I almost felt like I was back in San Tone. Well ...... almost
Switch Panel in the Ashtray
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Switch Panel in the Ashtray
Its a mod I've been planning to do for a while. I fitted my heated seat switches into the ashtray some time ago. I've never been happy with the panel and I've only just got around to fixing it.
I took photos at every stage and when I looked at them they were the worst pics known to man. Blurry and unpublishable so I apologize. I'll have to make do with the end result.
I took a template that one of the members had sent me and made a rough template. At that stage there was much trimming and cutting with the bandsaw.
I fitted the wooden panel and cut out holes for the cigar lighter and the switches. Covered it in leather. Apologies to Redline goods but I used a spare piece from my old console cover. The maroon fits with the rest of my accents in the cockpit.
It didn't come out badly but the line between the maroon and black should have been a lot straighter. If I was going to do it again I'd stick with just black leather and not try to get clever.
Ah well, better than it was.
I took photos at every stage and when I looked at them they were the worst pics known to man. Blurry and unpublishable so I apologize. I'll have to make do with the end result.
I took a template that one of the members had sent me and made a rough template. At that stage there was much trimming and cutting with the bandsaw.
I fitted the wooden panel and cut out holes for the cigar lighter and the switches. Covered it in leather. Apologies to Redline goods but I used a spare piece from my old console cover. The maroon fits with the rest of my accents in the cockpit.
It didn't come out badly but the line between the maroon and black should have been a lot straighter. If I was going to do it again I'd stick with just black leather and not try to get clever.
Ah well, better than it was.
Last edited by DeeGee; Jul 15, 2010 at 01:58 PM.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I can't even think about seat heaters today - here's the current forecast...
Nice job though, Dave!
Nice job though, Dave!
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,389
Likes: 24,795
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Nice job, Dave. Good to see someone still being innovative when changing the looks of their car.
And Randy, look like it is a little toasty down there. 
We're only up to the mid-90's this week (with about 200% humidity).
We're only up to the mid-90's this week (with about 200% humidity).
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Very well-done custom job. 
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Here's one with it fitted back in the car
Why is it that flash brings out the dirty bits? Now I need to get the leather cleaner out and clean up the edges.
Why is it that flash brings out the dirty bits? Now I need to get the leather cleaner out and clean up the edges.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Here's the template that one of the CF members sent me. I tweaked it a tad for a better fit.
Last edited by DeeGee; Jul 17, 2010 at 09:02 AM.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Thanks Steve. You did a great job with yours but I was always a bit unhappy with my panel as I broke the stock cover trying to cut it.
I may yet recover it in just black leather as the seam is a tad wiggly.
In UK they are almost essential. I've found I can still drop the top on cold but clear days when otherwise I'd be using the cabin heater.
I may yet recover it in just black leather as the seam is a tad wiggly.
In UK they are almost essential. I've found I can still drop the top on cold but clear days when otherwise I'd be using the cabin heater.
Last edited by DeeGee; Jul 17, 2010 at 09:04 AM.
