DIY: i-WERKS custom dash kit by siver-SI

[siver-SI]

After seeing this dash by i-WERKS LINK I wanted it but he did not have much of DIY so I did one this weekend. I mush say it was some hard work. Took me about 8-10 hours to do total. This was my first time with bondo and after I put the final coat on I see that I need a little sanding for some fine scratches and to even a few spots but nothing that bad.

Supplies needed,

1) 02-04 Civic SI
1) Metra Dash Kit
1) 13 once can of Bondo
1) can of black primer
1) can of Silver paint

Tools,

Dermel Tool
palm sander (I did not use one but think I should haved)
drill
drill bits

The start of the work.

First take apart your dash just like stated in this DIY
LINK

After it is fully taken apart your dash should look like this,



Now that it is all taken apart it is time to cut up the Metra kit. I made the cut right down the middle of it between the pocket and the top HU part. Then take the top and find out were you want to place it. You will have to shave it on the sides the lower it goes. I wanted it centered so I measured and it looked like this.




To get it to stay I added some bondo.



Now it is time to fill in the huge gaps. I took the dremel tool and I cut up the pocket into small parts for filler.




This is what my pocket looked like after all the cutting.




Now it time to get into the heavy bondo work. I just started to fill it in with bondo and I held the back the plastic with my hands. After I got down with the first heavy coat it looked like this.




Then it is time to get sanding it down. This will take a while. After my first sanding it looked like this.




After this was down I went out to the car to make sure everything was fitting right in the car and then I went to bed since it was all most midnight.

The next morning it was time to primer. I would say use black because it will show a lot of mistakes in the sanding. You might have to resand and put on some bondo to full in a few spots like I had to do.




Now it is time to paint with silver finaly.



After it has dried it is time to get it all put together and get it back in the car. I had to drill into the stock metal bracket to get some new holes made for the HU to sit in.

[skooba]

looks a little rough around the edges.

[EnJaNir]

nice start, but needs a little finishing work to look perfect

[siver-SI]

Yea I know. I think over the 4th of july weekend since I have anouther 3 day weekend I am going to get it just right. It should not take me more then a day but I want to leave myself some time for drying and that. Now that I know what I did wrong I can work off that that.

[02civicSI]

nice work!

[Civicvtec1ps]

Where did you get Silver spray paint?
Do they match stock dash pretty closely in real life?

[siver-SI]

I just ran into a problem. In the corners the bondo is coming up. That is were the bondo is the heavest so I think that is the problem. I was going to do the finish sanding this weekend, but I guess I am going to have to learn how to work with fiberglass to fill in that big gap at the top and bottom.

I think what caused the problem was the heavy bondo and this week it is getting hot and humid and in my car it was well over 100+ and humid.

[Civicvtec1ps]

Bondo isn't too good with plastic...
It is going to crack in the future. most likely.

[siver-SI]

Bondo isn't too good with plastic...
It is going to crack in the future. most likely.

I-werks help me with the problem. I took out all the bondo and used a fibre type bondo. What is has is small parts of fiber in it. Then I went drill happy in the back making holes for it to catch into. Well 3 corners went great and are still holding up I just had one corner that did not catch well. I noticed when I filled it with the fibre that the drill holes did not have much mix in it when I did filled it, but I did not know till after it was dry since I filled the dash while it was on the car.

I think next weekend I am going to just sand down the one corner far enough down to drill a few new holes and then refill it.

[LiLxKeNnY]

your dash looks pretty badasss ... imjust not use to see one hole instead of two ... but its nice ... good job!

[guMMer]

if you use 40/40 bumper repair glue stuff it won't crack/seperate like the bondo does...bondo doesn't stick to plastic...40/40 does :D