Steering Wheel and Shifter Bezel Modification - the Mike Mod
Dec 29, 2005, 05:30 PM
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Steering Wheel and Shifter Bezel Modification - the Mike Mod
As some of you may or may not have known, I spent a long time searching to buy someones used or spare dimpled steering wheel and shifter bezels to work on a special project.
After months of no luck finding the pieces, I finally got up enough courage to tear into my car and modify my own pieces.
The original intent of this project was to make the bezels out of billet aluminum and have them anodized, but this cannot be done and incorporated onto the car without significant cost and modification.
With lots of time and tinkering involved in modifying the OEM pieces, however, this is the end result.
I cannot take credit for being the first to paint the dash pieces with the wrinkle coat paint, however, I am the first person to paint the bezel pieces with the wrinkle coat, and to incorporate the bolts as aesthetic and functional pieces.
Since I am the first person to do this, this modification is to henceforth be called "the Mike mod"!
I'll show the pictures first, and go into details below.
Other Photos:
This project took many hours to complete and perfect, and I'm quite proud that I was able to finish it without having to replace any interior trim pieces at all.
Here is a list of the components used in this project:
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Krylon wrinkle coat paint (though I would have prefered VHT high temp wrinkle coat)
- 600 grit sandpaper
- Lots of masking tape and newspaper
- Drill press and bits
- Band saw
- Forge Motorsport valve body bolts
- Forge Motorsport actuator body bolts
- Custom length Forge Motorsport actuator body bolts
- Lots of patience
My car was disassembled and in shambles for days while I was working on this project, so I don't recommend it to anyone who cannot live without their car for a little while.
I WILL NOT supply the Forge parts used in this project separately to anyone else to undertake this modification themselves. This project was too difficult and time consuming for me to risk anyone else damaging their interior using our parts.
If anyone wants to undertake doing this modifcation themselves, they will need to source their own materials or....
.... I will offer to do this modification on a very limited basis to anyone local to me or anyone willing to supply me with the required interior trims pieces for a few days and a nominal fee. Please contact me if your interested.
After months of no luck finding the pieces, I finally got up enough courage to tear into my car and modify my own pieces.
The original intent of this project was to make the bezels out of billet aluminum and have them anodized, but this cannot be done and incorporated onto the car without significant cost and modification.
With lots of time and tinkering involved in modifying the OEM pieces, however, this is the end result.
I cannot take credit for being the first to paint the dash pieces with the wrinkle coat paint, however, I am the first person to paint the bezel pieces with the wrinkle coat, and to incorporate the bolts as aesthetic and functional pieces.
Since I am the first person to do this, this modification is to henceforth be called "the Mike mod"!
I'll show the pictures first, and go into details below.
Other Photos:
This project took many hours to complete and perfect, and I'm quite proud that I was able to finish it without having to replace any interior trim pieces at all.
Here is a list of the components used in this project:
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Krylon wrinkle coat paint (though I would have prefered VHT high temp wrinkle coat)
- 600 grit sandpaper
- Lots of masking tape and newspaper
- Drill press and bits
- Band saw
- Forge Motorsport valve body bolts
- Forge Motorsport actuator body bolts
- Custom length Forge Motorsport actuator body bolts
- Lots of patience
My car was disassembled and in shambles for days while I was working on this project, so I don't recommend it to anyone who cannot live without their car for a little while.
I WILL NOT supply the Forge parts used in this project separately to anyone else to undertake this modification themselves. This project was too difficult and time consuming for me to risk anyone else damaging their interior using our parts.
If anyone wants to undertake doing this modifcation themselves, they will need to source their own materials or....
.... I will offer to do this modification on a very limited basis to anyone local to me or anyone willing to supply me with the required interior trims pieces for a few days and a nominal fee. Please contact me if your interested.
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Dec 29, 2005, 08:01 PM
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This modification is easily done without the painting of the trim pieces if that is what's turning some of you off of it.
I guess I could have photographed it during that stage of the project, but never thought too.
I just like the look of it better when painted.
I guess I could have photographed it during that stage of the project, but never thought too.
I just like the look of it better when painted.
Jan 2, 2006, 10:19 AM
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All of the screws in the steering wheel bezel are just for looks as the bezel has it's own clips that attach it to the wheel.
4 of the screws in the shifter bezel are just for looks while the other 4 are functional, if you care to call them that.
The shifter bezel is attached to the center console by 4 little "protrusions". (that's the best word I can think of to call them.) These protrusions are directly in line with 4 of the dimples in the bezel, so I had to break the protrusions to remove the bezel from the center console, then I drilled out holes through the dimples where the protrusions used to be and I used longer versions of the non-functional screws to reattach the bezel to the center console.
It was quite a tedious task, but it came out nicely.
4 of the screws in the shifter bezel are just for looks while the other 4 are functional, if you care to call them that.
The shifter bezel is attached to the center console by 4 little "protrusions". (that's the best word I can think of to call them.) These protrusions are directly in line with 4 of the dimples in the bezel, so I had to break the protrusions to remove the bezel from the center console, then I drilled out holes through the dimples where the protrusions used to be and I used longer versions of the non-functional screws to reattach the bezel to the center console.
It was quite a tedious task, but it came out nicely.
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