I purchased a 1957 H35 with around 200hrs on the prop, 400 on the motor, and 4300TT for a good price. While attempting to make small improvements here and there, I've started something I wish I hadn't. (Masking tape on dash are reminders of problems to be addressed before buttoning it back up.)
I'm not sure what size I should pick to resize my panel photo. I originally opened up this can of worms because "I wanted the ball to be in the center, at least while I was on the ground". But after finding the upper shock mounts sheared off I started "fixing" things and now I'm down waiting for parts.
What a NIGHTMARE! Some previous person has installed a floating panel that doesn't fit all that well, and installed the instruments in a crazy patturn. (And of course, everything needs to be screwed in from the back since the front "fixed panel" seems to serve little purpose other than creating a good guard against cocky owners thinking they had the right to change something without the help of their Beechcraft dealer's secret work-arounds.)
I believe I should be able to take legal action against them, (the hacker-uppers of my panel) since it is causing me much emotional anguish and causing me to need helpers to get anything in or out. Needing someone in the front of the firewall holding a tool and someone in the cabin turning a different tool shows this previous person had an accomplice. This adds conspiracy to the list of charges, in my opinion.
If I use the lower mounts to level the ball, then it needs to be too high on the left side of the panel and too low on the right, for the instruments to line up with the holes and be seen.
To line up the instruments with the holes, the turn coordinator needs to be taken out and have the mounting holes redrilled if being level is something desired.
This still won't fix all the problems, like the fact that there is just too much weight on the panel for my taste, and though the floating panel SEEMS to be flat it is further away from the center of the fixed panel compared to the smaller distance seperating the floating and fixed panel at the left and right edges.
Had I enough money, this would make a GREAT "before" shot of a panel.
Had I known what I was in for, I would have taken one person's advise and just put some white-out on the ball and not gotten started.
I expect this will be another leeson learned as to the benefit of leaving things up to trained professionals. I suppose the panel will, someday, need to be updated with a flat panel, and all sins will be forgiven.

See the "How Tos."

Sorry for your frustration.

My opinion: a decent Bonanza or Deb "costs" $100,000 minimum.

Pay less and spend more, or pay more and spend less.

Take your choice.

Ted, that's awful. I had a similar experience on a much smaller scale when I decided that my takeoff rpm had to be 2700. Not 2750, not 2650. After spending more than I'll admit, a good friend reminded me "the enemy of good is better." How many times have you said to yourself, "all of this for half a ball on the ground"?

Here are a couple of tricks for you Ted....
Working on older 35s with fixed glare shields can be frustrating. Fabricate some long attach screws for your instruments from 1/8" brazing rods, four for each instrument you remove, make them as long as the instrument is deep. Bend over a 1" handle on one end, and cut threads on the other. Use a lock nut to limit the amount of threads used. Replacing your instruments will now be easy, from the hole in the firewall. Before you work further on leveling your T&B indicator, jack the plane, lay a spirit level on your seat tracks, and make sure the plane is level....then do what you have to do to turn the instrument in the hole to make it level with the plane. You might be better off to buy a turn coordinator, electric powered, from a junkyard. Most later instruments have built in leveling arrangements with ovaled holes, etc.

Thanks fellas. I have about $59,992.05 to spend before I reach the break even point of $100,000 for the airplane I want...so I can't feel TOO bad.
And it's nice to know I'm not alone in being a recovering perfectionist. (Voltaire, yes?)
I especially appreciate the suggestions regarding lengthening the screws, to make "next time" easier.
I hope to have it all back together and flying later this week.
I'm working on my IFR studies whenever I am not turning wrenches on the Bonanza. This vacation from work is turning into a real education.