Click to view attachment
New fibreglass kickpanels.

Click to view attachment
Detail of difficult contours.

I know my limitations so I took these kickpanels to a professional upholsterer but he said no way so I took them to another place and they said maybe they could be done by vacuum forming.

I got a quote and it wasn't cheap.

Of course I can have them painted in 2 pack instead but I've done the rest of the install in vinyl.

Would the tweeter reflections from a painted surface affect the sound more than vinyl?

Does anyone know where I can get vacuum forming done?

What would be a fair price?

I wonder if it could it be done with a few different pieces stitched together if you didn't mind seams? My doors whilst weren't as extreme as that were pretty tricky for the guy to do, and turned out pretty good. I had a recessed door handle, that required a few pieces to get it done

http://www.mobileelectronics.com.au/forums...-1215522216.jpg
http://www.mobileelectronics.com.au/forums...-1215522246.jpg

Your doors look tricky.

I discussed joining a piece in with the first upholsterer and we decided the seams would add bulk where we didn't have any clearance to fit the speaker.

Vacuum forming would be the best option, and would look the best IMO.

Id guess around $200ish - possibly more - to get those done?

"Do it once, do it right!"

I was knocked back a few times like you were, but couldn't find anyone here in brisbane who could do vacuum forming (would have had to send it down south)

give the dashboard doctor a call. not super cheap, but not super overpriced either.

i reckon they can be trimmed.... they dont look "that" hard... just tight but should be done with the right amount of heat..
but i reckon stitched sections will look good if done right... and can be flattened pretty good too..


you might find that vacuum forming might not get into those tight spots either...

door pods: ~$120 each
basic kick panels: ~$50 each... so i would budget around the $80-100 mark due to the size...

just get it flocked to match the same colour as your carpet

Flocking FTW!

not really practical for kicks though.

what about SEM Texture spray

Wurth Stone Guard Black all so achives a similar result - but I believe its a bitumen based product.
My brothers centre console is painted in this stuff ance since its gone hard it looks good and doesnt move at all so it may still be suitable

I had expected vacuum moulding to be about $200 but I baulked at $350.

I was quoted $70 for 2 pack paint in the colour of my choice.



I'm waiting for them to reply to my email.



Is there a real acoustic advantage with flocking?



I think they might be "that" hard



Could you please tell who could do them for that price?

Ok The Dashboard Doctor got back to me with a price for vacuum forming $150-200 which is about what I thought it would cost.
He didn't say if they can match the colour and grain to my sample.

You could trim that. But if you can get both vacuum formed for $150 go for it, it's far more durable as well.

Phil

I just got them back from the Dashboard Doctor.
Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment

They had some difficulty getting into the tight contours but when the speakers bolt in they pull the vinyl in tight.
Click to view attachment

I used up the dynamat offcuts from my doors
Click to view attachment

The metal bar helps keep the right foot off the speakers.Click to view attachment

BTW the vacuum forming cost $160 for the pair which is less than half what I was quoted by the place in Sydney so it pays to shop around.

Whoa! That looks really awesome. Neat as, and almost factory. Well done!

nice finish in the end great work...


Cheers, Grant

verrrrry nice.

top quality work, and the pro finish makes all that sanding worthwhile...

That is fkn awesome! Well done, and good hook-up Matt.

Very nice

that come out mint....

great finish mate, and yes it pays to shop around hey..

what do you think about getting this done, im thinking it would be around the 250-300 mark for the same type of finish, but for that price and considering the car its for i think the paint would be ok, not sure cos theres no other paint in the interior really, so the red vinyl would suit better, hhmmm????? what dash doc was it,? cobourg?? im assuming your in melbourne...

any advice pls, paint it or get a qoute and trim it,

I sent it to Coburg but I posted it from up near the Goldcoast.

A lot of work in that, very impressive.

They had difficulty with my job so I'd email them for a quote with a pic to be sure they can do it.

You could have it covered and coloured to match the dash or pick a colour and paint it.

I'd paint it to match the silver around the instruments and centre console.

I wouldn't use two colours of vinyl on the dash unless it was a continuous theme throughout the vehicle.

Or you could have it done in any finish you like eg. carbon fibre, woodgrain or brushed aluminium etc.

Just one question, how come you didn't make the pod and kick one piece?

Phil

What the hell is going on there jukebox! looks crazy!

this is the dash pod loaded with goodies, theres a 4inch speco tach, focal mid and tweeter, stinger volt meter flushed into the front, the other 2 holes are for the stinger amp temp gauges, as i plan to have the sub amp and 4ch amps seperated behind acrylic panels and hot air exhausted out, fresh air blown in,etc....the speaker was for a centre channel, surround sound thing i fantasised about it. im not sure how it'll sound,lol this is all for show purspose then anything else, i still have heaps to do with this lil car...$$$$ holds me back tho..

lukeyo.......
i called into see them at dash doc', they said it would be very pricey to wrap it and didnt look very keen to take it on anyway.... so after looking at the car and set up they advised i paint the pod the same colour as the dash and the silver of the gauges surrounds brake it up, it would blend well with the other painted dash bits aswell, like you were saying, its actually not a bad idea i suppose, but i was just trying to bring some of the red vinyl up onto the dash as its featured through out the rest of the install... you know????

well, at least i know for next time where to head for my wrapping jobs, they do good work...cheers mate

Yes Phil, it would have been fairly easy to wrap it in one piece but it would have added some thickness to the door jam part and there is not enough clearance on the door due to the thickness of the 8" pods.

I could have made them from scratch but that seemed a bit ambitious before I started the project.

Superb, well done mate.