Can't argue with the comment about the weight of the dash. That said, the real weight loss for me came in getting rid of the factory wiring. I think Van weighed his and it was over 25 pounds!

 

Exactly, this is about the wiring much more than it is the dash.its "in the way" and not as surgical clean as a nice race dash. I want access to all the wiring bungs in the firewall and everythijg that is under the dash. I absolutely hate crawling under dash boards.

 

I totally re-did all of my wiring (stand alone ECU). Total weight savings was around 75 lbs.

 

RLM, I'm running megasquirt so my wiring is in the process of being redone, hence my desire to have access to everything under the dash. It would make my job of cleaning everything up much simpler and allow me to do so without having to crawl under the dash to rip it all apart.

 

Definitely some weight to be saved with stripping the dash and foam. I'm doing something similar and haven't decided if I'll gut the stock one, use a fiberglass mold, or sheet metal. I wouldn't completely eliminate all HVAC, you'll want something for defogging. I'd reccomend something similar to this:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/su...02-1/overview/
Would be super easy to run the two hoses to two windshield vents. This is the route I plan on taking. I'll also be making my own body harness for maximum simplicity and weight loss.
If you do sheet metal, you'll want to coat it or cover it in something non-reflective.

 

Running Milspec wire and get rid of all the fuses with a PDM type setup. That's a huge weight saving too. Not so much a $aving though...

 

I agree I did away with the fuse box totally. Teflon coated wiring and have individual fuses in the dash panel. The dash panel is switched. You are correct this is not a cheap route.

 

It does. It weighs a ton. I'd guess that the later dashes have more and higher density foam or something, but they weigh a ton. I'll try to weigh one when I have it out. Granted, it did have the airbag in it, but that won't account for 20 pounds!

I'll try to get some pictures of what is left of my wiring. Fusebox weighs a lot, too. I got a switch panel from Longacre, and a 6 fuse box from Summit, together they didn't cost too much. Ran fuel pump and level wires to the back, and a single wire for the brakes (now LED trailer lights attached to cut away tail lights). I still have most of my wiring, but plan to scrap a bunch of stuff tomorrow. Will try to remember how much teh wiring weighs.

 

I've never had the dash all the way apart before, does it come out in two pieces, or will I need to take a skillsaw to it? I want to retain the top part of the foam and the gauge cluster, but gut everything below it that I dont need. I'm not explaining well. Maybe a picture will help? I want to get rid of everything below the red line, as well as the center console. I'd like to keep my door cards and mount my radio head where the center vent is. Harry, I like your dash a lot. That is what I'm going for. I like it with the lower part removed.

 

An old pic of my dash

 

Dougs951 - you will need to cut the dash. Underneath it's a single metal element.

 

Thanks Ref, kinda what I figured. I'll fire up the sawzall then.

 

Duke: Love the shifter

doug: The dash really just sits there. IICR there's 2 screws that hold it in on the ends. and it falls into place. It's been a while since i pulled mine out. but it's one piece. You'll see when you take it out

 

7. One on each A-pillar accessed by removing the trim, and pointing the screwdriver towards the outside of the car, 2 on each side just under the A-pillar that are accessible when you open the door, pointing towards the inside of the car, and the odd one is the one behind the airbag, just kind of hanging out in space.

 

Disasterman - what shift ****, shifter stick, and boot is that?