ID 72 Suburban Rear A/C Dash Switch Plate/Bezel - New 3D Printed

[moreroomforthekids]

If someone else already produces this part please let me know.
As pictured below, I have spent way too many hours trying to closely match the original dash switch plate for the rear ac on a 1972 Suburban. I am quite fussy, and quite pleased with the results. It all started early this year when I realized I was missing the plate for my full restoration 72 with rear air. I noticed my original dash still had the faded outline of the plate. So using a picture online of an original plate and the measures from my faded outline I set to building the simple STL. file so I could 3D print one for myself. Along the way I came across an original plate and was able to tweak of couple of small details to get very close to the original. Ultimately to get the right texture on the face and other small details I had to rent the 3D printer several times, and the final design required a 2 part design glued together with ABS cement, and a final silver paint on the letters. These are made of ABS and I anticipate them to last. As I found an original I no longer need one myself, but figured that I was far enough along the way to producing this that I might as well finish for the benefit of anyone else that needs one. Being that it is one of the more obscure parts I do not anticipate selling any/many. Please let me know if you'd like one. They are $20 each. Paypal is good. The part costs nearly nothing to make, but does take 15 mins to assemble, plus the time for me to message you and drop off at the nearest USPS depot about an hour away(which I typically do twice a month). I do not anticipate being able to put my kids through university from this

The piece pictured with the new silver paint is my reproduction.

Unfortunately I do not have any additional switches, harnesses, or other rear a/c parts for sale.

Thanks
Scot

Ps:I am quite busy these days so it might take a few days to hear back from me, but I will reply.

[Bgrdmoose]

Those look fantastic & I will take 1. I’ve never seen anyone else reproduce these, I still remember the day I found my original switch plate in a junkyard, still the only one I’ve ever found.
Can you customize these as well? I have a rear heater in my 72 and added the switch to the dash on the right side to balance it out. I’d really like to get a “rear heat” switch plate made if possible.

[moreroomforthekids]

Bgrdmoose,

Thanks for your reply. Send me a private message and we can figure out the rest of the details over the next few days.

Interesting idea about adding rear heat to your Suburban.
As far as making a plate that says REAR HEAT instead of REAR A/C >, that would be simple enough to do. The biggest thing for me is finding the time to rent the machine for a day and spending an hour or two printing it off for you. I have to be careful with my time if I want to ensure my Suburban is on the road in a timely fashion

I'd likely have to charge you 100-$150 for my time which makes it not at all economical for you. Maybe there is another way. Let me give it some thought.
Send me a pm and we can discuss further.

Thanks

[moreroomforthekids]

I was able to build a REAR HEAT tab for you! Great idea to use this tab to make the dealer installed rear heater option a more professional and factory looking installation. I am going to use this for my Suburban as well.

I have shipped both the REAR A/C tab and the REAR HEAT tab. You should see them next week.
Please let me know once you receive them and what you think of them.

To anyone else reading, I now have REAR A/C, REAR HEAT, and THROTTLE dash tabs available for $20 each. I can build a custom tab for any other dash switch tab ideas as well. Custom tabs will cost $50each. Again, just to cover a portion of my time.

Thanks

[71K5Randy]

These are nice! Kudos to you for making these! I’m planning on adding a rear heat and A/C combo unit, with the factory rear A/C dash switch. I’d like the legend plate to say REAR HEAT A/C or maybe AUX HEAT A/C, but I’d expect that’s too long to fit. I’m wondering how many characters total can fit to allow figuring out how to abbreviate this?

[moreroomforthekids]

Hmmm. Cool idea. What make and model of rear heat and a/c combo unit are you thinking of using? Mounted on the roof?

As far as how many letters for the tabs, it gets a bit fussy. Anything longer than REAR HEAT for example starts to look a little funny if there is zero space at the start or finish of the words. It is possible to use a smaller size font for the letters to get more in there, but then the proportions compared to the other factory letters on the dash like LIGHTS or WIPERS etc. starts to look not right.
Based on your two ideas of REAR HEAT A/C and AUX HEAT A/C, I don't think either would quite work well. I would think something like HEAT - A/C should work well. It would be nice to get the REAR or AUX designation in there, but I can't think of a way to make it work with the spacing. I suppose instead of the - (dash) that I used above, you could use a different symbol like an up triangle or down triangle or R (you could even paint the R a different color)?????

Thanks
Scot

[71K5Randy]

Yeah I saw 9 characters including spaces seemed to fill the space but didn’t know if you had experimented with a narrower font or spacing between characters. I considered variations and came up with R HEAT AC as a possible compromise.

I’m planning on using a ProAir AirTech II system that I already have and mounting it in a box under the second row seat. These are made for mounting under bus/van seats, and the combo heat & cool allows me to use a single switch for the rear blower motor. My Suburban was a non A/C truck so I plan to use a gen 5 Vintage Air up front, and rely on that to control the compressor and heater valve to supply the rear unit as well. The rear blower switch doesn’t need to know which mode it is in.

[moreroomforthekids]

Originally Posted by 71K5Randy

Yeah I saw 9 characters including spaces seemed to fill the space but didn’t know if you had experimented with a narrower font or spacing between characters. I considered variations and came up with R HEAT AC as a possible compromise.

I’m planning on using a ProAir AirTech II system that I already have and mounting it in a box under the second row seat. These are made for mounting under bus/van seats, and the combo heat & cool allows me to use a single switch for the rear blower motor. My Suburban was a non A/C truck so I plan to use a gen 5 Vintage Air up front, and rely on that to control the compressor and heater valve to supply the rear unit as well. The rear blower switch doesn’t need to know which mode it is in.

Very cool idea! I was wondering how you had it figured.

Depending what letters or characters are being used, sometimes you can fit in 10 or 11 characters if there are more narrow letters. But mainly speaking the limit is roughly 9 or possibly 10 characters depending.

R HEAT AC should work. If you'd like I can play with both R HEAT AC and R HEAT A/C to see if I can make it look proper and let you know? Let me know if you have a preference.

No rush, but send me a PM in the next few days and we can figure out the details.

Thanks

[71K5Randy]

Originally Posted by moreroomforthekids

Very cool idea! I was wondering how you had it figured.

Depending what letters or characters are being used, sometimes you can fit in 10 or 11 characters if there are more narrow letters. But mainly speaking the limit is roughly 9 or possibly 10 characters depending.

R HEAT AC should work. If you'd like I can play with both R HEAT AC and R HEAT A/C to see if I can make it look proper and let you know? Let me know if you have a preference.

No rush, but send me a PM in the next few days and we can figure out the details.

Thanks

I sent you a PM. Thinking now that R HEAT-AC is my preference for 9 characters, or R HEAT-A/C if you can squeeze in 10 chars. Thanks!

[71K5Randy]

Received my custom legend plate yesterday, looks great! I recommend going over the letters with some cheap Amazon chrome paint markers. Before and after pics:

[moreroomforthekids]

Glad it arrived. Thank you for the great before and after pictures, as well as the recommendation picture with detailed pen info!

Thanks,
Scot