Thread: 2006 Honda Civic Breaking Ground (What Warranty?)

Originally Posted by blk02si

I would have went with the nav dash myself. I know its far from complete, but It looks like you are just making a mess out of your new interior. I also don't understand why you are doing all this fabrication to put the screen right where the shifter will block it, not to mention punching it when you upshift. Just doesn't seem worth all this to keep the ****ty OEM radio. Im not tying to bash your work at all, it appears you are very good at working with fiberglass and fabrication in general, but I just had to give my opnion. Nice car BTW, I just got rid of my civic Si and I miss it.

Hey, if it weren't for messes, the state of clean wouldn't seem like anything special. My new baby is going to clean up to it's original new shiny luster, belieydat.

Now, BLK02SI brings up a very good viewpoint for anybody who is considering taking on a project of their own. Planning is of the utmost importance. It would really suck if I had spent all of this time, thought, energy, money, and excitement on something just to find out that I couldn't see it very well or that I hit it with my knuckles when I'm shifting. So, think of the usability from all angles you can think of so that you aren't disappointed with an "Oh man, I wish I would have thought of that!", when you are finished. As for mine, to put any questioning minds at ease, I have designed it so that the viewable area of the screen will be well above the knob for anyone in the car to see, and I have approximately an inch from my knuckle to the screen location when I am in the forward positioned gears. Like I've said before, I seriously considered the NAV bezel route. But it didn't carry near the challenge and fun factor that this design did (It's not just to keep the stereo, even though that is one reason). And honestly, I'm lovin the OEM radio. To each his own baby! Thanks Man!

The funny thing is, you wouldn't believe the percentage of people that I know here where I live that think it's stupid to mess with a new car yet are lauding to the idea. Sometimes, you just gotta do what you want.

Here are some pictures of the mould yesterday with wax paper and painters tape, then you can see it with bondo resin spread over it, and then is the thin shell after it is removed from the mould. I had to be very very careful not to break the shell when I was handling it and then glassing it. Also a new discovery (for me at least) bondo becomes very flexible when it is heated, so it becomes easy to lose your shape when it is thin like this. Then I layered the shell on the inside with two layers with fiberglass weave mat and bondo resin, making sure I reinforced the corners with extra resin for strength.

Now here is the fab after shaping, sanding, and bondo pasting. I used a drywall pad (you know the black trapezoidal looking one) for shaping the styrofoam mould and the muliple layers of paste. (I also used a dremel on the mould with a 5/8" course sanding wheel).

I still have a ways to go as far as finishing this shell. As you can see it's still a little rough around the edge. I'm getting closer, but I still have to attach it to the main dash piece, attaching the temp controls, cutting in the screen bezel, attaching the screen, dvd drive, and buttons, and painting it. But, I would have to say, I'm pretty pleased with how it's coming so far.

(BTW, I found a "gun metal" paint at advanced auto that matches the OEM dash paint nearly perfect. I'm pretty stoked about that.)

lookin really good.

Your just getting to the most fun part, sanding!!

That looks good. You must've tested it in the car...any pics of that?

Here you go, as requested. Tonight I only had about a half hour with it so I attached the temp control unit, only along the top. As you can tell, it's attachment still rough. Given time it won't be however .

dude i admire you, very nice work. My bet is on it looking ridiculously oem

Originally Posted by LUWE SYGABU

(BTW, I found a "gun metal" paint at advanced auto that matches the OEM dash paint nearly perfect. I'm pretty stoked about that.)

Hey, I told you about that...lol.

The Dupont gunmetal from Wal-Mart is an OEM match, btw, for future reference. Doesn't make much difference to us because you're the only one who'd know it was any different, but I think I'm a little more obsessive with perfection than you lol.

lookin good man! keep it up.