grumpin Posted July 23, 2021 Share Posted July 23, 2021 Switch part swap complete. Do not recommend; the upper plastics are glued on and very fragile. was able to make it work, but it required breaking the lower plastics of my existing switches (buttons corroded, hence why I didn't just move them directly). Broke the upper too... but since I had both pieces, I was able to glue it all back together. Yikes! That doesn’t sound like fun! Good job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_S85 Posted July 23, 2021 Share Posted July 23, 2021 Came in today. Good news: -Unit is in good (enough) cosmetic shape. Only broken piece is the silver trim ring around the coast/set switch (which I'm pretty sure I have intact on mine, requires dissecting the switch). -The fake tan leather around the cruise buttons is all one tan plastic piece unlike mine (which is a black plastic under layer with a plastic wrap containing the rosewood finish, which is all falling apart). Bad news: -Took it apart... found chafed wiring on the cruise buttons. Will address while I have it in pieces. Not digging the worn fake leather finish... since I doubt I can just buy a rosewood look-alike "wallpaper" to wrap things, what to do? Paint it brown and call it close enough? Or come up with a different color scheme for the rosewood in the rest of the interior? The only other rosewood I have is on the dash (instrument cluster and radio/HVAC bezel)... it's in OK shape, but not perfect (chips/flaws) and my truck isn't a show piece either. Maybe red or orange? Ideas welcome here... There is Rosewood vinyl wrap that you could in theory use. How ever you would probably have to do the dash bezels to get it to look the same as I dont think it is identical. https://www.customautotrim.com/vinyl-wrap/wood-grain-vinyl-wrap/dn-wgrwb/ I was looking at this as an option for the bezel on my '78 Mercury as it was heavily damaged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratdude747 Posted July 23, 2021 Author Share Posted July 23, 2021 There is Rosewood vinyl wrap that you could in theory use. How ever you would probably have to do the dash bezels to get it to look the same as I dont think it is identical. https://www.customautotrim.com/vinyl-wrap/wood-grain-vinyl-wrap/dn-wgrwb/ I was looking at this as an option for the bezel on my '78 Mercury as it was heavily damaged. Looks pretty close actually. But Holy smokes that price... Due to minimum QTY's especially. Might be letting it be for a while then... Or I might use the vinyl dye I used on the door panels (or something similar) and forgo the rosewood (horn bar only). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramttocs Posted July 23, 2021 Share Posted July 23, 2021 Looks pretty close actually. But Holy smokes that price... Due to minimum QTY's especially. Might be letting it be for a while then... Or I might use the vinyl dye I used on the door panels (or something similar) and forgo the rosewood (horn bar only). Some past discussion: http://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/Wood-grain-vinyl-wrap-dash-decal-td75909.html#a75930 I did order another one as a test but never took photos to compare. I can do so and provide the ebay info for that second one if needed. Stuck it in a box and never used it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_S85 Posted July 23, 2021 Share Posted July 23, 2021 Looks pretty close actually. But Holy smokes that price... Due to minimum QTY's especially. Might be letting it be for a while then... Or I might use the vinyl dye I used on the door panels (or something similar) and forgo the rosewood (horn bar only). Yep its a reason why I am seeking a NOS one I had a chance to bid on one a couple years ago but I couldnt justify $400 for a NOS unit in the box. There is one currently on ebay for $400 NOS but its the wrong part number. The part number hes listing it under is the woodgrain but the horn pad he has is the silver XLS one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratdude747 Posted July 23, 2021 Author Share Posted July 23, 2021 Looks pretty close actually. But Holy smokes that price... Due to minimum QTY's especially. Might be letting it be for a while then... Or I might use the vinyl dye I used on the door panels (or something similar) and forgo the rosewood (horn bar only). Yep its a reason why I am seeking a NOS one I had a chance to bid on one a couple years ago but I couldnt justify $400 for a NOS unit in the box. There is one currently on ebay for $400 NOS but its the wrong part number. The part number hes listing it under is the woodgrain but the horn pad he has is the silver XLS one. I ever decide I don't like wood, I ought to buy bezels that are in worse shape and save what I do have... there's a few small bubbles and a couple chips, but otherwise not terrible. May do something other than wood on the wheel and leave the wood though... IDK. Too many choices... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratdude747 Posted July 24, 2021 Author Share Posted July 24, 2021 Some past discussion: http://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/Wood-grain-vinyl-wrap-dash-decal-td75909.html#a75930 I did order another one as a test but never took photos to compare. I can do so and provide the ebay info for that second one if needed. Stuck it in a box and never used it. Good find! Smaller quantities available: https://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-DI-NOC-ROSEWOOD-Wood-Grain-Vinyl-Wrap-Sheet-Film-Sticker-Decal-Roll-Adhesive/182698783881?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 $50 is still pricey... but a bit more palatable. Hmm... Already has adhesive. Just not sure how stretchy it is since the lower bar has some contour to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramttocs Posted July 26, 2021 Share Posted July 26, 2021 Good find! Smaller quantities available: https://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-DI-NOC-ROSEWOOD-Wood-Grain-Vinyl-Wrap-Sheet-Film-Sticker-Decal-Roll-Adhesive/182698783881?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 $50 is still pricey... but a bit more palatable. Hmm... Already has adhesive. Just not sure how stretchy it is since the lower bar has some contour to it. Yeah, I think the contour would be a deal breaker. The dipping seams ideal unless there is some option that will shrink with minimal heat. The 'plastic wrap' as you referred to it earlier - do you think if you run a razor along the outside of it and around the buttons that it would pop off? I've seen several where the edges have let loose in places but I've never performed exploratory surgery to see where all it's connected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratdude747 Posted July 26, 2021 Author Share Posted July 26, 2021 Yeah, I think the contour would be a deal breaker. The dipping seams ideal unless there is some option that will shrink with minimal heat. The 'plastic wrap' as you referred to it earlier - do you think if you run a razor along the outside of it and around the buttons that it would pop off? I've seen several where the edges have let loose in places but I've never performed exploratory surgery to see where all it's connected. My wrap is busted to pieces... so reusing it isn't remotely an option. Why I was glad the "new" bar is one piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts