash
I have same dash and will be running Beck Speedster Porsche 356 VDO Gauges. Also not cutting out the glove box to keep a smooth look. Nice job...
- Piledriver
- Moderator
- Posts: 22520
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2002 12:01 am
Re: Glass-Action Ghia Dash
Hmmmmmm they also have very similar units for the T3.
I hate the current layout/gauges and was considering swapping in a CANBUS-aware gauge cluster out of a Boxster or similar
(Works with Megasquirt for awhile now, user contributed code in the releases)
Might be a good setup as is or even with the Boxster gauge cluster setup grafted in.
I hate the current layout/gauges and was considering swapping in a CANBUS-aware gauge cluster out of a Boxster or similar
(Works with Megasquirt for awhile now, user contributed code in the releases)
Might be a good setup as is or even with the Boxster gauge cluster setup grafted in.
Addendum to Newtons first law:
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
- FJCamper
- Moderator
- Posts: 2901
- Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 2:19 pm
Re: Glass-Action Ghia Dash
Our Glass-Action dash in place.
The dash comes with two studs to go through existing holes in the original dash area, but we needed extra space on the right hand side, and had to cut away the dash area where the stud would mount, so we ended up mounting the dash with bolts on the two outer edges.
Then, as we'd anticipated, with the entire original dash face cut away, there was considerably reduced support for the sheet metal deck that supports the steering column. You could literally flex the sheet metal up and down an inch or more without much pressure on the steering wheel. A U-bolt or two would have worked as well, but we had made a custom-machined billet aluminum bracket. You can see it in the photo above holding up the steering wheel. Clamping the column to the sheet metal made the column itself a stiffening member, and there was zero flex after we tightened it down.
FJC
-
- Posts: 1925
- Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2004 6:20 am
Re: Glass-Action Ghia Dash
Pile,Piledriver wrote:Hmmmmmm they also have very similar units for the T3.
I hate the current layout/gauges and was considering swapping in a CANBUS-aware gauge cluster out of a Boxster or similar
(Works with Megasquirt for awhile now, user contributed code in the releases)
Might be a good setup as is or even with the Boxster gauge cluster setup grafted in.
Take a look at the 924/944 gauge cluster 77-85.5.
One enclosure, with 3 separate gauges. Speedo would even accept the stock cable, and tire OD matches up. Ergo, should rock right from the getgo.
- Piledriver
- Moderator
- Posts: 22520
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2002 12:01 am
Re: Glass-Action Ghia Dash
I was thinking CAN buss but that would work fine.
How about the later 944 dashes?
The Boxster/996+ era Porsche, some VW and some late Fiat dashes are supported, but most cars have CAN dashes in them these days.
MS doesn't support everything yet, VW and others also built security garbage into that dashes which is a PITA.
How about the later 944 dashes?
The Boxster/996+ era Porsche, some VW and some late Fiat dashes are supported, but most cars have CAN dashes in them these days.
MS doesn't support everything yet, VW and others also built security garbage into that dashes which is a PITA.
Addendum to Newtons first law:
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
-
- Posts: 1925
- Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2004 6:20 am
Re: Glass-Action Ghia Dash
Later 944s used an electronic Speedo signal.
85.5 and up, it was a single integrated cluster, oval shaped, with a single price clear lens (cover).
Before then was a plastic 3hole housing with no cover, as each gauge had its own individual lens.
85.5 and up, it was a single integrated cluster, oval shaped, with a single price clear lens (cover).
Before then was a plastic 3hole housing with no cover, as each gauge had its own individual lens.