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Product review: Deluxe dash console
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bljones
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 4:02 pm    Post subject: Product review: Deluxe dash console Reply with quote

I must have been a good boy last year, because one of the gifts under the yule tree was a deluxe dash console from Eurocampers.

http://secure.mycart.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=4757900&showprevnext=1

When i opened the box, i was impressed by the relatively substantial quality of the hinges on the map table, and the overall finish of the plastic moulding. no flash or sprue anywhere, and SOME of the screw holes were marked. remember, as the description says, "no instructions or hardware." flipping the console over, i noted the hardwood reinforcement glued to the backside, giving the hinges some necessary support.

Installation was NOT plug and play, at least in my 86 syncro transporter. the console required some serious cutting to fit the dashboard's padded bullnose. after carefully tracing the dash profile onto an index card, i transferred the pattern to the dash console, masked off the section to be trimmed with masking tape, clamped a straight edge to the front side, and fired up my jigsaw. after trial fitting and trimming as needed, i cleaned up the cut edges, and then finished off the edges with black door edge guard.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I used four #10 x 1.5" black auto trim screws to secure the windshield edge, and four #10 2" long screws to secure the bottom edge to the dash.



Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I was a little concerned about two possible issues- squeaks and rattles, and the shallow cupholders failing to hold a cup during spirited driving.

So far, i have been pleased that neither has been a problem. the map table does not flop around on it's own, the console doesn't squeak or rub against the dash, and the cupholders grip even my tallest travel mug. the map table has proven handy, and sturdy. you can rest your forearm on it while trying to figure out how lost you are with no fear of the hinges pulling free.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.



Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.



Overall i am pretty pleased with the end result. It's not a cheap item, and it may not be simple to install (and, like me, you may have some qualms about taking a saw to $75 worth of brand new plastic), but i like the added versatility my dashboard now has.
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buspor63
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 12:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice write-up. I have one of those still in the box that "someday" will go on my syncro. Your syncro looks to have the dash trim like a USA pre85 vanagon. I thought those consoles were made for those...? It must be more work to install one on a USA 85up vanagon Confused

It is nice to hear that they are sturdy enough. And it WILL cover up the holes drilled by the PO in my dash Very Happy
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cris torlasco Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

buspor63 wrote:
It must be more work to install one on a USA 85up vanagon Confused


I am about to embark in such adventure (90 US Vanagon with fully padded dash). Any advice is welcomed.

First question is: do I work around the plastic tray piece, trying to adapt to the contours of the padded dash, or do I take out the padded section of the dash completely? Is the latter even possible? Help!

BTW, nice work bljones.

TIA,
Cris
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Summers420us
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can't help you... but it is a future project of mine, so please post results and pics.
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insyncro
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks good.
Nice finish with the door guard material.
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buspor63
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I put the one I have on my 86 Syncro to cover a bad padded dash. My fit was good enough, I just ground on the plastic till I had the contour right. Somewhere I have pictures, I'll see if I can post them soon.
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edgood1
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I also have this. I like it. I installed the entire unit on hinges with latches so I can fit more electrical gizmos under it and access them easily. The beauty of it is that you can cut a very large hole in the original dash for whatever you need .... aftermarket A/C, bigger radio , fancy gauges, wiring etc and just use this to cover it.

I installed an earlier dash from an '84 along with it so I didn't need to modify it. In hindsight, I could have just gotten way with removing the pad on the original later dash. It may not be doable with the dash installed, but when its off it appears its just screwed on to the metal section.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I like the idea of adding a molding to the edge, i might just lift mine up and do that.
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cris torlasco Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 4:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Finally got to this, took the paded dash section out, only to find out that the late model dashes have an extra cut at both side vents, so the vents don't fit properly without the padded section...Hopefully this will save someone's time in the future.

Now I need to decide if I go back to the original configuration of my 90 Westy and forget the additional tray, or if I start hunting for a pre-85 dash, in black, which I assume is not difficult or expensive to find.

The whole purpose of adding this tray was to create a place to house the additional gauges. Now that I have placed them there I realize they are a bit too low and to the side, so in order for this location to work I would need to raise the try and orient the gauges at an angle, facing the driver's seat.

So back to scratch on this project...
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dhaavers
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pre-85 black dash = impossible.
Black dashes only back to 1987 & only brown before that...

Have you seen this thread? Gauges - Post Pics!

Good luck with your project.
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jebiga41
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Got a similar german one on the Syncro which I find very handy it required no fettling but it's not a padded dash I also filled the plastic with expanding foam to give more rigidity and to cut down noise
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danfromsyr
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

not impossible but certainly as rare as hen's teeth.

I have a pre-85 black dash in my 1980 ASI Riviera camper.
reason is it's a special ordered econo base model, complete with Rubber front floors. then converted to a camper by ASI.

for the rest of us, I've had great success with the vinyl paint to change a early brown dash pad black. the metal portion I use Hammertone paints.

dhaavers wrote:
Pre-85 black dash = impossible.
Black dashes only back to 1987 & only brown before that...

Have you seen this thread? Gauges - Post Pics!

Good luck with your project.

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goffoz
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:07 am    Post subject: Re: Product review: Deluxe dash console Reply with quote

Tell me about that glove box/tray unit under your dash
....I've never seen one of those ...I think I'd prefer it to giant awkward glove box I have now

[quote="bljones"]
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cris torlasco Premium Member
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:49 am    Post subject: Re: Product review: Deluxe dash console Reply with quote

I have one of those for sale, in brown. If you are interested send me a PM.

Cris

goffoz wrote:
Tell me about that glove box/tray unit under your dash
....I've never seen one of those ...I think I'd prefer it to giant awkward glove box I have now

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msewalson
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Question for those that have this installed.

Is there room to install gauges on the front face?
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EwokPoacher
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

i had them installed, here is a pic.

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elsyr
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 1:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I really like that. It might be worth fiddling with that to get it onto my 89 Carat's dash. Thanks for the review.

Doug
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cris torlasco Premium Member
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

EwokPoacher wrote:
i had them installed, here is a pic.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


This is exactly what I did, I found there is space for gauges, but visibility is not good, too low and to the side. Would be worth investigating if the holes can be mounted at an angle, facing the driver. My tray has a wood reinforcement inside that works nice with gauge placement, not sure if all of them have them as I got mine used from a junkyard.

In short, I really like this location, but the biggest problem is that they sit too low to be easily read from the driver's position. Thought about raising the gauge side of the tray, with some king of a spacer below, but not sure yet.

EwokPoacher, can you read the gauges easily in your set up?

Cris
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EwokPoacher
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 4:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i could see the gauges really well. my mechanic installed his at an angle with slight modification of some gauge pods. i could not really tell the difference, as you still had to look in the same area. i had the turbo boost, oil pressure, oil temperature, and voltmeter gauges on the console.
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edgood1
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 4:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

dhaavers wrote:
Pre-85 black dash = impossible.
Black dashes only back to 1987 & only brown before that...

Have you seen this thread? Gauges - Post Pics!

Good luck with your project.



just paint it black. I used krylon fusion on mine in the above pics... you'd never know it wasn't stock.
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Syncroincity
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 1:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

cris torlasco wrote:
EwokPoacher wrote:
i had them installed, here is a pic.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


This is exactly what I did, I found there is space for gauges, but visibility is not good, too low and to the side. Would be worth investigating if the holes can be mounted at an angle, facing the driver. My tray has a wood reinforcement inside that works nice with gauge placement, not sure if all of them have them as I got mine used from a junkyard.

In short, I really like this location, but the biggest problem is that they sit too low to be easily read from the driver's position. Thought about raising the gauge side of the tray, with some king of a spacer below, but not sure yet.

EwokPoacher, can you read the gauges easily in your set up?

Cris


Autometer makes nice little gauge anglers.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


http://www.amazon.com/Auto-Meter-2234-Black-Angle/...mp;sr=1-24
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