Lighted dash plate (above glove box)...

toofastforyou

2FAST4U
Joined
May 25, 2001
It would be great if someone would make a dash plate (above the glove box) which would light up the same way as the ones found on ''Limiteds'' BUT done in the correct grey for the GN!...(y)

Claude.;)
 
With a good idea (subtle, nothing tacky or overly ghetto import styled), some crafty workmanship, a trip to the art supply store, a spare dash panel, Lexan, and a Dremel and I'm pretty sure one can be made up by anyone with patience and half-ass art skills.

Good winter project on a coffee table when your bored and sitting in front of a TV watching nothing important.
 
It would be great if someone would make a dash plate (above the glove box) which would light up the same way as the ones found on ''Limiteds'' BUT done in the correct grey for the GN!...(y)

Claude.;)

I've looked into this. It's not easy. Was actually going to have the whole plaque cncd then do lexan with led etc. But if you don't have a CNC hook up just not worth it
 
I've looked into this. It's not easy. Was actually going to have the whole plaque cncd then do lexan with led etc. But if you don't have a CNC hook up just not worth it
What did the world do before CNC machines?

I know I could hand make this panel and make it well. I'm just not sure it would look great in my car because I've got way too much stuff already and it's beginning to look like a friggin Christmas tree!

But I don't think anyone would pay for my time to make one. Or anyone's time to make just one. If it's not mass produced it's going to be expensive either way. Whether it's done by machine or by a craftsman.
 
But I don't think anyone would pay for my time to make one. Or anyone's time to make just one. If it's not mass produced it's going to be expensive either way. Whether it's done by machine or by a craftsman.
Aaaaw...c'mon Joey...I'm sure you could make one for a good friend like me at a reasonable price! :D

Claude. ;)
 
Aaaaw...c'mon Joey...I'm sure you could make one for a good friend like me at a reasonable price! :D

Claude. ;)

I wish I knew you wanted one as winter was about to begin. I may have taken on this project just to see how good it could come out. Unfortunately I don't think I'm going to have any extra time on my hands in the foreseeable future. I would've been happy to have you feature a part made by me. And I wouldn't dare give it to you to install unless it came out absolutely perfect.
 
I wish I knew you wanted one as winter was about to begin. I may have taken on this project just to see how good it could come out. Unfortunately I don't think I'm going to have any extra time on my hands in the foreseeable future. I would've been happy to have you feature a part made by me. And I wouldn't dare give it to you to install unless it came out absolutely perfect.
Well maybe if I wait 'till next fall...then you might have time?

Claude :)
 
Well maybe if I wait 'till next fall...then you might have time?

Claude :)
Winter is when I always choose to do all my silly little arts and crafts projects. You know the ones. Just look at all the crap I've built for my car. I get cabin fever and have to do something or I start climbing the walls.

BTW. Have you spoke to Brian? Or Jack this week? If not, give him a call.
 
I made an experimental lighted panel a couple different ways. I settled on one for now but plan to do some changes before too long.

  1. I tried using a solid panel from an early Regal as the base (like the 86-87 Grand National plaque) but it turned out to be too difficult. (think cutting design with Dremmel etc.) Damn - Decided to go back & start over.
  2. Next I tried the lighted Regal Limited T Type design for a base. This worked best. The original Limited plaques (both "T" & NA Regal) can be found lighted. Buick made these panels two different ways. I chose the two bulb harness version.

Plaque_FRAME.jpg
DSCN7409sm.jpg
DSCN7410sm.jpg


The biggest obstacle to making a number of these in my opinion is the availability of the the frame. If this panel could be made - an exact duplicate of the original then the rest would be just a 'silly little arts & crafts project' as said above. Actually silly little efforts can be very satisfying.

Anyway I suppose a lot of time and effort would go into CNC-ing replacement frames? SEt up? Programming? What do you experienced guys think? fast NY six?

I run a Cnc, if someone has a design let me know.

Note: I don't think the panels are flat or square. More like concave and maybe trapezoid which might be hard to reproduce ... and make them fit the dash right.
 
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I actually started working on a proto type for this. My main thing is to have words and color totally customized. Not there yet still figuring it all out...
 
If anyone has a contact in the injection mounding business. You would only need one piece cnc'ed. And pop out multiple pieces. Through the injection molding or vacuum forming.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
If anyone has a contact in the injection mounding business. You would only need one piece cnc'ed. And pop out multiple pieces. Through the injection molding or vacuum forming.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk


Definitely!! X2 on this!! Having these would be nice to work on without the search for OEM Pass side dash plaque frames.

For mine I had to use just a plain wood-grain frame and no other original parts. The frame was prepped, taped off & wood-grain sprayed with Duplicolor Graphite Wheel Paint (followed by clear gloss) and taped off again and I used a Krylon Chrome Paint Pen to highlight the silver frame. I used this method to do ALL of MY DASH BEZELS - instrument surround, radio surround & silver pen on dash vents also. Worked great!

Any progress on this?

Claude.

Thanks for the question Claude!

I did one. A prototype I guess.

Had my panel insert printed on translucent sign material (think illuminated theater sign boxes if you can remember going thru theater lobby?). Sign shops do this.

I put it behind some 1/16" clear acrylic and epoxied the sandwich layers all in at the posts on the back. Kinda made my own retainers.

For lighting I used two short LED white strip lights and metallic reflective tape on the dash pad (think of reflective bowl backing a tail light) behind the lights and wired it to a battery pack & switch in my glove box.

I know this all sounds like Redneck engineering ... because IT IS. I just wanted something to inspire me MORE to keep improving it. Evidence this might work right? Now if I can find the pictures showing the result.. or maybe take some more. Anyway, it kinda works but I want it to power on sourced from Trubo Buick harness and I want the light to be more uniform (clean & continuous). My next steps are to use some electrolumenescent strips instead of LED's to achieve the uniform lighting I want. Then figure out how to use 12v from the battery instead of a battery pack.

I will get some pictures. I will when my old computer allows. This site give my PC "the halts".
Bob
 
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