Custom gauge panel opinions please

[LWillmann]

I'm going to be doing a custom gauge panel for the car to replace the factory long arm speedometer and idiot light setup. I'm going to be using a set of Autometer Sport Comp (maybe Sport Comp II) gauges (tach, speedo, temp, oil pressure, fuel, volts, etc) mounted to a plate that mounts in the stock location in the dash.

I have removed the factory cluster and disassembled it and have the 'box' that everything mounts in empty (no gauge parts in it) so that I can trace its pattern onto a piece of metal. My plan is to use either a piece of steel or aluminum, cut and shapped to match the box, with the holes needed to mount in place in the dash.

I went to Lowe's the other night and looked for the metal, and they sell steel and aluminum, but the aluminum they sell is either too thin (way too thin to mount gauges to), or it's that thick diamond tread plate aluminum (.063 thick, about the right thickness). They sell 16 gauge steel, about the right thickness.

The interior has woodgrained plastic that's wearing off, so I'm going to cover that with either silver paint or vinyl, and will be doing the vents in black. The seats and rest of the interior will remain grey.

I'm going with black faced gauges with silver trim rings.

So here's where I need opinions...

Do you guys think I should use the Aluminum to mount the gauges to?
-Since Lowe's doesn't sell the aluminum, I may to order it from somewhere, which doesn't bother me.

Or do you guys think I should use Steel?
-The steel sold at Lowe's will rust, so I'd have to paint (or powdercoat) it to keep that from happening.
-I guess I could buy some stainless? Do you have to cut/process it any differently and other stuff?

[BRADSBLACK_SS]

Is Your Car Just A Custom Setup For Shows? If It Is I Would Go With The Steel And Powdercoat It. If You're Going To Race And Show It The Try To Find The Aluminum. Check Your Prices Though To See What Will Come Out Better For You.

[LWillmann]

I will be driving the car.

Street, strip, shows, etc. It will be my daily for a while most likely.

John_D. recommended some carbon fiber on another board.

Here's a quote of one of my posts from another board with some prices:
I was expecting a 12x24 inch piece (that should be plenty in case I screw up a cut or something).

DragonPlate Laminate .063 thick 12x24, that's almost $115.
DragonPlate Veneer (stick on whatever I want basically) 12x30 to do the gauges and dash trim with extra for screwups $121. - Adhesive backed, Gloss or Matte finished

Aluminum .063 thick 12x24 is $22

Steel (Weld Steel that I'd have to paint) is $18

Stainless (brushed) 16 ga (.060) is $40

The Carbon Fiber would look cool, but that would be the only place I'd have it, unless I took it into the trunk too. I can't think of any place I'd put it under the hood.

[BRADSBLACK_SS]

Carbon Fiber Would Definitely Look Good But I Agree That It Would Need To Be Somewhere Else To Justify It Being There. I Would Would Go With Aluminum Or The Stainless If You're Going To Cover It. Though Steel Wouldn't Look Bad Either With A Powdercoat Job And Then The Silver Trim. Just My 2 Cents; Hopefully It Will Help.