Slug Dub's NA

[emex]

On one of my recce runs I did drive up the rest of Spring Creek Road via The Head and it is indeed awesome Two of the tightest twistiest descents I've dríven I think!

Oh yes, theres some stunning drive roads around that area.

[Lokiel]

:

Is it wrong to be aroused by this?

- just need to upgrade the steering wheel for the "happy ending".

Damn you slug_dub, I was perfectly happy with my instrument cluster but after seeing your KG Works cluster and revisting it several times, I decided that mine NEEDS to be updated too (I was originally going to get chrome rings for the larger instruments since the faux-chrome plastic rings look crap next to the smaller chrome rings):



I chose the black fascia since the MSM dials are light grey. I'm keeping my dial faces because they have additional indicators that aren't catered for by the KG Works dials. I also ordered the needle caps since my chrome needle caps are only plastic and don't look anywhere near as good as the KG Works ones.

[slug_dub]

Woo! Look forward to seeing that mate!

[Pamex]

Love the suede. Looks great.

[slug_dub]

Surprise visit by Aus Air Express today...



Tein Flex with EDFC... I wish these were going on my car but they are for the NA6.

Also two sets of internal spline wheel nuts, should make wheel removal much more pleasant.

[slug_dub]

One doorcard finished.







The choice in material may divide opinion, but I hoped to choose something a bit different and wanted something plain black that had a texture to it. Looking forward to putting it in the car tomorrow hehe.

I'm hoping I can get the other side done in a much faster timeframe!

[Dweezle]

I wish i hated it.
I truely do!!

Looks ace.

Sent from my GT-P1000 using Tapatalk

[PaulF]

Apart from the pattern on the fabric, I love it. I would have just had something like the diamond pattern that is on the "background" of your fabric. But hey, it's your car - you like it and that's what matters.

Sorry if you've already answered this, but did you modify the door card or make a new one from scratch and incorporate the JDM speaker grill?

[Okibi]

I'm a fan of the pattern, has a certain elegance about it. I have an idea for some door cards, might give it a go on the son's NA6.

[emex]

I dont mind it, I agree with Okibi its understated elegance? And the Nakamae handle + JDM speaker cover really does compliment it perfectly!

[Lokiel]

If/When you get bored of the door pattern, consider revlimiter's style (aka "Sharka") : http://revlimiter.net/blog/2009/08/the-door-panel-project/

To me, the vinyl diamond-pattern and chrome trim look like sex in an MX-5.

He has matching Nakamae tunnel trim too which makes the look feel complete (he cheaped-out on the Nakamae door pulls though):

[Lokiel]

Here's a link to info on the tunnel trim: http://revlimiter.net/blog/2011/08/nakamae-quilted-vinyl/

[slug_dub]

Doorcard in the car.





90% of the finish I was after, let down by just a few quibbles on the execution, a bit of glue on the visible side I wish I had been more careful with, and a tiny spot where the white MDF card shows through.

Lokiel Revlimiter's car is awesome and a constant source of inspiration but the padded diamond look is not quite subtle enough for me.

[Bizi]

Thanks for these pics of your handywork and the new door cards.

Door cards look great, so could you post some more showing how the pads as they are now upholstered?

The Nakamae door pulls lift the look, too.

What's next, a carpet console?

[slug_dub]

Paul, to answer your question about the construction... I didn't document very much of it with any photos but I did indeed make new doorcards from MDF. Pulled apart completely the old card and used the fibreboard as a template. Doorcards that don't already have the teardrop speaker grills have a 4" hole for speakers, whereas the teardrops need 5".
I got the thinnest MDF I could find at Bun Buns which was actually 3mm, whereas the stock cards are 2mm. Without wanting to spend a lot of time hunting down 2mm material I just went with the 3mm. It has the melamine coating on one side for a bit more water resistance. Had a drill press to do most of the holes. The MDF is so soft you must use some sort of wood under it when you drill and go slowly like you're routing otherwise it just fragments. I also had to route out a millimetre of thickness around each of the holes for the plastic clips so that they would fit. Drilled out the three metal clip fittings that are riveted to the board and re-riveted them to the new card. Undercoated and painted the card in a gloss coat to help with water resistance.
Although all the clip holes were cut well enough to fit the clips, with the paint on top they were actually very difficult to fit, gave myself a blood blister with the force required! However the doorcards are quite solid and when removing them again I don't think the clips would break before the card.

Covered first in a thin layer of wadding for the padding gluing it to the MDF all over, then the material. I only glued the material to the back side and not the front, so it could be pulled just enough to be taut.
Finally, used a small leather punch to punch through the material at all the points where screws would go through to the front side (teardrop attachment and handles).

Bizi, sorry do you mean the crashpads? Unfortunately I was bad and didn't take any photos of much during construction at all... but I can take a phot of the backside of the completed doorcard. I am not done yet covering the crashpads that go along the front. I covered in suede the small one on the driver side between gauges and door, but wasn't very happy with it and may do it again... complex shape to those.