A/C Switch Bracket for Console Delete
03-17-2014, 07:23 PM
#2
Addict
Oh, man. That's seriously cool. 
Want. Want badly. Will have. What did you make it out of?
(Elayne want the clock back in the car and this looks like a good way to do that.)
Want. Want badly. Will have. What did you make it out of?(Elayne want the clock back in the car and this looks like a good way to do that.)
03-18-2014, 12:14 AM
#3
I haddah Google dat
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I need one of those for Pumpkinmobile, which is getting new lights as soon as I can figure out how to make a similar switch console. I just bought an El Cheapo sheet metal brake from Horrible Fright.
03-18-2014, 07:17 AM
#4
Racer
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Altimeter came out of a Cessna, variety unknown. I bought it several years ago at Terry White's aviation salvage place just east of Kansas City on I-70. Everything from Cessna's to jetliners.
03-18-2014, 01:04 PM
#6
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I designed and fabricated the bracket, with some help. It is one piece of AL with the sides folded back. There is also a top flange that is folded forward at less than 90 degrees to compensate for the downslope of the area under the dash. Bends were made on a break.
The bracket is mounted to the underside of the ashtray, which is in turn bolted to the dash structure above it. All of the original structure and ashtray itself remain more or less intact in case some future owner wants to return to stock. The regular aviation post light is plugged into the wiring for the stock ashtray light.
The bare AL bracket was sandblasted and primed, then painted with a wrinkle paint from a chain auto parts store. That turned out too shiny for my taste so I hit that lightly with regular flat black black to knock it down a little.
Making something like this w/o the altimeter hole would be a piece of cake (but having access to a break is a big help!). Making the hole for the altimeter was the hardest part of ot.
The bracket is mounted to the underside of the ashtray, which is in turn bolted to the dash structure above it. All of the original structure and ashtray itself remain more or less intact in case some future owner wants to return to stock. The regular aviation post light is plugged into the wiring for the stock ashtray light.
The bare AL bracket was sandblasted and primed, then painted with a wrinkle paint from a chain auto parts store. That turned out too shiny for my taste so I hit that lightly with regular flat black black to knock it down a little.
Making something like this w/o the altimeter hole would be a piece of cake (but having access to a break is a big help!). Making the hole for the altimeter was the hardest part of ot.
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03-19-2014, 10:00 AM
#8
Racer
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I mocked the thing up in cardboard then made a template to use as a pattern.
Once it was laid out on the AL I cut all of the straight edges on a shear but it could also be done with a bandsaw or even hacksaw (but more finish work required). The radius was bandsawed in short segments and then smoothed with both grinder and file.
The hole for the altimeter was made with bubblers; I just made a hole in the center large enough to get them in and started and nibbled it out, aided by filing as necessary. I did all that prior to making any of the bends.
All this left the AL scarred in places so I media-blasted the whole thing then used body filler and sanding to smooth it all out before priming and painting.
Sounds labor-intensive and it was, but really didn't take all that long.
Once it was laid out on the AL I cut all of the straight edges on a shear but it could also be done with a bandsaw or even hacksaw (but more finish work required). The radius was bandsawed in short segments and then smoothed with both grinder and file.
The hole for the altimeter was made with bubblers; I just made a hole in the center large enough to get them in and started and nibbled it out, aided by filing as necessary. I did all that prior to making any of the bends.
All this left the AL scarred in places so I media-blasted the whole thing then used body filler and sanding to smooth it all out before priming and painting.
Sounds labor-intensive and it was, but really didn't take all that long.
Last edited by Steam Driver; 03-19-2014 at 10:01 AM. Reason: Correct spelling error
03-19-2014, 04:27 PM
#9
I haddah Google dat
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^ That is excellent info. Thank you, exactly what I needed to know. I also need to radius the dashboard behind the console (tight fit for the switches). I bought a profile tool that uses sliding pins. I think I'm going to use tin or Al sheet for the mock up.
