Mondial owners group buy: center console switch fascia

The winter project of getting these switch panels done moves steadily forward.

To remove the panel, a 1.5 mm allen key is used to remove the two knobs; then take out the ashtray revealing 2 small screws at the bottom of the lid/frame. Remove the ashtray lid/frame and be sure to remove the wire to the ashtray light I didn't even know it had. Pull out the @#$% italian cigarette lighter (more later), and remove one set nut from the rheostat. As you lift the panel facia straight up, you will need to reach under and unclip several pea lights.

The switch panel when removed is a piece of 5mm thick plastic with a thin overlay sheet glued and set on top of it with the backlighted symbols. the lighting from behind is done by long pieces of clear plastic to carry the light to behind the symbols acting as a kind of fiberoptic. The thick piece and thin piece seem to expand and contract and warp at different rates over the years causing the warped and wavy mismatched cheap plastic look (which it kinda is).

I never use my italian cig lighter and will drill this to accept the original piece or a commonly available american style power socket. I could be persuaded to leave that corner undrilled and affix a chrome cavallino or crossed Pininfarina flags from Black Bart's Emporium.

Next step is measuring all of the holes and locations, then off to a local cabinetmaker to see if he can do this in wood and the details, then will re-contact the machine shop for pricing of an aluminum piece.

I will say again up front that I think we will lose the backlight feature with these wood and/or brushed and/or anodized aluminum replacement facias, but the original piece can always be re-installed. Of course, the A/C buttons
WILL remain back-lit. This doesn't bother me so much as I know that this is in the fine and longstanding Ferrari/Pininfarina tradition/idiom as in many classic Ferraris of having unmarked dash switches - Enzo and Battista figured you just ought to know what each one does.

Also attached at the bottom is a very poor sim of a wood-type panel and an anodized black aluminum panel without markings - to imagine a brushed aluminum piece have a few drinks, squint and imagine the same material and finish as the shift gate

More as it develops; all advice appreciated!
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Went to and dropped off the panel with the wood guy; he says that to make a walnut veneer fascia plate is $50, and will do the front and rear for $100. Should have some prototype photos in a week.

I am continuing to pursue my favorite option, the aluminum fascia plate either brushed or anodized black. Should know something soon.

best to all
rt

 

Yes - we're halfway through the CAD drawings for the cnc aluminum piece. I actually think that will be the obvious and spectacular choice.

steady progress
rt

 

WOW!!!
Hold the phone! Pricing is way cheaper (like less than 1/2) using the frontpanel express.
Will transfer measurements and prototype - if it fits, will post and show w/ options. Unlike Ultimate Pedals, FrontPanelExpress will anodize black for us.

More soon - Many thanks for the reference!!!

 

Here's the prototype cad, first rendering - will double check all the measurements. Will next add symbologies.
The price? As it stands right now before engraving, the computer software they use tells me almost $55.00 apiece at frontpanel express (if over 20 pieces, price is @$37 apiece before engraving!!). At this price I can do the back panel as well
Ultimatepedals was quoting $200 - 300 apiece.
I still may do a cig lighter delete model and add the pininfarina flags
We'll see.
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Well, tonight I learned all about converting raster files (.jpg, .bmp) to vector files (HPGL, .plt) so I could draw and load the symbology on the fascia for the engraver to cut. I had to download and learn to use some new software, but what do I do on Friday nights, anyway?

If you want it anodized, the engraving will be white. I am opting for the natural aluminum to match the shift gate and will leave mine plain.

With the engraving we are now up to about $62 a copy says the computer from frontpanelexpress.

Just so you know, I can do one without the engraving if you like, or even delete the pesky lighter, or even the ashtray if you want. I may delete the lighter for crossed Ferrari/Pininfarina flags or a chrome 40mm cavallino ($26) from BBE.

Here is a close-up of the CAD w/ symbols. I am not planning on doing symbologies for the dials, as I cannot figure out how to do it well enough yet.
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To review, we are putting together an aluminum fascia plate to replace the flimsy plastic switch panel on the center console of the Mondial QV & 3.2. It looks like it would fit the t but can't be sure. The pros - it's metal, very sturdy, and you can 'have it your way' or stock; the con, you lose the backlighting. And all of the stock plastic pieces eventually age with warpage.

The base default model will be an anodized black piece with white symbologies as the originals except for the dials. The cost will probably be less than $70 + shipping.

I am doing one in natural aluminum to look like the shift gate. You can specify to delete the ashtray or lighter if you want.

We will have an experimental wood panel made and they will be available. The cost of a Burl maple fascia will be about $55

Fchatter Nathan, more experienced in this sort of thing, has also graciously volunteered to make wood fascias as well.

If this works, will also make a replacement piece in aluminum for the back fascia as well.

AND FOR MONDIAL 8 OWNERS - if you send me the measurements or your panel, I'll gin up a cad product for you which you can order from, or would suggest you can do it easily yourself at www.frontpanelexpress.com. It's not hard at all!

 

Getting close to final; figured out engraving tonight
Will plan on ordering one natural aluminum and one black anodized prototype, both 3 or 4 mm thick; will then take orders from those interested.
best to all
rt

Here is the black anodized piece with color engraving:
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Aluminum prototypes ordered: One black anodized aluminum with the color engraving, and one natural aluminum with cig. lighter delete:
Delivery 1 Feb

Should see some wood prototypes (Teak or Maple) in a week or so.

And for you color coded folks, the panels can also be anodized blue, green, gold, bronze and RED.

 

Not too late at all; I'll post the prototypes to make sure you know what you are getting, then take a group order.
Any custom requirements may cost more, but looks like it will be at most $80 - $90 inclusive of postage for the full monty, maybe less; perhaps a lot less less for the natural Aluminum or ones with feature deletes (e.g., ashtray delete lowers price about $15)

watch this space.

 

Recieved this email today - looks like it will not take as long as I thought.
So far, so good.

 

There is a small plastic back panel in the coupes with an ashtray, lighter and two vents (or cupholders).
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Well, the Maple veneer prototype did not turn out as well as hoped. The veneer required to thick of a base piece for strength, and it just was too thick - and it still warped a little... In addition, some of the button holes were too small, but these were made to different specs than the metal pieces, so I think we are ok for the machined pieces. I am using the errors in the wood piece measurements by the cabinetmaker to validate the ones I used with the aluminum pieces. This is why I want to prototype to tweak any final measurements for final.

If you would like a wood piece, I'd now suggest a solid piece of teak, about 3-4 mm thick. Not sure I am going to pursue this myself, so I'll refer any wood customers to FChatter Nathan's good offer below. He seems to be the man for this thing, having a lot more experience.

Will remove and try to CAD up the rear panel this weelend, and come up with some strategy for tidy installation of both pieces.
best
rt
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about 4mm

underneath

Held down by the ashtray and dials

 

As promised, have mapped out the rear panel. Looks like will be around $50 or so. Will be matching the front. Again, will retain the lighted ashtray, but not the green around the lighter. And like the other, it is easy to delete features (e.g. I will delete the lighter) and various finishes are available besides the standard black anodized.
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Just 4 screws - two in the ashtray and two in the cassette storage and the whole thing comes out, making it easy to replace the black plastic part. My rear plastic fascia has started to separate worse than I thought. This should be pretty easy if the prototype (ordered yesterday) fits well.

I don't know about you guys, but my cassette storage bin plastic piece is pretty low quality and cracked. I've attached a photo from the rear - it just bolts into place.

Since many have gone to CD players, if a replacement was available is there any other function you guys might want instead of cassette storage? It is not deep enough for CD. It would be easy to do a cupholder, though...
Any ideas?

Of course, we could put the rocket launcher, machine gun and smoke screen switches there...
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