Building a glove box

[RIDGERACER383]

My glove box was long gone when I bought my car.I know there made of cardboard or something similar.I always wanted to make one out of sheet metal to look just like factory or even aluminum.Has anybody done this?

[JB400]

Lookin  forward to the results though.

[RIDGERACER383]

It would definitely be way more durable.Even powder coat it black too.

[440]

Would be hard to put in place with the dash installed. The cardboard liner has some give to squeeze through the opening. Sheet metal is not so easy unless you design it to be assembled in place.

[RIDGERACER383]

It looks like it would be really tight using metal.

[bull]

You must have some left over rebar and road sign metal from your fuel tank repair.

[440]

That would be quite cool in a rat rod, a street sign glove box.

[Ghoste]

Of course one of the nice things about the cardboard ones is that you can install it with the dash in place.  If your dash is already in the car, you're going to have to assemble this thing like a ship in a bottle to some degree.

[b5blue]

And be careful of the FUSE PANEL!   

[y3chargerrt]

You must have some left over rebar and road sign metal from your fuel tank repair.

Thats one of the funniest things I have read in a longtime!

[RIDGERACER383]

Sounds like it would be tricky.I don't think anybody has done it before.

[tan top]

  clever idea    , like the others say  ,  not going to happen  , its tricky to get a OEM type in  
metal one piece liner cant see it happening  , unless you fit it , then bolt the dash in    , or   make it in kit form , out of five bits of metal , screwed together ,  

thinking  also , it would vibrate / resonate being metal   

[Dino]

It's a good thing to have a cardboard glove box.  Chargers are notorious for leaks around the windshield and the bottom of the cowl.  When the glove box gets soggy you know it's time for your next project.   

If you want to make one out of metal then make it out of aluminum and make it in seperate pieces that fit together with folding tabs.  You can have one piece that is top, bottom, back and two seperate sides so you can assemble it inside the dash.  You can even finish it off by covering it in fabric with some contact cement.

It's doable and it could be a fun project but once the glove box door is shut you'll have to decide if it was worth it.

[440]

Turn it into a mini fridge to hold about 4 beers, then it would definitely be worth it.

[Ghoste]

Then where would you keep your owners manual, spare fuses, and loose change.

[JB400]

Then where would you keep your owners manual, spare fuses, and loose change.

console

[Sublime/Sixpack]

I enjoy fabricating parts as much as anyone, but all things considered you're better off sticking with cardboard for the glove box.

[Ghoste]

Then where would you keep your owners manual, spare fuses, and loose change.

console

Assuming he has one. 

[JB400]

Then where would you keep your owners manual, spare fuses, and loose change.

console

Assuming he has one. 

Map pockets would work as well.

[RIDGERACER383]

I have a console.If I do decide to make one I think everybody is right about making it in pieces.

[Charger-Bodie]

I wish I had pics,but I made one for a stereo in my old gold charger . It was not that hard and I took out. The bolt.  That supports the dash  under the kick panel to flex it out and slid the steel glove box in from behind. Worked great.

[Ghoste]

Just wondering Ridgeracer, but why have you always wanted a metal one?

[RIDGERACER383]

A metal one that is powder coated will last forever.Seeing I'm never selling my car,that will be one thing I'll never have to replace.

[Ghoste]

Fair enough.

[440]

How many have actually gone through a cardboard one ?

[Ghoste]

I never have even come close but I sure have seen a lot of cars missing them.

[Mike DC]

         
Cardboard is too flimsy but that doesn't mean metal is required.  Fiberglass would work.  Some kind of vacuum-formed plastic would probably be even better. 

[speedfreak68]

Someone made an aluminum one in a build thread... it looked real good, I'll see if I can find it.

[yeahitsgotahemi!]

That was me....

[yeahitsgotahemi!]

I have no heater box, so it just fits up through the back of the dash in one piece. I riveted two pieces together to make it. Would of been nice to TIG weld it, but I don't have a TIG welder.

[Dino]

I have no heater box, so it just fits up through the back of the dash in one piece. I riveted two pieces together to make it. Would of been nice to TIG weld it, but I don't have a TIG welder.

Do you think it would be doable to make one of those that fits through the front?  Maybe in two pieces?  Looks real nice.   

[yeahitsgotahemi!]

I have no heater box, so it just fits up through the back of the dash in one piece. I riveted two pieces together to make it. Would of been nice to TIG weld it, but I don't have a TIG welder.

Do you think it would be doable to make one of those that fits through the front?  Maybe in two pieces?  Looks real nice.   

Any thing is possible. I suppose you make the back smaller than the glove box opening and cut reliefs so that the front opening of the box would fit through. Two piece could be possible too.

[C928BRAN]

i made one out of metal, to fit my aftermarket stereo, and covered it with felt. was a biotch to make, but works great, and looks like it came that way. i didnt want to remove the factory stereo, so i put the aftermarket one in the glove box, and thats about all there is room in there for now, is gloves.

[The70RT]

How many have actually gone through a cardboard one ?

I did, on a hard right hand turn running from the cops my glock busted through and hit the floor.

[Rolling_Thunder]

I made a steel one way back when to mount my fuse block, MSD box, MSII, and ignition stuff...    but gave it away when I sold my EFI stuff

[RIDGERACER383]

Wow man that looks really sharp...That's exactly what I'm looking for.I haven't been on here in awhile and just read the replys.

[ws23rt]

That was me....

Very nice.  I see the next step (thinking outside the box) as being not too tough. 

[flyboyedwards]

I too have considered making one from aluminum. I DO have a tig welder and even some of the right alloy aluminum! Should I make it to the exact dimensions as the cardboard one, or are there places that could be modified?