Console switch leveling

[Shep]

I've always thought about raising the center console switches. From the factory, they're angled at the same degree as the bar in front of it that the cigarette lighter rests on. It always looked out of place to me, and I thought off and on about how to level them out, so they lay perfectly horizontal. If done right, it would have a natural look to it, as if that is the way it was meant to be. Two things expedited this process:

1) The on/off switch from DMCH I used for my recent angel eye conversion stuck out too far to sit flush,
and 2) I felt the stock switches were unintuitive in their positioning, and flipping them around made them stick out too far too

For the windows, forward should go up and backwards should go down, much like the volume controls on your TV remote, and the defroster should turn on when forward and off when backwards, much like a light switch. At least, this is the way I view it, knowing full well that 99% of DeLorean owners either don't agree or simply don't care. So I searched the house for spare aluminum, using a magnet to ensure it was non-ferrous. I found a perfect piece and cut it to the rough shape:

http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/resized/consoleswitchleveling01_640.jpg
[link to full size here (http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/consoleswitchleveling01.jpg)]

The angle on the left side was already there, which was the perfect shape. Here's a closer shot so you can see the angle;

http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/resized/consoleswitchleveling02_640.jpg
[link to full size here (http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/consoleswitchleveling02.jpg)]

And here it is roughly in place, slid off towards the passenger side for clarity (with all the switches in their correct order laying just in front of that).

http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/resized/consoleswitchleveling03_640.jpg
[link to full size here (http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/consoleswitchleveling03.jpg)]

The red handle is to metal shears I was using for those wondering, which had the safety engaged to prevent cutting anything unintentionally. After careful measuring of the dimensions, I got a vice clamp out and used it to make two perfect bends in the metal:

http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/resized/consoleswitchleveling04_640.jpg
[link to full size here (http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/consoleswitchleveling04.jpg)]

Now it was time for test fitment!

http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/resized/consoleswitchleveling05_640.jpg
[link to full size here (http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/consoleswitchleveling05.jpg)]

If fits! After some trimming of the edges, of course (they were a bit too long). You can see the preexisting angle hugs the cigarette lighter slope quite nicely here:

http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/resized/consoleswitchleveling06_640.jpg
[link to full size here (http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/consoleswitchleveling06.jpg)]

Detail view from the side to see where it's anchored (it's sandwiched between the two pieces of vinyl):

http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/resized/consoleswitchleveling07_640.jpg
[link to full size here (http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/consoleswitchleveling07.jpg)]

Now it was time to CAREFULLY cut the holes with a Dremel cutoff wheel. Well, four or five of them (the damn things always break on me). I had to make sure the holes were big enough for the switches to rest in, but not too big for them to easily fall out of. Interestingly enough, it seemed front-to-back (their longest side and direction of travel) mattered far more in holding them in place than side-to-side (their shortest side), which I had guessed to be the opposite. I measured ten times to make sure the spacing was 100% accurate to stock, and even still cut them a bit smaller to ensure I didn't cut off too much. After cutting each hole, I test fit the appropriate switch and made minor adjustments until they fit properly. Here it is installed with the holes cut out and the plugs ready to be attached:

http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/resized/consoleswitchleveling08_640.jpg
[link to full size here (http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/consoleswitchleveling08.jpg)]

The hole the dummy switch rests in was too big for any kind of switch, so it comes right out of bumped the wrong way. Now it's time to install the switches!

http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/resized/consoleswitchleveling09_640.jpg
[link to full size here (http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/consoleswitchleveling09.jpg)]

They're flush, at last! They all sit even and give me plenty of wiggle room for the plugs so I don't have to cut into the fiberglass underbody. And now a shot from a bit further away, giving it more context:

http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/resized/consoleswitchleveling10_640.jpg
[link to full size here (http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/consoleswitchleveling10.jpg)]

Round 1 is completed! Next step: creating another prototype that lowers the switches even further! Once I reach a height I am satisfied with, I will find matching vinyl to cover it with for a stock look. I drove it today and my elbow only turned the angel eyes on once, but my briefcase didn't turn it on at all! Great success! The color may be quite prominent, but it's nothing a can of flat-black paint won't be able to fix :biggrin:

Just thought I'd share this little mod and how it will progress as I refine the design more ;)

[vwdmc16]

Not sure where you're going with this, you rather have the switches stick up above the console in a vulnerable spot where they can be accidentally hit and damaged?

I always like the way they angled to transitioned from the arm rest to the shifter plate. it looks flush. Seems like a step backwards. :confused0:

[Josh]

Not sure where you're going with this, you rather have the switches stick up above the console in a vulnerable spot where they can be accidentally hit and damaged?

I always like the way they angled to transitioned from the arm rest to the shifter plate. it looks flush. Seems like a step backwards. :confused0:

Not to be rude, but I agree. :confused:

[Shep]

Did you guys actually read the thread or just look at the pictures? I very clearly stated that I am lowering the switches from here. It will not remain this high, this was just a proof of concept with what I had laying around. Now that I know it does work, it's time to refine the design.

Perhaps it would help if I clarified what the final product will be. From the factory, the switches all sit in holes with a higher back and a lower front. This angles the switches forward. Ultimately I am going to raise the front of the switches while leaving the back of the switches at the same height, tilting them so they're level rather than elevating them. I already have a design in mind for the end product, so I will be working on that next. This will only raise the front of the switches, not the back, hence "leveling" rather than"elevating".

[dmc6960]

Did you guys actually read the thread or just look at the pictures?

I believe it was more related to the following quote, and was my first thought as well. I just didn't want to be the first to say it...



They're flush, at last!

Followed by a picture where they are obviously not "flush". Sure they are all flush with each other. And sure their bases are flush with the console. But the expectation was that the switch tops would be flush with the console, which they are not.

[Shep]

Sure they are all flush with each other.This is what I meant. After I flipped the switches, the only one that sat right was the dummy switch, and the rest stuck out unevenly. I stated this in the two bullet points at the top of the post. When I said "flush", I meant they were sitting flush and even against the metal I had crafted, not flush as in not sticking out above the console. I apologize for not being clear on that.

That being said, the first two responses seemed to indicate that neither read what I had written after the last picture about lowering and refining the design further, so I elaborated on that bit for clarity.

[Shep]

Update: I've gotten it almost completely done. I'll probably need to have one made from a CNC machine for precision, currently it's not quite aligned properly so it doesn't want to sit completely flush. Here's the version I just finished making yesterday:

http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/resized/consoleswitchlevelingb01_640.jpg
[full size image here (http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/consoleswitchlevelingb01.jpg)]

That's the old version next to the new version, both spray painted in blue because I do not have black spray paint handy.

Here's what it looks like with the switches attached:

http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/resized/consoleswitchlevelingb02_640.jpg
[full size image here (http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/consoleswitchlevelingb02.jpg)]

Thankfully the black switches cover most of the blue, so those not looking for it probably won't see it unless the light hits it funny.

And here's what it looks like installed:

http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/resized/consoleswitchlevelingb03_640.jpg
[full size image here (http://vin559.com/images/work_done/console_switch_leveling/consoleswitchlevelingb03.jpg)]

As you can see, the passenger side is mostly lowered into place, but the driver's side didn't want to go. Window switch wouldn't go into the center console hole, so it sticks up a bit.

Almost there! :)