I am thinking again about making my 180 IFR capable. After having done my IFR training, now only waiting until this B.S. is over so I can get a check ride done, I think it really might make sense to install a 430 or 530. I have a friend with a business with all the equipment to laser or water jet a new panel, but I wonder where to find a pattern for the panel shape itself and the holes for the mounts.
I'd rather not have to pull my existing panel to locate the mounts and determine the shape.

What year is your 180?
Is it not possible to install the 430/530 in your existing panel?
Maybe high up in the center, with com(s) & txp mounted down below in the subpanel?
You might have to relocate them down there, but it'd probably be cheaper than designing fabbing & installing a whole new panel.

1953, I have a few blanks in the panel and would like to clean it up a bit. It also doesn't fit real well, the rubber isolators are close, but off enough that some are highly stressed all the time. I replaced all the isolators two years ago after I bought it, there were a couple broken ones and the rest were hard.
I just noticed yesterday that I have at least one broken one again due to the poor alignment with the mounting holes.
Making a new panel is not hard if I have a template, but I cant get a precise location for the mounting holes and shape without removing the existing panel, which I'd rather not do at this time.

I've designed and cut almost a dozen panels in the last few months. In all cases, any "templates" I found online were not even close. They are close enough for getting an idea of how to populate the panel, and possibly a "starting" point for the rough shape. But, for making something that is actually going to be installed, it's best to pull the old panel out and measure.

The avionics shop usually unscrews all the instruments and stuffs them behind the panel, pull the yokes and any other sticky-outy bits, I make a few test panels out of template board on my CNC, once everything looks good, I cut the final one from 2024. Then they do their cutty/crimpy magic.

A few hints on panel construction/design. Lost of examples online of layouts but I would say form should follow function!! If you tend to do a lot of low scud running (one-two hundred foot ceilings) I would make sure the GPS mounted as high as possible. This will also help if you have ADSB input and in contested airspace. I would also surface mount the GPS it makes updating with new iPad/garmin unit easy. Don't burn up space trying to make everything equal spaced apart. Save room for additional instruments in the future. Cut standard large gage holes and put blanking plates on them (Add checklist or placards on top and they look like they should be there) That way if you need to add anything you don't have to take out the entire dash again. Put the breakers/switches on a drop out panel with some slack in the wires so you are not on your back trying to move one wire. I have seen custom panels that it would take 11/2 hours just to pull a single transponder because no thought was given to removal when installed.
DENNY

Set a reference line across the bottom of your panel with 1" spacing. A piece of masking tape works fine.
Measure up to each item you need to locate. This gives you X/Y coordinates that you can transfer easy enough. I used this technique to get the panel curve, yoke locations and other immovable items.
When locating instruments and radios, take into account not just straight line back depth but also cowl curvature and spacing from mounting hardware.
Loft it on construction paper a few times and then transfer hte measurements to your favorite CADD software.


I had mine cut in plastic two or there times to finalize the design.

My intent is misunderstood.
I am not looking for how to layout the panel, but rather the shape of the panel itself and the locations of holes for the mounting isolators. I know I can disassemble my entire panel and make a template that way. I was hoping to avoid that time consuming process.
What I am looking for may not exist, ideally what I need is a 53 fuselage with no panel in it.

StillLearning wrote:My intent is misunderstood.
I am not looking for how to layout the panel, but rather the shape of the panel itself and the locations of holes for the mounting isolators. I know I can disassemble my entire panel and make a template that way. I was hoping to avoid that time consuming process.
What I am looking for may not exist, ideally what I need is a 53 fuselage with no panel in it.

The method I described of lofting will get you that.

If you are a member of the 180/185 club there are quite a few examples on the forums.

MW

DENNY wrote:A few hints on panel construction/design. Lost of examples online of layouts but I would say form should follow function!! If you tend to do a lot of low scud running (one-two hundred foot ceilings) I would make sure the GPS mounted as high as possible. This will also help if you have ADSB input and in contested airspace. I would also surface mount the GPS it makes updating with new iPad/garmin unit easy. Don't burn up space trying to make everything equal spaced apart. Save room for additional instruments in the future. Cut standard large gage holes and put blanking plates on them (Add checklist or placards on top and they look like they should be there) That way if you need to add anything you don't have to take out the entire dash again. Put the breakers/switches on a drop out panel with some slack in the wires so you are not on your back trying to move one wire. I have seen custom panels that it would take 11/2 hours just to pull a single transponder because no thought was given to removal when installed.
DENNY

^^^^^^^^ This, BIG TIME! ^^^^^^^^

Spot on Denny!