I was thinking about having that den closed off and putting a plastic plate matching the interior color of my car put there so it can support a few switches. One switch will be for my interior lights. I was wondering where can I have a plastic piece cut out that will match it's size exactly? Also how do you take that den out? CAN you take it out? I pushed the two buttons ontop inside the den as hard as I could while pulling and I could only get it so far so I put it back so I wouldn't break it. What would I use to put a hole in the plastic piece thats cut out so I can fit a switch through it?

Thanks.

 

I'd say you could do it yourself to make the "den" cover. Just make sure to keep on checking the fitment to make the necessary adjustments. You could do plastic, acrylic, plexi. Those would be my first 3 choices for "switch Plates" As for the holes...if you have a dremel, use the smaller cutting wheel depending on what you do you and just keep it cold as with any one of those 3 material will deform if it gets too hot.

Or if you have money, you could take your measurements to a stereo shop (they usually have or know a plexiglass shop) and they will custom cut the material for you with a "flo-jet" or some other precise cutting machine. You'd just have to tell them: width, length, height, and the angle of the curves unless you could fit a 90* angle peice in their.

Hope it helps a little,
Dave

 

you can take it off. You need to take the center concole out of the car. then you will be able to remove it.

 

Of those three material, how will I find each and where? Will it be in large sheets or precut? Also how will I attatch it to my dash? I don't have any super glue. I only have a general drill...

How do you get past the shifter?

 

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/the_da...0a.jpg&.src=ph

I used fiberglass and Bondo to fill the hole and then mounted my switches.

 

Whats Bondo? where can I get some fitting fiberglass and how would I get it cut right?

 

Find a guy with an auto tranny who has a "blockoff plate..."

I don't have anything next to my lighter except for the blockoff plate with the SGS button and the pontiac logo.



I don't know the part number but I'm sure a dealer would be able to order one (or grab one in a junkyard or off a guy parting his A4 car).

 

You could buy Plexi, Acrylic, or the Plastic at Menards, lowes, and home store usually has small sheets for stuff. Im not sure how thick you want it to be, but it should be common sense or just how you like it. I prefer flush mount stuff.

To Attach it i would use epoxy if your looking to keep it mounted for good. It dries clear (automotive epoxy does) and you can pick it up at NAPA or your local auto store. You could screw it in but if you go with acrylic be careful because acrylic crackes very easy, but it comes in a wide variety of colors. My plan is to get some plexi, some blue LED's and mount my nitrous switches in there whenever i save enough money for my NX kit. That way it lights up a blue and looks good.

Not sure about the fiberglass route, but most of the time when working with it you would make a wood "mold" for it (this is how i made my plastation 2 box anyway) and then you lay an absorbant cloth over the mold deal to get nice clean lines. They you just start layering your resin and fiberglass mat or hairs. Im not sure if this is how he did it for something so small, but thats how alot of people generally apply fiberglass. then you just go in with Bondo (most body shop type places carry it) and sand it smooth then prime and paint it.

Dave

 

The Chevy dealer can fix you up. Ask for a switch panel for a Trans Am w/ traction control and a convertible top. The insert that is in there now will come out pretty easy. There is a trick, depress those two tabs that you found. Then lift the back up, it "rolls" out. The little panel then snaps into the same place. Be sure to get the panel in the correct color for your interior. The actual Pontiac TCS switch is an always on, momentary off switch, the same as the Camaro ASR switch. I used the Pontiac switch because the lettering read correctly in that location and looked like it belonged there. The switch can be taken apart and modified to be on/off and the dash light to illuminate if it is isolated and tied into the dash wiring. It is very tedious, but mine work great. I used one to keep my power antenna down when I am playing the CD or FM is strong enough to not need the antenna. I used a second one to run my fans on high speed when I want to. You will need a meter or powered test light to figure out which terminals are which. You will need to unsolder the lights inside and move them to a set of terminals that are not tied to any of the switch terminals. Unfortunately there is only one set like that for the dash lights. The rest are all tied to one side or the other of the switch contacts. That means for the function on/off light to work, it must not be something that will have a problem with battery voltage.

I Know! Way too much info. But, it will work well and look good if you have the skill to do it. Just wanted to give you an option.

PJ

 

i made one for my '94. got some plexiglass from home depot and cut it to fit, they sell cutting tools for a few dollars. just drill holes where ever you want switches and put them through...if you get toggle switches they have a nut on them if you will so you can tighten them down. the nut covers any rough edges in the drilling. i covered mine with some of that carbon fiber look alike stuff...kinda like window tint almost. eh anyway i think it looks really good...rather subtle but noticeable. good luck.

 

if i remember correctly ebay sometimes has what the seller calls a 1LE switch panel. it is a flat panel with 2 or 3 toggle switches. i didnt look too much into it but i imagine it would pop into place. i dont know why its called a 1LE part but i doubt its a factory part so its quality may be questionable if its homemade.

 

I used a piece of diamond plate aluminum to build my switch plate.After cutting and shaping it to size,I attached it w/double sided tape.

 

no block off on any A4 camaro I have been in???

 

I guess they only came on the Firebirds/TAs.

 

Okay, I got a perfect cut fit of plexiglass and at first I was going to paint it but I got light up switches instead. This means I'll beable to tell if they're on or not through the clear plexiglass and it will have a neat effect at night. I perfectly fit my first switch through. I'm ganna do a manual fan switch... any small LED's I can use for that? I was THINKING of having a Lit Up Master Power Switch that lights the entire den so I'll know I have something running when I turn my car off so I won't run my battery dead... but I'm not sure how to do it without running everything at once...