I'm doing the add-a-circuit thing to put my own NPP switch in the car (I know, I know M2W is pretty inexpensive, I just want the satisfaction of doing the little project).

I'm planning on installing it in the ashtray, seems like fishing the wire through is going to be slightly difficult with just the ash tray out.

My question to those of you who have hidden stuff in there before is: can you remove the receptacle that actually hold the ashtray itself? It looks like it is held in place at the bottom by three plastic teeth, but I can't see what is holding it on the back. I don't want to break it if possible.

I suppose if it does not come out I can drill the switch hole and try to work through there, but it would also be helpful to have the entire ashtray "basket" out so I could make sure there is ample room in the cavity below.

Thanks (as always)

 

In case you didn't see this recently it might help.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ches-pics.html

 

Hey ChattanoogaJSB,

I just did my own exhaust controller myself...and I think I've got a better switch location for you. What I did was buy a switch like this ($1.98):



I mounted it in the bottom of the dashboard just to the right of the steering wheel. Just picture going down under the dashboard between the steering wheel and the start button. If you look down there, you see that the dash board continues under it's bottom curve with a lip for about 2 inches. I found a spot that had nothing behind it and mounted the switch there. I drilled a hole straight up from there (picture holding the drill on the floorboard and drilling straight up to the sky).

I love this location for the switch. It is absolutely stealth, easily accessible (I turn off the switch when a phone call comes in...no fiddling with the ashtray), and it in no way interferes with any possible position I could have my legs in (i.e. I couldn't even bend my leg in any possible position that I could inadvertently touch it).

Wiring to there was also a snap....I found a little gap over the torque tube right above the accelerator pedal...I ran a coat hanger through there (just a slight bend downward towards the floor on the other side). Pushed that through...taped the wires to the end....and pulled it back....again the final product is completely stealth on the fuse box side as well.

Just a thought for you...I'll post some pictures if I get a chance later....not to change your mind if you're set on the ashtray....just a suggestion to consider!

Edit: Here's the installed location...absolutely can not be seen without getting down on the floor...and if I ever sell the car I can say "it has the stock ashtray!"

 

It is held in by 3 teeth in the front and two plastic tabs in the back. I took a chance and popped off the whole door assembly with out incident. Once out of the center stack it is very easy to take off ashtray cradle and hollow out for wires.

When re installing the door just remember to make sure the tension spring is slid into the right position... It was a bit of a pain to get in there.

 

Thank you both- the new switch mount idea is indeed stealthy and slick, I like it too. The photos are much appreciated. I'll mull over some switch locations while my add-a-circuit is coming. If I come up with something different will post it.

Sorry I didn't see the earlier thread, but it was helpful once pointed out to me.

 

I mounted mine on the dash to the left of the ashtray, where the seat heater switch would otherwise be...

 

Nice install and thanks for the pictures.

 

As a follow up, I did the add-a-circuit install but the plan to mount my toggle ( a very nice 20A Edelbrock toggle with the red safety cover which looks nice to me, if a little overkill for others) in the ashtray didn't work out. It meant fabricating a panel to go behind the ashtray bucket (side benefit it can also be restored to 100% stock with no visible holes).

I put it beside the courtesy light under the drivers dash to the left of the clutch , because I am not committed to cutting the vinyl lip under the dash. My friend here who posted the round switch has a nice setup, but since it would be temporary I spared the cut.

Next week or so I plan to fabricate the panel using a cheap plastic toolbox (which cuts easily, gives you lots of various curves to work with and is molded in color ideally) and install. I'll put some pictures up at that time.

 

[QUOTE=DigitalWidgets;1575676743]Hey ChattanoogaJSB,

I just did my own exhaust controller myself...and I think I've got a better switch location for you. What I did was buy a switch like this ($1.98):

Where did you buy the switch?

 

I got mine at Amazon....sorry if it's against forum rules to post a link (I actually searched the vendors here first as a courtesy to them, but couldn't find exactly what I was looking for):

http://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Rou...390286&sr=8-10

FYI...for the ChattanoogaJSB....I understand your hesitation to drill into your dash....but let me share...when I did mine...I drilled the hole in what I originally thought was the wrong spot. I couldn't seem to get the switch in the initial hole I drilled (turned out later I just needed to ream it out a bit on one side for the switch I had)....either way....I drilled another hole....and plugged the first with a little metal plug I got at Home Deport in one of their specialty parts drawers. You can see the bad hole in the photo (it's the little metal circular plug next to the switch). Basically, what I'm letting you know is that it's pretty easy to plug the hole up if you want to undo the exhaust controller switch at some time in the future....and I've posted that picture here several times...and nobody has even asked what that metal plug is:

 

I drilled a hole high up on the dead pedal to mount my NPP switch. Very stealth and hands free - simple foot action and its off again on again.

If I ever change my mind, I can easily buy a new dead pedal.



M...

 

That is funny that no one on the board asked about it. I guess I thought about it for .005 seconds and moved on. I may relocate mine there, I only hesitated to cut the hole at first for fear I'd mess up the soft area, somehow.

Anyway, the idea was great. Seems like it may have been Mike Green 9's original thread I followed. (Thank you!)

 

Well...my drill did kinda rip/shred the vinyl (or whatever it is) a bit...but not as big as the hole it drilled. I actually needed needed to trim the excess a bit just to clean up the hole. Note: I used a 3/4 (maybe 7/8) inch blade type drill bit (like for drilling holes in wood).

Good luck whatever you guys do! I'm a big fan of my switch. I like the sound of the engine. The slightest change in pitch and I know what's going on. And it's really great just to flick the switch off when a phone call comes in (or the wife's in the car).

Whatever you do...please share it with the group so we can all have new ideas for this mod!