62 Hawk Dash

[TMAN0950]

I hurt my back so I jumped ahead to work on my dash because it was lite and it didn't hurt my back. So here it is.

[starliner62]

Beautiful job on the dash!!!!

[63 R2 Hawk]

Looks good! What method did you use on the woodgrain?

[plwindish]

The dash looks like a new one.

[TMAN0950]

Thanks, I took the woodgrain part to a sign shop and they put a new overlay on it, I had all the chrome redone and the speedo and clock rebuilt. Also I have NOS light switches in it as well as paint ect. It is alot of work but I like it, I know the woodgrain is not quite right but this is not a stock can anyway so I don't care about that part.

[Chucks Stude]

I am thinking of putting an extra light bulb in each of the small gauge boxes, to boost the lighting in them. Also, an extra bulb in the 3 big gauges. What are your thoughts on that?

[bezhawk]

I think GT Hawk dashes are one of Studes best designs.....right up there with the 50 Commanders, the 55 Speedster, the art deco designs of the mid 30's. etc.

[Don Jeffers]

Shore do look purty!

I got one of them myself, so I saved the photos. Thanks for posting the results of your good work.

[candbstudebakers]

Nice work on dash, it is super nice, it is a nice feeling to get into your car and see a very nice dash, the GT's are the best looking and fit so many cars, my 53 custom has one, I have about 20 fiber glass cores if any one is interested in building their own.

[TMAN0950]

Hi. the last time I drove this car was 1971 and I don't remember the dash light dim. but they may have been. I think once the dash is apart and all the boxs that hold the lights are cleaned and painted inside and new bulbs are used and the lens removed and cleaned, that the lights would be better. But I am not sure.

[Chucks Stude]

Make sure you have good grounds on all of the gauges, and boxes. That helps. Even with cleaning, new bulbs, and all new grounds, mine are still dim. Don't ever remember them being terribly bright, even in the 70's. Of course, the eyes were better than, and it wasn't an issue.

[plwindish]

Brighter dash lights are another thing we have gotten used to in the modern day cars. I replaced the gauges in my 76 Avanti along and find the lights are still dimmer than I'd like. I don't think the dash lights were that bright "back in the day".

[PeterHawk]

How did you remove the dash padding on the passenger side?

[TMAN0950]

Hi Peter, I just removed the retainers and pulled it off, then sanded and primed it before paint, I am going to put new pad on it I just don't know how to do it yet.