Dash Layout,,what,,where?????

1NCE BITN · #1 (**permalink**) 06-25-2006, 03:02 PM

I'm not 100% about originality, But would like to gain knowledge of the dash layout. AC (AUTO-CARRIER) Was sport touring.
Carrol Shelby was About kicking Enzos' A** (track). The tach is the most important gauge, followed by oil press., fuel press., engine temp. and so on! What is your take on it?

Any pics out there? Thanx guys!

LMH · #2 (**permalink**) 06-25-2006, 04:51 PM

Here's something I found while surfing around. Has lots of info for sure!
Dash layouts are in the beginning. Note that the original S/C dash does not contain a fuel level gauge but does have a fuel pressure gauge.
http://www.clubphoto.com/_cgi-bin/ap...k_code=sa01_17
Larry

mickmate · #3 (**permalink**) 06-25-2006, 08:02 PM

Awesome thanks!

Streetwize · #4 (**permalink**) 06-25-2006, 08:25 PM

FWIW....A friend of mine was building his own Cobra and saw an Original 427 car at a show in Charlotte, He thought it would be a great opportunity to sketch out an "original" dash layout. He tells this story to be the God's honest truth.....He took out a piece of paper and began to draw what he saw and a few minutes later he heard a man's voice over his shoulder.

"Whatcha doin??"

"I'm doing a Cobra kit and I want to make my dash layout as original as possible"

"Awww, you shouldn't bother with that, no two are identical"

My Friend tried his best to ignore him and continued sketching away...

"I'm telling you, they were all done by different people in the shop, they did it according to what kind of mood they were in that day, so no two cars are just alike!"

My buddy is getting irked by this time....

"Do what you want but you're really wastin' your time"

Jimmy turned to give the man a "Who the #@%* are you??" look and froze dead in his tracks.....

The man was Carroll Shelby

Jimmy then took the neat sketch he had just painstakenly sketched-up and tore it in half. He proceeded to do the gauges just the way he saw fit.

I have no doubt they had official drawings of Dash layouts, however in the Illustrated and pictoral history book "Shelby Cobra", by Dave Friedman, which is loaded with the official Archival Historic Shelby American pictures, as well as the two Brooklands Books which are compilations of actual magazine articles on Cobras, there is evidence to support several variations of dash layouts.

1NCE BITN · #5 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 02:01 PM

LMH, Appreciate the the link man! Streetwize,,,,,,WOOOWWWW,, Great piece of history, Something to cherish! Thanx guys!!

mickmate · #6 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 08:47 PM

OK I thought I was stylin it but I'm back into a Cobra quandry. The only street car dash numbers I can read are Grumpy's. The first and only number I can cross reference is the centre line to steering wheel distance. It is 15 7/8" on Grumpy's and 14 3/8" on the Cobra Restorers prints. Rotten hand built cars!!!!

double ugly · #7 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 09:19 PM

Try CSXINFO.NET There's a lot of info and expert advice there.
John

mickmate · #8 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 09:23 PM

Thanks John, I have a thread going on over there with this already.

1NCE BITN · #9 (**permalink**) 06-27-2006, 11:03 AM

Thanx D. Ugly, Going to get on my board and websurf over there now!!!

Cobra65 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 06:40 AM

I’m glad you guys like my diagrams.

Thanks for your interest.

mickmate · #11 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 08:18 AM

Any way I could get some originals. It's difficult to read some of the numbers from a website pic.
Thanks.

John Annie · #12 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 09:06 AM

Here's something else to check out for Cobra information. It's titled "A Guideline To Building An Authentic Looking Cobra Replica"

http://users.pipeline.com.au/bryanw/...g_an_authe.htm

John

Dangerous Doug · #13 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 09:36 AM

Order a copy of the ERA manual. There are dash layout patterns and other helpful technical information that you could likely use in whatever you build. Available for ~$35 at www.erareplicas.com.

imagine2frolic · #14 (**permalink**) 12-21-2006, 10:16 AM

I have to believe the story about Shelby, depends on how they felt that day. I want to build a 289 car, and keep looking at pictures. I have been looking for 4 months, and my head is spinning. Each car seems to have some kind of variation from the last. I am beginning to believe you can build anything you like, and it will be accurate, within reason of course. I think the only accurate car you could build would be to pick one car, and duplicate that one.

G.R. · #15 (**permalink**) 12-22-2006, 07:20 PM

Didn't some of the gauge layout configurations in the comp cars depend upon how the drivers of the cars wanted them?

I was under the impression that all the 289 street cars had the same dash layout.

The same with the 427 S/C cars? Right or wrong?

mickmate · #16 (**permalink**) 12-24-2006, 08:08 PM

Anyone have accurate diameters of switch and button holes? I have the guage info from Nisonger for diameters.

wtm442 · #17 (**permalink**) 12-24-2006, 08:58 PM

Just slightly bigger that the switches and buttons!

Merry Christmas mate

mickmate · #18 (**permalink**) 01-03-2007, 08:28 PM

Warren you clown, you crack me up. Looks like spring is here already you must be driving still? I am about ready to cut a couple of these things. I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and raid the local junkyard in the Brit bits section.

wtm442 · #19 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 02:28 AM

Mickmate
15 rides in Nov
6 rides in Dec
1st ride in Jan was yesterday, and ride #2 will probably be today

Are you going to use chassis punches to make holes? Drilling them is sooooooo ugly if you do not take extra care and have super sharp drills. I have some if you need them.

mickmate · #20 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 04:10 AM

Good point. Best drills I've found for sheet metal have slow spiral or straight flute so they don't grab. The other trick is to make the point flat so the lip depth is close to material thickness. I'm planning on using the laser knife! Thanks for that though.