kramttocs Posted March 12, 2020 Author Share Posted March 12, 2020 This is a really neat idea! I like it, and the square button design does have a “period correct” feel. I don’t like the over-large rocker style switch supplied with the GVOD. I was thinking of doing something else, like re-purposing the fuel selector switch in the HVAC panel and using the ^upshift^ indicator lamp from a 83/84 bezel to indicate when the overdrive is on. Your solution is great, and addresses much more than just the GVOD. On the dealer installed AC parts truck for my 4x4 swap, the whole pocket was simply sawed off the bezel, leaving a rectangular hole like the medium duty bezels. Jim - just watched his video on inserts. Really good. I am printing a simple test right now to see how the plastic threads do in 6mm and depending upon that I will order a pack of the inserts or not. Jon - agreed, not a huge fan of the gvod dash panel. Your idea of the fuel selector switch is a great one and the shift indicator would be a nice relevant reuse-of-factory fit. I'd actually thought of putting a few of those fuel selector switches in a panel like this one for in the cubby but after looking at the back of the switch I don't think I could have squeezed many in there. Would be a great stock look though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 I'd actually thought of putting a few of those fuel selector switches in a panel like this one for in the cubby but after looking at the back of the switch I don't think I could have squeezed many in there. Would be a great stock look though. I LIKE IT!!!!! I wonder how many I could squeeze in? Hmmmmmmm...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramttocs Posted March 12, 2020 Author Share Posted March 12, 2020 I'd actually thought of putting a few of those fuel selector switches in a panel like this one for in the cubby but after looking at the back of the switch I don't think I could have squeezed many in there. Would be a great stock look though. I LIKE IT!!!!! I wonder how many I could squeeze in? Hmmmmmmm...... Haha, it looks great in the mind's eye, right? Would complement the headlight knobs on the left. I pulled a few of the switches from the jy not long ago to play around with for this but never got further than just eyeballing the size. Now that we have the main panel though, it wouldn't be hard to replace the button holes with slots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford F834 Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 I'd actually thought of putting a few of those fuel selector switches in a panel like this one for in the cubby but after looking at the back of the switch I don't think I could have squeezed many in there. Would be a great stock look though. I LIKE IT!!!!! I wonder how many I could squeeze in? Hmmmmmmm...... Gary, seems like we discussed the possibility of a modified fog light switch bezel for the right side of the column that read “overdrive” but it would have to be narrowed. The whole right side (from column to right side of the pocket) could potentially be made into a multi-switch face plate modeled after the fog lamp bezel, but it would need to be tall enough to cover the bead around the pocket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Haha, it looks great in the mind's eye, right? Would complement the headlight knobs on the left. I pulled a few of the switches from the jy not long ago to play around with for this but never got further than just eyeballing the size. Now that we have the main panel though, it wouldn't be hard to replace the button holes with slots. Not to hijack this thread, and I can move these comments if you want, Scott. The tank switches are ~1" wide, and the pocket is ~4 3/4 wide so 4 switches would fit, if we could figure out the mounting. That's because they have that arm hanging off of them, as shown below. Someone can surely figure out how to do that? Perhaps remove the cover, drill the spot welds to remove the arm, then put studs on the cover? And that way they might work for fog light switches? As for the height, the two switches below are farther back than we'd want as the knob is almost inside the pocket. So that works. Or, if we could just find a switch that has an arm like that and has reasonable mounting? Boy, it would look factory! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Gary, seems like we discussed the possibility of a modified fog light switch bezel for the right side of the column that read “overdrive” but it would have to be narrowed. The whole right side (from column to right side of the pocket) could potentially be made into a multi-switch face plate modeled after the fog lamp bezel, but it would need to be tall enough to cover the bead around the pocket. I'm thinking it would look just like the fog light switch and fit in the pocket, retaining the bead: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramttocs Posted March 12, 2020 Author Share Posted March 12, 2020 Not to hijack this thread, and I can move these comments if you want, Scott. The tank switches are ~1" wide, and the pocket is ~4 3/4 wide so 4 switches would fit, if we could figure out the mounting. That's because they have that arm hanging off of them, as shown below. Someone can surely figure out how to do that? Perhaps remove the cover, drill the spot welds to remove the arm, then put studs on the cover? And that way they might work for fog light switches? As for the height, the two switches below are farther back than we'd want as the knob is almost inside the pocket. So that works. Or, if we could just find a switch that has an arm like that and has reasonable mounting? Boy, it would look factory! Nope, fine by me to have it here. I think it would be great if we can figure it out. In addition to the fuel selector switch, throw in a fan control and you've got a multipurpose/multi-state switch Not sure on the mounting. Pushing the square buttons take very little force and that force is pushing against a thick ledge of the plastic. Those levers have a bit more resistance to them not to mention the leverage of the arm. I don't think there will be enough room on top and bottom of the switch to tack an ear on there with a hole to bolt into the panel from behind. Or even tacking the switches together and putting ears on the sides. Hmm... Maybe making a back plate for the panel that would attach to the front plate with bolts and sandwich the switches between them? Afraid room might get tight really fast though. Like Jon mentioned, with the dealer a/c dash controls they cut the back 3/4 of the cubby off and the panel is clipped onto the remaining lip top and bottom. Doubt any of us want to cut the cubby off but it would give more room. Guess it depends upon how nice it turns out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Nope, fine by me to have it here. I think it would be great if we can figure it out. In addition to the fuel selector switch, throw in a fan control and you've got a multipurpose/multi-state switch Not sure on the mounting. Pushing the square buttons take very little force and that force is pushing against a thick ledge of the plastic. Those levers have a bit more resistance to them not to mention the leverage of the arm. I don't think there will be enough room on top and bottom of the switch to tack an ear on there with a hole to bolt into the panel from behind. Or even tacking the switches together and putting ears on the sides. Hmm... Maybe making a back plate for the panel that would attach to the front plate with bolts and sandwich the switches between them? Afraid room might get tight really fast though. Like Jon mentioned, with the dealer a/c dash controls they cut the back 3/4 of the cubby off and the panel is clipped onto the remaining lip top and bottom. Doubt any of us want to cut the cubby off but it would give more room. Guess it depends upon how nice it turns out I think you just hit on the mounting approach - sandwich the switches between the front panel and a 3D printed back panel. Ron and I did something like that on the dash patch and it can make a very solid mount. Print the back of the front panel such that the tank switches just nestle in and are captured by raised lands around them. Come over the back of the switches with a collar that goes around the switches and is then screwed to the front panel. In fact, I think the switch is made such that the collar could go up against those tabs that secure the metal front to the plastic back. Once you have the unit complete you slide it into the pocket. But, those connectors for the switches are big, so I'm afraid the back of the pocket would have to go as I can't see getting them through any other way. And, as I think about this approach for mounting, I don't see why it wouldn't work for the fog light as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramttocs Posted March 13, 2020 Author Share Posted March 13, 2020 I think you just hit on the mounting approach - sandwich the switches between the front panel and a 3D printed back panel. Ron and I did something like that on the dash patch and it can make a very solid mount. Print the back of the front panel such that the tank switches just nestle in and are captured by raised lands around them. Come over the back of the switches with a collar that goes around the switches and is then screwed to the front panel. In fact, I think the switch is made such that the collar could go up against those tabs that secure the metal front to the plastic back. Once you have the unit complete you slide it into the pocket. But, those connectors for the switches are big, so I'm afraid the back of the pocket would have to go as I can't see getting them through any other way. And, as I think about this approach for mounting, I don't see why it wouldn't work for the fog light as well. Played around a little last night to see how the switches would work out. It's a quick, rough draft but the measurements of the 'stalls' and slots should be close enough for a test print. Ultimately the objects should be combined better and the front could be flowed around the stalls for a more solid fit in the cubby. Will be stuck in the house most of the weekend so going to see what kind of paint I can find locally to test for the letters/borders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 Played around a little last night to see how the switches would work out. It's a quick, rough draft but the measurements of the 'stalls' and slots should be close enough for a test print. Ultimately the objects should be combined better and the front could be flowed around the stalls for a more solid fit in the cubby. Will be stuck in the house most of the weekend so going to see what kind of paint I can find locally to test for the letters/borders. That's pretty much what I was envisioning, although I was thinking the sides would be the same all the way back so there's no chance it'll rock as you flip the switches. But, as I'm sure you've discovered, those sides aren't parallel nor square. Probably for casting purposes, there's a taper to the pocket so your print has to account for that - and probably already does. Does the back of that piece accept the switches, or is this just the conceptualized version? When it does, all you need is a collar piece that will go down over the backs of the switches and clamp them to the front piece. And speaking of that, I did a bit of playing with one of those switches, my instrument bezel with the fog lamp bezel on it, and a spare dash I have in the attic. It looks to me like a tank switch w/o the mounting arm could be mounted to the back of the dash using the collar approach. It may take a spacer in front to get the pivot point just right, but that spacer could be glued to the backside of the dash and have threads or studs on it to accept the collar, thereby capturing the switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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