Another WTF moment....
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Another WTF moment....
So... I did a trial fit this morning of one of those aftermarket center gauge bezels that takes a DIN radio.
Simple enough - right?
WRONG!
When they put their plastic bezel into the cut out metal bezel, they designed the thing so that about 1/8 to 3/16 of plastic lines the bottom of the real bezel. This makes the thing overall too tall. It just would not go in there without risking damage.
So.. I had to carefully remove the plastic, grind the bottom part off it and then file and sand it smooth and then glue it back on with E-6000.
And mind you, they attached it with that double sided sticky black stuff that reminds me of the super adhesive that they used to use on windshields. (and 79-82 seat back carpets).
There's no way that bezel, as delivered, will fit into a "normally" shaped car. Gotta wonder how many people got burnt on this?
-W
Simple enough - right?
WRONG!
When they put their plastic bezel into the cut out metal bezel, they designed the thing so that about 1/8 to 3/16 of plastic lines the bottom of the real bezel. This makes the thing overall too tall. It just would not go in there without risking damage.
So.. I had to carefully remove the plastic, grind the bottom part off it and then file and sand it smooth and then glue it back on with E-6000.
And mind you, they attached it with that double sided sticky black stuff that reminds me of the super adhesive that they used to use on windshields. (and 79-82 seat back carpets).
There's no way that bezel, as delivered, will fit into a "normally" shaped car. Gotta wonder how many people got burnt on this?
-W
Last edited by Clams Canino; Aug 30, 2011 at 03:44 PM.
1969/1971/2021 Coupes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,212
Likes: 80
From: Port Huron MI
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Just learned my lesson with an aftermarket exhaust for my 71. Hooker does just fine with the headers and sidepipe systems but exhaust????, not so much. I ended up getting a pipe bender (good excuse to get one) 
but then ended up hacking about 4 inches off the main tubes and another 2 off the tail pipes as well. With everything set where it was supposed to be, it only allowed for about 5-6 inches of space for the mufflers and tips. Finally got it looking and fitting "ok" but was not what I thought a "made for a C3" exhaust should fit like. Still not satisfied with it so will probably get another system (made for the car) eventually.
but then ended up hacking about 4 inches off the main tubes and another 2 off the tail pipes as well. With everything set where it was supposed to be, it only allowed for about 5-6 inches of space for the mufflers and tips. Finally got it looking and fitting "ok" but was not what I thought a "made for a C3" exhaust should fit like. Still not satisfied with it so will probably get another system (made for the car) eventually.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
I purchased one of those bezels cut out for the din radio and when I saw the quality of the cut out and the glued on piece, I sent it back. I was under the impression it was all pot metal from a modified mold when I ordered it. It looked like Ray Charles cut the opening out with a chainsaw. I ended up using a **** radio.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
The original ones were pot metal... that's why they break so often.
Yes, the cut hole is rough.... but the PROBLEM, is that the glued on piece has no business reaching around under the stock bezel.
And by the way... those are the repro stock bezels - not modified except for the cut out.
-W
Yes, the cut hole is rough.... but the PROBLEM, is that the glued on piece has no business reaching around under the stock bezel.
And by the way... those are the repro stock bezels - not modified except for the cut out.
-W
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
The original ones were pot metal... that's why they break so often.
Yes, the cut hole is rough.... but the PROBLEM, is that the glued on piece has no business reaching around under the stock bezel.
And by the way... those are the repro stock bezels - not modified except for the cut out.
-W
Yes, the cut hole is rough.... but the PROBLEM, is that the glued on piece has no business reaching around under the stock bezel.
And by the way... those are the repro stock bezels - not modified except for the cut out.
-W
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