Has anyone here ever made or tried making their own automatic shift plate? it doesnt seem like it would be too hard but i've never done it before. My plan was to get a plate cut out of some sort of alluminum or light gauge steel, then cut out the slots for the shifter and such and then just take the lower part of my factory auto shift plate and just attach it to the new plate and retain a somewhat stock look yet eliminate the ash tray and put switches there or something. what do you guys think? Could i do it

Yep, I and others on this board have done something similar to what you want to do. When I had my mega shifter installed I used a plasma cutter and cut out a pattern on diamond plate. Finished product came out good (no picts though). You don't need a plasma cutter to do this though. Trace your pattern on cardboard then on to your plate of choice, cut it out, add slots for shifter and screw holes and you have a custom look.

I simply put the switches in my stock ashtray. I just got 2 part epoxy, and cut a plastic piece from a Radio Shack project box, and epoxied into place - then drilled the holes for the switches. I have 4 rockers, all inside the ashtray, and the lid closes concealling them from view. Right now, just two are wired - 1 for manual fan on, and one for manual TC lockup.

But I don't see why you couldn't do as you described - the trick is getting the underneath part seperated from the top without breaking it - just need patience.

Here's a few pics of my switches:

Ive already got the plate separated from the lower part so thats no problem, now i just need to find some material to use for the new plate, any suggestions? i was thinking aluminum but that would stand out a lot and not match anything as right now my cars mostly stock (interior is anyways haha) i was also thinkin maybe some light gauge steel and just spray it black to kinda match the rest of the interior

Oh and i always kinda liked the ash tray idea but the top part of my astray lid is broke off so i'd kinda like to just eliminate the ash tray altogether, i dont smoke anyway so it wouldnt bother me any haha

One thing that comes to mind would be plexiglass. It's available in colors, solid as well as clears and transluscents, as well as smoked, etc. Could be cool to use maybe a smoked or transluscent plexi, and light it from underneath - then you'd have a glow to the plate at night and could use El wire or led's to make it glow any color you'd like.

OK - I won't corrupt your mind with my thoughts any further.

That is a pretty neat idea but theres nothin all that good looking under the shift plate (at least mine anyways) that i would really need to light up, or see for that matter haha but it is definitely a cool idea

That's why I was thinking transluscent - can't see through it, but the light would glow through it - kinda like the funky glass in your bathroom - no neighbors peeping in, but provides light. {don't ya just love the way my twisted mind works?}

just cut out a rectangle including the gear letters nd put a boot in from a third gen firebird