Hi all! I'm new to this forum, and I thought I'd kick things off by sharing my latest project.

Here's the story: I was taking out the center console to track down a few loose wires as well as clean off years accumulation of the PO's grime. In the process I dropped the center console faceplate and snapped it in half. SO I figgured since I had some extra aluminum sheeting laying around, I'd make a new one! Here's some pictures of the process:

I'll post pictures of the finished project tomorrow! Let me know what you think.

 

Sweet job man. I like the wirebrush effect you gave it to finish it.

 

I believe that would be called a jewel finish.

 

Thats actually more like a machine finish like the 2nd gen firebirds had. Nice.

 

OK, so here's the finished product. I'm not exactly as thrilled about it as I thought I would be, but it still looks pretty good. Matches my aluminum headliner now!

I'll probably end up sticking a decal over where I tried to etch P,R,N,D... that didn't turn out so good...

So there you have it. I'm interested to know what you think

 

That looks really good. And it looks like you have the same stereo I do.

 

wow, im definitely stealing that idea. nice job!

 

Find someone to anodize it black and I bet it would look pretty good.

 

The term you guys are looking for is 'engine turning'.

 

lolwut

 

Google it.

http://images.google.com/images?q=engine%20turning

 

Oh I didn't know what you were talking about.

 

Yeah, I thought about doing something like that, but I think I like it bare aluminum better.


Haha, I'm not quite as good at it as those professional pics! This is only the second time I've ever put this "engine turning" methood to use!

Thanks for the feedback, guys.

 

Looks great! Oh no! where's the ashtray? JK!

 

dude,that looks F*****g awsome!!!

 

I like it alot except for the written in gears. Maybe if you can find a way make that a little cleaner. Maybe something as simple and cheap as a black strip of vinyl with white callouts for the gears. Aside from that there is a great chance something like that might show up in my car soon. Good job with the inovation.

 

Glad to see this thread the one in my 86 Bird is broken too.

 

Yeah, I'm definately gonna redo the lettering.

 

i would get a sticker, put it in place, cut out the letters and the bars next to them and then get some of that acid etch and etch the letters and bars into the aliminum plate......