Watkins' 1999 Saab 9-3 convertible (updated 6/1/09)

[RITmusic2k]

Nice DIY, man!

[94Corolla5Speed]

What's the 3rd gauge for? I can see the first two are for oil press. (I need one of those in my car), and temp., but I can't see the 3rd one because of the reflection.

[RITmusic2k]

Also, are those Sunpro gauges illuminated?

[watkins]

Also, are those Sunpro gauges illuminated?

Si, senor. But its back lighting, not illuminated faces. One of these days Ill tie them and my boost gauge in to the dimmer.

[padauk_dust]

Nice job.

How does the clay hold the paint? Any tendency to flake/etc?

[watkins]

It hasnt flaked yet, but then again its only been a few weeks and the pod isnt a high-touch item. My guess is that it will hold decently well. Its actually acrylic paint mixed to mostly match my interior, so it has some flex to it. Im sure that will keep it on there quite a bit longer than something like spray paint which becomes incredibly stiff and brittle.

[watkins]

I finally reassembled my car completely. Heres my dash in its current (probably final) state.

Left side includes the boost gauge in the headlight switch hole, the headlight switch made into a simple rocker instead of dial and moved to an empty button, and the third (looks empty) button on the fog light row converted into a real button for my secondary driving lights.


Right side/center console includes my AVIC-F700BT now with a shroud made out of the face of the factory radio, relocated and converted passenger heated (ejector) seat button, radar detector mute, and secondary gauges.


Overall shot showing how the dash looks with the fake wood ripped off.


Click for big

[maskeet]

ur car looks great!!! alot better since we ripped out the wood stuff. i must say ur radio is definitely my fav addition

[RITmusic2k]

Very nicely done! Where did you source the rocker switch you used for the headlights? I might want to do this, and I really like the look.

[94Corolla5Speed]

I dunno, I usually hate wood, but without it, it looks too *playskool dull grey edition*

[AHTOXA]

I love real wood on the steering wheel.

I think this looks great:

[potownrob]

Well, alternators are always in places where it's hard to reach but you can do it. I would not pay someone to do an alternator swap. Ultimately it's 3 bolts and a tensioner.

my mecanico bitched about how hard it was to change the alternator (he also bitched about how my honda was backwards from every other car, though it's easier to work on than many cars), but he ended up being reasonable with the labor, only mechanic i've had iirc that will charge for half hours but usually round down when in doubt and then combine different jobs that probably took longer than the labor he's charging for. find a good mechanic and stick with them.

[potownrob]

chris, the dash looks a little bare and bland without the woodgrain, but then again iirc, it looked just as plain and bare with it, probably since that dash is just so damn big (c.f. made from jets). it'll probably look better with time (after looking at it for a while), though carbon fiber treatment might look better .

[kwak88]

i think a shiny wood finish on any interior part looks classy and oldschool

love it

[Tinton]

According to research, owning a Saab makes you crave phallic-shaped objects in your orifices .