switch boxes!

[cavingman]

I've been trying to design my new switchbox while the site was down, but I've been unable to come up with any really good ideas.
I was just wondering what everyone else did? Pictures would be cool. Just need some inspiration here :thumbs:

[iceman]

I could show you pics of my in-progress one. Been workin on it since the picnic, but I have been at the shore a lot and no time to finish.

I took a dash kit, cut off that cubby hole, glassed the opening, drilled holes for 8 switches, each with a blue status LED above..

[cavingman]

Originally posted by iceman
I took a dash kit, cut off that cubby hole, glassed the opening, drilled holes for 8 switches, each with a blue status LED above..

dash kit?
I was actually thinking of doing the small metal switches and throwin red leds next to them too. i guess great minds think alike, or something :)

[iceman]

Yep.. I am using the small metal switches, blue LED's directly above them.

I have the dash kit part # somewhere at home.. It's the metra dash kit where the head unit sits flush... Not the kit that sticks out a bit (nor the kit that sticks out REALLY far like the 99-200's)

I might close up the holes and try again... They didn't come out too even. It's a big PTIA getting them lined up without using a drill press.

[cavingman]

ooooh. For some reason I was thinking of the dash overlay things. makes sense now :D
thats actually a good idea. Pieces you can replace are always a good thing.
I was thinking about going to home depot, getting a piece of sheet metal, and building something that would fit in the cubby hole under the HVAC controls. just a large metal plate, have the swicthes on top, and keep the space on the bottom for when I get my apexi lcd gauge :)

[iceman]

well yeah the other place is the cubby... but I have gauges down there so I can't do that.


I might get a piece of ABS or something and mold it in.. because drilling these holes even is a PITA.

[AleroME]

Where can ABS plastic be found? at home depot?

Also does home depot sell sheets of diamond plated aluminum? hehe trying to make floor mats.

Thanks

[iceman]

ABS -> www.mcmaster.com

[cavingman]

whats abs stand for?
and where on that site is it? :)

[iceman]

http://www.mcmaster.com/param/asp/selectfamily.asp?FAM=abs,pvc&VAL=,101=524+116=557+128=521+131=552+556=41328+718 =40347+719=40363&desc=ABS

[steve26nyy]

here's what I did. took a peice of plexi glass. cut it to size, drilled holes, spay painted black, then clearcoated it.

[papiogagt]

steve26nyy, can you get a shot of your whole center console w/ that switch panel on there. that looks interesting but i am wandering what it looks like in comparison w/ everything else. thanks alot!

[steve26nyy]

papiogagt, you got it I'll take a pic tonight of it

[papiogagt]

thanks!

[steve26nyy]

papiogagt, here the pic you wanted

[Black Z28]

wow, steve that looks really nice, very professional job there. how did you make the border around the box?? you know the curved piece?

[papiogagt]

i think it's where the tape deck is supposed to be.. right?

[steve26nyy]

yeah thats where the tape deck was

[cavingman]

one of the reason i wish i hadnt got monsoon :(

[papiogagt]

here's what i'm thinking about doing.. just going to a junk yard and finding a piece w/ the tape deck then cutting and using bondo. this pic is rough, but you get the point, steve26nyy, if it bothers you that i modified your pic, just tell me and i'll delete this. thanks!

[mr_eh]

when cops pull you over, the first thing they ask are "what are those switches for" so i'd advise hiding them a little better, or with some sort of cover, i'd like to get some led rocker switches cause they are small, and maybe a small cover for them... probably where ga guru has his, on the left of the steering wheel in that useless compartment

[papiogagt]

i'll just tell him they are for neons when i am in shows or off road. you can't get in trouble for having them.. only if you have them on.

[brian]

Originally posted by GrandAmRamAir
wow, steve that looks really nice, very professional job there. how did you make the border around the box?? you know the curved piece?

Brian, youre a tard. Havent you noticed that exact same thing in my car? :P I've had that switch panel forever.

[Evil]

here is a pic of my soon to be switch pannel its almost finished as soon as it is ill post more pics there will be 6 switches and 6 led's that and i smoothed out all the factory crap that i didnt like.

Ron

[quinton]

Originally posted by Evil
here is a pic of my soon to be switch pannel its almost finished as soon as it is ill post more pics there will be 6 switches and 6 led's that and i smoothed out all the factory crap that i didnt like.

Ron

wow thats looking impressive. whatd you use to make the surface?

[Evil]

originally i used sheet metal epoxy and bondo, but i tore that apart and redid it with fiberglass and some high end body filler its alot better now.

[papiogagt]

evil, so the sheet metal didn't work like you told me about? just wandering cuz i'm getting ready to do my own swithc panel!

[Evil]

no, not at all the sheet metal worked fine, i just wanted a little more than the sheet metal could provide, i used the other for almost 2 months with not a single problem, as soon as the new and improved fiberglass model is finished ill post up some pics... i still have alot of sanding to do.

p.s. the sheet metal was way easier and so far actually worked better im having some problems with the fiberglass.

[cavingman]

*bump*
Anyone else come up with any good ideas since august? :D
I started trying to flush mount some sheet metal into the center armrest thing (cd holder area) but it didnt go well :(

[iceman]

Yeah I am working on something, hopefully progress pics by this weekend... Not gonna be done for another few weekends but youll get the idea

[cavingman]

Originally posted by iceman
Yeah I am working on something, hopefully progress pics by this weekend... Not gonna be done for another few weekends but youll get the idea

swyt