Some Plans For The Interior
The Phantom recently got its Sparco seats affixed. These are a good addition...and not just in an aesthetic manner of speaking. They provide great lumbar and lateral support. On the lighter side, for us middle-aged blokes they're also an invaluable "stay slim" tool...because you won't fit into 'em, if your butt is broad
The dash plate (for all the switches etc) is in pretty decent shape. We're going to sand-blast it, knock it straight, and paint it, eventually. All the switches and lights will be replaced from NOS (new old stock).
The instrument / gauge cluster is going to get similar treatment, and all the meters should be working perfectly well by the time we're through (after being synchronised for 42 inch wheels). In addition, I'm planning on a voltmeter and a tacho to be "fabricated" locally. Something which looks like an OEM gauge, but in reality, is anything but. Fortunately (for the 1HZ engine), fitting a tacho is no real problem.
Also on the cards is air-conditioning and heating. The second hand A/C, the heater, the blower-box, all pipes, relays and controls are procured and ready. Before we go to the paint booth, all of the electricals should have been completed. The electrician will put everything in order, disassemble everything before paint, and then reassemble afterwards.
The entertainment system is going to be iPad based, for its music library, video playback/recording, GPS, its gorgeous screen, and wireless connectivity to the internet (yes...like the FZJ79, the Phantom is going to be a moving Wi-Fi hotspot too, as far as signal ranges permit). This will be connected to a head unit (I'm procrastinating between Pioneer and Alpine), routed through two amplifiers (Pioneer amps, one each for the front and rear), and connected to four "satellite" speakers (Pioneer component speakers, front and rear). Bluetooth hands-free will be inbuilt, via a couple of microphones located front and rear.
The anchor points for all of this paraphernalia will be on "roof" of the roll-cage. It provides the perfect stability and height for such delicate instruments (we don't want to drown them in river crossings, right?), and will be much easier to access and read. From rough measurements we've taken, the front console won't interfere with driver's visibility. The consoles to house iPad, head unit, amplifiers and speakers, will all be custom-crafted from synthetic wood, water-sealed, leather coated and affixed.
Some photos to show what we're starting with. "After" pictures, in due course of time!