Has anyone done anything like this?

[piecesparts]

I took aircraft aluminum plating. It is thin, but hard. I cut out the shape of the lower area that the radio sits in and then cut the new panel for my radio. I painted the aluminum panel to match the dash paint, since it was black--it was easy. The radio is then mounted into the aluminum panel and then the whole assembly is mounted into the dash with screws.

[HeavyMetalThunder_81]

Originally Posted by piecesparts

I took aircraft aluminum plating. It is thin, but hard. I cut out the shape of the lower area that the radio sits in and then cut the new panel for my radio. I painted the aluminum panel to match the dash paint, since it was black--it was easy. The radio is then mounted into the aluminum panel and then the whole assembly is mounted into the dash with screws.

Well, that works for me. I have access to plenty of aircraft grade aluminum lol. So, with the gauge bezel installed, can you tell that the patch panel is there?

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by HeavyMetalThunder_81

Well, that works for me. I have access to plenty of aircraft grade aluminum lol. So, with the gauge bezel installed, can you tell that the patch panel is there?

No, the thin panel blends into the dash and it is cut to fit the shape of that lower area, so it covers the whole area and becomes part of the dash. The aircraft aluminum is hard enough that it can be cut to a very thin area, if need be and not fail or bend.