Monte Carlo Breadbox - Switch and gauge ideas. - Complete
- Thread starter oldmansmonte
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- bread box monte carlo swtiches
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Well, this is what Ive got so far. My first attempt. I bought the radio mount and a piece of textured plastic off of ebay. Not a big investment, under $20. Got the volt gauge from Pep Boys (thanks to Turna for the info)) for $43 out the door. The hardest thing to find locally was a 2 1/16" hole saw but I found a hardware store 35 minutes away that had one in stock.
I was able to cut the textured plastic on my table saw. One thing I realized after making the first cut is the grain on the plastic has a direction. I think it looks better having the grain go horizontally than vertically but thats just personal taste.
Got the holes cut out but I had to egg them out a little with a Dremel so the angled rings would work. I also had to open the radio mount a little so the gauges would be able to tilt up.
Now comes the problem. Piss poor planning on my part. I cut the sides on the mount a tiny bit too wide and I think I cut the angle on the plastic a little too much. I dont have enough meat on the mount to get a couple of screws on the bottom. Its a learning experience.
Im going to reorder another mount tonight. Theyre under $10. At least I'll know where to stop next time ! LMAO
I was able to cut the textured plastic on my table saw. One thing I realized after making the first cut is the grain on the plastic has a direction. I think it looks better having the grain go horizontally than vertically but thats just personal taste.
Got the holes cut out but I had to egg them out a little with a Dremel so the angled rings would work. I also had to open the radio mount a little so the gauges would be able to tilt up.
Now comes the problem. Piss poor planning on my part. I cut the sides on the mount a tiny bit too wide and I think I cut the angle on the plastic a little too much. I dont have enough meat on the mount to get a couple of screws on the bottom. Its a learning experience.
Im going to reorder another mount tonight. Theyre under $10. At least I'll know where to stop next time ! LMAO
When I made mine I used Lexan as the face and cut the 3 holes undersize then I glued the angle rings in place.
Once the rings cured I used my flexshaft Dremel with sanding bands and opened the holes from the backside at the correct angle and size needed for the gauges.
Hope this helps.
Once the rings cured I used my flexshaft Dremel with sanding bands and opened the holes from the backside at the correct angle and size needed for the gauges.
Hope this helps.
Curious, what did you use for glue ? And did the rings go right to the top and bottom edge of the face ? Never thought about gluing the rings but its a great idea. Keeps them in the right position.
I cut the holes for the gauges after I cut the plastic to fit. Then I cut down the bottom lip of the mount opening by about 1/8" with a Dremel drum sander.
Like I said, piss poor planning. I think I have the side angles right but theres not enough left at the bottom of the sides on the mount for a screw.
I think I used a plastic epoxy cement and roughed up both surfaces prior to gluing and then sanded around the edges before painting to make them blend into the face better.
Im assuming you used small sheet metal screws on the corners ? I was going to use 6-32 button head machine screws but then I figured out I wouldnt have access to the nuts. What did you use to hold it all to the bottom of the dash ?
For the faceplate I used a coarse thread screw,(not quite a wood screw) I was going to use Rivnuts but the thickness would have pushed the face out slightly and I would have had to cut into the backside of the face for it to sit flush.
I used long hex head sheet metal screws to mount the unit to the dash since they have to go through the vinyl before hitting metal on the front and part way down the sides.
You probably did this but drill the faceplate holes large enough so that your screw threads don't engage it.
I considered using some marine epoxy to glue a small strip of aluminum to each side. Drill the four holes, tap them and use a small machine screw. I might play around with it tomorrow. I still ordered another mount. Its only $9.
Since I have another one coming I think I might trim the front mounting strip back a little too. I have a few days to try different things. It looks like you would only use mounting screws on the sides and not the front.
Since I have another one coming I think I might trim the front mounting strip back a little too. I have a few days to try different things. It looks like you would only use mounting screws on the sides and not the front.
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