I thought I would throw this out to you stereo guys with your knowledge of fabricating panels, etc. I would like to replace my ash tray with a custom plate where I will mount two gauges. I've seen pictures of this done before. Do you have any suggestions for what type of material I would use to make the plate and how it would be done?
How to make a plate to replace the stock ash tray?
- Thread starter gobble
- Start date
You have several options: wood, plastic, metal. I would opt for an ABS plastic piece. The easiest thing to do would be to just cut out a piece of ABS that fit and cut the holes out that you need with a hole saw. Then hotmelt glue it into place. It won't be the cleanest look but that's the easiest route. You can make it fancier looking by making a panel that resembled the ashtray door in its fitment and painting it to match.
Getting a little more complex, you could fill out that cavity and make it look like a panel was never there. This would involve the same ABS panel and the cracks, gaps, etc. filled out with body filler and/or kitty hair. This would be the cleanest look but it would involve repainting the whole console trim and a significant amount of time to make it look perfect. If you are going to do this, you might just opt to buy the Science of Speed console trim with the ashtray delete option.
I read this article online the other day and I think you can pick up some tips from it.
Getting a little more complex, you could fill out that cavity and make it look like a panel was never there. This would involve the same ABS panel and the cracks, gaps, etc. filled out with body filler and/or kitty hair. This would be the cleanest look but it would involve repainting the whole console trim and a significant amount of time to make it look perfect. If you are going to do this, you might just opt to buy the Science of Speed console trim with the ashtray delete option.
I read this article online the other day and I think you can pick up some tips from it.
You can find some if you do a search on eBay for ABS plastic sheet. I noticed someone is selling some on there already covered with a carbon fiber decal to make it look cool.
You should be able to find it at plastic stores and custom car audio shops.
You should be able to find it at plastic stores and custom car audio shops.
Gobble,
you can remove the ashtray portion from the insert and leave the "door" intact. cut a pice of abs or black plexi glass to fit an dremmel out holes for the gauges. It allows you to cover them and have stock look when you want it, and the lights(especially fjo afr gauges) can be annoying at night
you can remove the ashtray portion from the insert and leave the "door" intact. cut a pice of abs or black plexi glass to fit an dremmel out holes for the gauges. It allows you to cover them and have stock look when you want it, and the lights(especially fjo afr gauges) can be annoying at night
here is a thread with a pic of 2 gauges on a plate in the ashtrray space, i have 2 2 1/8 gauges inside the ashtray door. they fit without a problem
http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20736
http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20736
Last edited:
they are completely hidden when the door is closed- you need to remove the black piece from the back of the door (2 screws) and dremmel off everything but the plate that holds the hinge mechanism and secures the door to the console. this leaves a flat surface to attach a gauge plate to. you also need to cut the hidden edge of the top of the doort(the one thats horizontal when the door is closed), leaving only a small lip approx 2 mm so it will not show when the door is closed. this allows it to clear the gauges as it opens.
Last edited:
