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Binnacle Hole Size
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=37938		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  1018cc [ Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:18 am ]
Post subject:  Binnacle Hole Size
Hey guys,

I'm about to make a Stainless Steel cover to cover the back of my central speedo (cover the wires when viewing from the engine bay) in my Deluxe but I don't have something to work off of (lost long ago).

I have cut out a bit of stainless but an finding it hard to get a size to give me a rough starting point because of all the wires and stuff. Does anyone have sizes / something in paint the right shape so that I can print it out actual size so I have something to start cutting against?

Cheers, Nick
Author:  Matt68 [ Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:28 am ]
Post subject: 
Hi Nick,

I fit my cover from the inside of the dash, so no need to get it exact. Just screwed it onto the captive nuts that hold the instrument pod.

Easy.

Matt
Author:  1018cc [ Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:33 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Matt, was thinking that BUT my plastic binnacle holder already has a big crack in it (can't see it because its right near the back but it goes about 1/4 - 1/2 way around the holder) so I don't really want to pull it out if I don't have to.

Thanks for the idea though - If it does come to that I think I might track down another speedo holder just incase (yes I'm THAT worried :lol: )
Author:  Hanra [ Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:14 am ]
Post subject: 
Sounds like your tryin to make something like what i have?

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Author:  1018cc [ Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:56 am ]
Post subject: 
Sure am Hanra!

Mmmmm.....that's something that I hadn't thought of - just a square of stainless.....mmmmmm.

I've got enough to make a couple so I might make a couple and see what they look like (i.e. a "fitted" one and a square one).

That square one looks mighty good though.
Author:  Hanra [ Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:20 am ]
Post subject: 
Its tapered so at the top its actually about 1in thick. That allows space for all the wiring to come out from the car and go under the valance panel.
Author:  Hanra [ Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
Heres some other angles so you get an idea of its shape. Dont forget to cut a hole out in the middle for the speedo cable!!!

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Author:  1018cc [ Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for those pic's Hanra, oh and thanks for the idea! :lol:

I did think of the speedo cable BUT I just have a full 1" gap all the way up (I also have the window washer bottle pipe going through there too). This leaves enough gap for it to fit through without me having to cut any holes in it to poke stuff through.

Oh, and there is enough clearance to get my air filters on and off too.\

I'll post pics of it soon.
Author:  Hanra [ Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
No worries. Sounds good. Lets see some pics.
Author:  1018cc [ Mon Nov 19, 2007 7:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
Righto, here are the pics.

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I made one this morning before I saw your reply Hanra and I had cut outs in it. It looked better then before (nothing was there before - just lots of wires) but I still didn't quite like the cut out (1/2 defeated the purpose covering up the wires [I also had a cut out for the speedo cable etc]).

So I still had enough to make a "practice one" which turned out pretty good - so I went ahead and did the actual one.

I picked up the 0.7mm Stainless Steel for free as an offcut - has some scratches but the worst of them are at the bottom and will be under the air-filters anyway - so not bad for an outlay of $0!

It just needs a good polish and I'll fit it up tomorrow, more pics then.

<edit> It probably has more like a 1½" gap - the "first" one I did had a 1" gap but the speedo cable would have rubbed on the bottom of it (thus the reason for the "practice" one and hence I made the gap bigger)
Author:  Hanra [ Mon Nov 19, 2007 7:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
Better post up the dimensions so that no one has an excuse not to make one!!
Author:  1018cc [ Mon Nov 19, 2007 7:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
It is quite easy to make actually (depending on the material used). I probably spent about 1.5 hrs making mine - all hand cut with a hack saw because I found anything that I had that was faster slightly bent the metal on the edges and it didn't look as nice - ALOT of people could probably tolerate the slightly warped edges but I couldn't! :lol:

Here are the pics with the dimensions: BTW, I don't have any special tools - I just took my time. I used a hack saw, 2 pieces of wood, a couple of G clamps (unfortunately I don't have a vice :cry: ), drill and drill bits.

I clamped the metal between the two pieces of wood (with a old rag protecting the metal between it and the wood) and bent it with my hands / rubber mallet. Then drilled my heart out. Too easy! As you can see nice smooth bends are easily achievable. All the scratches that are on mine were caused by the "offcut" being chucked on the ground after it was "used" - my methods didn't cause any scratches.

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Author:  1018cc [ Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thought I would post up some finished pic's!

I would recommend for people that are going to do this take 5mm off the width (from the centre bit - i.e. instead of 170mm across make it 165mm or 160mm) because I made changes to mine on the fly and now because I have a little too much in the middle it just touches my air cleaners :x . (The centre bows outwards - if you catch my drift and/or you could just knock 5mm or so off the 40mm height mine has - would still have heaps of clearance)

I can still get my air filters on and off with it on the car though.

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Since the last lot of pics I went down to mum's work as used the bench polisher and got a pretty good shine happening.

Overall I think I dramatically enhances the look of my engine bay and all for $0 :D
Author:  sgc [ Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
Good one Nick, looks niiiice 8)
Author:  gafmo [ Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thats a great bit of modding and Bling Too 8)
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