Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Well I finished my heater control knobs the other day....I'm thinking of it as jewelery for the old girl.
I didn't have my camera with me so shot some random pics with the phone. I wasn't sure how good the quality would be, and was surprised. If I would have known they would be this good, I would have taken more pics!

It all started when I was modifying the heater controls so that I could remove the front bezel to paint or polish to match my dash. I got started by center-drilling all of the riveted areas, and grinding the heads off. Then I drilled all of those spots & tapped them for a #6-32 screws. It worked perfectly!
once that the unit was disassembled, I cleaned it up and sandblasted & painted the sheet-metal bracket & reassembled the unit...It still looked boring!
Nice, but boring.
BTW this heater control is not from my truck, as mine had a heater delete plate in the dash. A friend happened to have this laying around for some unknown reason, and gave it to me. Hence it why it has cut cables & wires. I plan on using it to control a vintage air unit somehow...I WILL figure a way to make it work.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

And now, without further adieu, on to the fabrication of the heater control knobs!
I started with a piece of aluminum big enough to yield 5 knobs from, in order to have a backup plan for screwing up a few in the process. NOTHING ever goes as planned in your mind!
Once that I was pleased with the profile of the knob shape, I drilled & tapped #10-24 holes in the bottom of the knob profile that would be used to retain the knobs onto the levers of the control. Then, through the center of each tapped hole I milled a 3/32" slot for the control lever to fit into.
So as you will see, the threads on each side of the slot hold the setscrew that retains the lever.
Pretty simple really...NOT!
Once that all of this was completed, I separated the knobs from the workpiece by sawing them & machining the sawed surfaces to size.
I then milled a groove into the face of them with a 3/16" ball nosed cutter, and polished the individual knobs!

I didn't even screw one up!...yet.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

And now, on to the pics of the finished product!...The bezel still needs to be painted to match my dash, of course.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Very nice!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Here! Here! I'd buy a set!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

How in the world have I missed this thread?

Very nice work! I am blown away by your fabrication skills. Also, I love the color.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

wow those are awesome, great work.. now there's 3 things:lol:

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

WHOA!!! NICE WORK KAT!! you need to produce those and all the knobs for the switches and shifter and the the indicator for the colum.... cool stuff

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

WOW very nice . you have mad skills!!!!!!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Great skills man, came out really great

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Color combo is great, Skills Awesome, keeps getting better, then Modge drops the milling machine on us....OUCH. Scoot over Billet...Modge-it ....Great build can't wait to see whats next.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

top notch... ash tray and heater knobs. whats next???

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thanks Man, I figured that I had about 8 extra hours of time to spare, and what better way to waste it!

Ha-Ha-Ha! Most of the time I feel that it is the things that you can't buy which make a real custom!

I don't know how you missed it. Been bustin my a$$ here, and I feel that sometimes nobody is whatchin! But thanks a bunch! The photos really do NOT give justice to how rich that the color really is in person!

Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha!...Thanks, maybe you do need to PM me your address!

Thanks Dino, but If I was makin all of that stuff, I would never get my truck done! LOL!

Thanks, but it is still a lot of work,....with good rewards though!

Thanks, I try hard, & sometimes I get it right!

Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha!...Verry funny! A few of my friends call me Modge-Gyver, Because they think that I can fix/build anything using a jack-knife & bailer twine! LOL!

Thank you much!....I still got a few tricks up my sleeve!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Wow, that looks awesome! Nice job.
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Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thanks man!
I sent some stuff out to a local plater for zinc coating on some small stuff.
We'll see how it turns out...I'll post some pics.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Ok I totally showed your heater knobs to the wife because she could not understand some of the words I was using and the attitude....
She thinks it is awesome.
I think you are just showing off now !!!

On the other hand, man that really is cool work, and like Dino said, a full matching set of accessories would be pretty amazing!


Let me know when you get your Gold Account so I can put my order in !!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Showing off? Ha!
Those words coming from a master of it???
Am I missing something here?
So, I'm guessing that you post pics purely for educational purposes! ha-Ha-Ha!...
Well, so do I!

Problem is, this stuff turned out so good, that every passer-by is gonna think that I bought it.
I just thought to my self that if I am gonna waste 8-plus hours doing something crazy-stupid, it might just as well be this!!!
Keeps me from sitting in front of a TV!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

There is potentially a large market for those knobs, most people don't like the plastic ones and billet is a big seller. Just a thought...Vernski:metal:

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I'd be in for a set of 4 heater knobs IF you go that way!

Awesome thread!!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Very impressive knobs you have sir.....;)

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Forgot my sons truck needs knobs too, id be down for 7 knobs!
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Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Late to the party... Subscribed, Loving the color combo and Sick Skillz only scratches the surface! Great job!!!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

ashtray and heater knobs look killer, i agree with flips i would like a set too! i think you would be able to sell them atleast on here, they would sell like hotcakes, lol!!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I was posting on Bomps thread today that we really need to get you on the video band wagon !!
The stuff you are making is awesome !
I know I would love one of those ashtray handles, though I dont need the heater knobs.... sorry .....

Ok Pot, this is the Kettle apologizing.... LOL

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

sooooo...I'm going to need a set of a/c knobs, headlight knob, wiper knob and matching knob for the gauge dimmer switch from dakota digital. where can i sends the paypal monies??? :lol: