DIY Dash Project to Enhance Your Car's Interior

If you're looking to give your car's interior a refresh, consider starting with a DIY dash project. With a few simple tools and some creative thinking, you can transform your vehicle's dashboard into a personalized space that reflects your style.

A key benefit of DIY dash projects is the potential to save money. As we learned in the "Budget-Friendly Materials" section, using reclaimed or repurposed materials can be a cost-effective way to upgrade your car's interior.

You can also use this opportunity to add some much-needed functionality to your dashboard. For example, installing a dash cam can provide an added layer of safety and convenience while driving.

Take a look at this: Mini Dash Camera for Car

To make your own DIY Mrs. Dash seasoning blend, you'll need a variety of spices that come together to create the savory, zesty flavor you love.

You might already have some of these spices on hand, which is great because it'll save you money and time.

The basic ingredients you'll need include dried minced onion flakes, dried vegetable flakes, garlic powder, dried orange peel, coarse ground black pepper, and dried parsley.

You'll also need a few other spices like dried basil, dried marjoram, dried oregano, dried savory, dried thyme, ground cayenne pepper, ground cumin, ground coriander, dried mustard, and celery seed.

And, believe it or not, you'll need a pinch of crushed dried rosemary and a quarter teaspoon of unsweetened Kool-Aid lemonade drink mix – yes, you read that right, it's the secret ingredient!

Here's a summary of the ingredients you'll need:

To make your DIY dash, start by combining all the ingredients in a small bowl. As you stir, crush the leafy herbs and spices to make them finer for a more even blend.

Mixing the ingredients together is a straightforward process, but it's worth taking the time to break down the herbs and spices for a more balanced flavor.

Making the investment in this recipe's spices may seem daunting at first, but trust me, it's worth it. The total cost for all ingredients is approximately $17.60.

You'll be using a small amount of each spice, typically 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons per batch, which yields about 2/3 cup or 50 servings. This means your spice collection will last for months, if not longer.

Check out local dollar stores, Aldi, or Trader Joe's for the best deals on spices. They often have affordable options that can help reduce the upfront cost.

To put the long-term savings into perspective, consider this: the cost per batch ranges from $0.50 to $1.00, depending on where you shop and what you already have on hand. This works out to approximately $0.01 to $0.02 per serving.

The cost per serving is incredibly low, making this recipe a wise investment for your spice collection.

Additional reading: Cost of Dash

To get started with following instructions, it's essential to mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. As you stir, crush the leafy herbs and spices to make them finer for a more even blend.

If you're storing your seasoning, transfer it to a sealed shaker bottle or airtight container. This will help keep it fresh for a longer period.

You can also store your seasoning in a small bowl, but make sure it's covered with plastic wrap or a lid to prevent contamination.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Small Dash Cam

The Snowball Effect is a common phenomenon in car restoration projects, where small issues can quickly escalate into larger problems if not addressed promptly. This happened with the gauge cluster in the Nova.

The original gauge cluster only had a fuel gauge, leaving drivers without vital information about engine performance. To remedy this, a previous owner installed a set of mechanical gauges under the dash, held in place by zip ties. This solution looked haphazard.

If you're facing a similar issue, tracing the circuit board can help you identify which wires need to be connected to the Dakota Digital control box. This is what the author did when upgrading the gauge cluster.

Dakota Digital's RTX system is a great option for those who want to retain a factory look while gaining more monitoring features. The RTX series is designed to offer late-model features in a stock appearance, making it a worthwhile investment.

The control box is where you'll make wiring connections for sensors and lights. Avoid placing it near the firewall, especially if you have air conditioning.

The Dakota Digital dash is illuminated via LED backlighting, which you can change to your favorite color.

Discover more: Diy Digital Dash

Keep Vents Clear is a crucial step in ensuring your final fit doesn't obstruct airflow.

The cover is pretty light and shouldn't cause any problems, but it's essential to double-check that your final fit doesn't block the vents across the top of the dashboard.

Cruising without tunes can be a real bummer, but replacing the factory bezel with a modern head unit can be a game-changer. An OE radio could have been used, but it's hard to settle for an outdated unit when a RetroSound Hermosa head unit is available.

The Hermosa radio is a great choice because it retains the original look of a classic radio while offering modern features like an AM/FM tuner with 30 presets and a built-in 300-watt amplifier. It's also a modular unit, making it easy to fit into nearly any dash.

You'll need to find a set of radio-mounting cups to fill the holes where the volume and tuning knobs are located, but these aren't reproduced, so you might need to search for them at a swap meet or online.

Making Homemade Mrs. Dash Seasoning is a super easy DIY project that's perfect for anyone who loves to cook and save money. You might already have most of the spices on hand, which makes it even more convenient.

The best part about making your own Mrs. Dash seasoning blend is that you can customize the flavor to your liking. The ingredients are simple and straightforward, and you can adjust the proportions to suit your taste.

Here's a list of the ingredients you'll need to gather:

Making your own Mrs. Dash seasoning blend is a breeze, and you'll have a batch ready to spice up your meals in no time.

I've worked on a few DIY projects in my time, and I've learned that sometimes it's better to take a step back and assess the situation before diving in. In this case, a previous owner of a Nova had cut the dash bezel for a DIN-style radio, which left a gaping hole that needed to be fixed.

A new dash bezel from Classic Industries is a great solution to this problem, and it's an exact reproduction of the factory original. The new bezel attaches via the factory screw hole locations, making it a seamless replacement.

If you're planning to upgrade your dash, you'll need to move items like the wiper switch and headlight switch to the new bezel. This will give your interior a clean and finished look.

The new dash bezel is a worthwhile investment, especially at $249.00. It's a simple fix that will definitely enhance the interior of your car.

A unique perspective: New Dash

Cruising without tunes can be a bit dull, but some people swear by the sound of the engine as music.

The factory bezel was hacked, which led to the decision to replace it, and in the process, an OE radio was considered, but it wasn't necessary since a modern, OE-appearing system was available.

A RetroSound Hermosa head unit was chosen to fill the void in the bottom right area of the dash bezel, which offers modern features like an AM/FM tuner with 30 presets and Bluetooth connectivity.

The RTX gauges utilize an electronic speedometer controlled by an adapter that screws onto the transmission, replacing the speedometer cable.

The RetroSound radio is a modular unit, allowing for a perfect fit into nearly any dash, and it's a better value than other "new" radios that require hacking the dash, priced at $295.00.

The original dash was modified, and the radio-mounting cups were discarded, which can be a challenge to replace, but they might be found at a swap meet or online.

To make your pattern, lay a sheet of newspaper across your passenger side dashboard and trace out its shape. This will serve as the template for your satin dash cover.

You'll want to cut out your pattern carefully, as it will be used to guide your fabric selection and cutting process.

Next, lay your pattern out on the dash to double-check the fit. This is a crucial step to ensure a smooth and even application of the satin fabric.

Reflection can be a major issue when creating a DIY dashboard cooler. Reflection from the dash cover can be distracting and annoying, but it can be minimized with the right fabric choice.

Polarized sunglasses can almost completely eliminate reflection, making the DIY dashboard cooler a practical solution. The author of the DIY project found that wearing polarized sunglasses greatly reduced the reflection on the windshield.

To minimize reflection, the author suggests trying out different satin fabric hues. This can help find the least reflective fabric color for the DIY dashboard cooler.

The author's next step is to try out some different satin fabric hues to see which one works best. This will help determine the most effective way to minimize reflection.

Hardwiring a cam or radar detector is a relatively simple process that requires a few basic tools and some knowledge of your vehicle's electrical system. You'll need a wiring diagram for your vehicle to determine the best location for the detector.

The first step is to locate the fuse box under the dashboard, which houses the circuit breakers for your vehicle's electrical system. Identify the fuse that controls the cigarette lighter or accessory outlet.

Next, you'll need to tap into the fuse box's wiring harness to connect the detector's power wires. This typically involves splicing into the 12-volt constant power wire, which is usually red in color.

Make sure to use a wire harness or connectors that are compatible with your vehicle's wiring system to avoid any electrical issues. Consult your vehicle's repair manual for specific instructions on tapping into the wiring harness.

Once you've connected the power wires, you'll need to add a fuse to protect the detector from power surges. A 10-amp fuse is usually sufficient for most detectors.

Finally, route the detector's wiring to a secure location, such as the trunk or glove compartment, to keep it out of sight.