Help?

[alex s]

I am in the process of having a new custom ali centre console cast ( a bit like the usa custom one)and need to remove the old one..... What is the best way to do it.Do I need to go in via the tunnel etc??
All suggestions welcome
Cheers
Alex

[DanH]

You mean the silver panel? If so you need arms like Mr tickle! Apparently you can reach around from inside the cabin and there are 3 (?) bolts to undo. Have a search here for 'tickle' as I'm sure there is more detailed info with a similar comment to mine

Surprised you are going to the trouble of having one cast, the US one was made of plywood!

[alex s]

Thanks Dan,
Getting it cast as I want to leave it "in the raw"
Plus I have a contact who I use quite a lot who will do the casting. Also you can work ali with router cutters and get a very good finish.

[DanH]

Any idea of the cost?

Debating selling my car, but if not I might be interested if he could make more than one and it isn't too pricey.

[alex s]

The actual cost of the casting is not a lot, he has quoted around the £30 mark!!
I have started making the template, using far nicer ali push switches for the start and rear fog buttons.

[DanH]

Its a bad road to go down though as all the bezels match, as do the cheap looking status lights.

If I had the cash and wanted to waste it, I'd love to tear out the whole dash and build a new one based around a nice stack unit or similar.

>> Edited by DanH on Monday 20th June 23:02

[obes]

Am about to start wasting my money on the centre console ! Was going to use MDF though. An ally one would look the business !

[l6nex]

Ohh I'm into this as I've done loads of custom stuff to my car now, just finishing off the steering column with billet alloy tvr bits!! looks far nicer than the old ford switch gear!!

[alex s]

Dan, not worried about matching all the cheap looking warning lights - replacing them as well, plain warning lights with lazer engraving symbols below.
As to it being a waste of money - totally agree, but i am still doing it, all cosmetic upgrades are a waste, but a lot of people are doing it !!

[DanH]

alex s said:

Dan, not worried about matching all the cheap looking warning lights - replacing them as well, plain warning lights with lazer engraving symbols below. As to it being a waste of money - totally agree, but i am still doing it, all cosmetic upgrades are a waste, but a lot of people are doing it !!

Yep

Be nice to fit LEDs too as replacing the bulbs back there is a nightmare! The heater controls need to stay where they are located I believe, but anything else is fair game.

[jipsom]

l6nex said:

Ohh I'm into this as I've done loads of custom stuff to my car now, just finishing off the steering column with billet alloy tvr bits!! looks far nicer than the old ford switch gear!!

Any pics?

[Mr Noble]

Does anyone have a solution for the hot cold twister switch being so crap. Is it just me or the norm. Its really stiff and if i turn it up a millimiter then out comes the hot air!! I only need the first half centimeter to gat from full cold to full hot. Can't we swop them for a later "clicky" ford fiesta one??

[alex s]

Greg, I am going to have a look when I take the old facia off, also going to see if it is possible to swap/have made, some nice alloy items - I hate the black plastic ones, I think they are the one thing that is so Ford.

[DanH]

alex s said:

Greg, I am going to have a look when I take the old facia off, also going to see if it is possible to swap/have made, some nice alloy items - I hate the black plastic ones, I think they are the one thing that is so Ford.

May be hard, all 3 switches are in a single metal chassis I believe. Can't remember where I saw pics, but maybe on the US board on the thread where the chap was having his reworked.

[Mr Noble]

Can't believe it would have been that much more expensive to have used a slightly better switch system initially. I agree that its a real "ford" bit of the car!

[DanH]

Mr Noble said:

Can't believe it would have been that much more expensive to have used a slightly better switch system initially. I agree that its a real "ford" bit of the car!

True, but they'd never have shipped the damned car if he'd done everything we want! Gives us something to look forward to on the next model

[Mr Noble]

Yep, a nice little GTC targa style open top with all the mods WE want done for 50k please lee!!