Metal Map Light Bezel test fitter needed

[Dana67Dart]

Hi all,

I reverse engineered the MAP LIGHT Bezel and printed it in Aluminum and Stainless Steel.

I need someone with an OEM dash that has an OEM MAP LIGHT (or ANTENNA) who is willing to test fit the bezel.

I'm looking for:

1. Does the locating post fit in the dash hole properly
2. Is the locating post the right depth
3. Should the back have any curvature (where it meets the dash - the plastic ones I have do not have any curvature)

You can keep the sample free of charge. It will be un polished and might not be perfect (prototype)

I only have a couple prototypes

PM me know if you're interested

 

[65 Dartman]

My 66 dash had none of these but what I find interesting is the antenna bezel. I was not aware of A Bodies ever having a power antenna, which is what I assume the bezel with “Antenna” means. Maybe a B or C body?

 

[RedFish]

Same bezel used for \TOP/. Length of locating dog not as important as its sheer strength. Dash metals radius is so slow that a small gap below the bezel would never be noticed.
Some texture on the backside may or may not be needed. All about the material. Cheers

 

[Dana67Dart]

My 66 dash had none of these but what I find interesting is the antenna bezel. I was not aware of A Bodies ever having a power antenna, which is what I assume the bezel with “Antenna” means. Maybe a B or C body?

I have that bezel from the purchase of a switch which is the same as a 66 top switch, UNKNOWN what it came off of. I do notice that the ANTENNA bezel while the same in all respects to the MAP LIGHT has a curvature to the back side. Don't know if its from stress or was designed in.

 

[Dana67Dart]

Same bezel used for \TOP/. Length of locating dog not as important as its sheer strength. Dash metals radius is so slow that a small gap below the bezel would never be noticed.
Some texture on the backside may or may not be needed. All about the material. Cheers

I hadn't thought about the "TOP" switch bezel. I can change the text to that too.

These are 3D printed in AL or Stainless Steel OR could be plastic if you want to.

 

[4spdragtop]

Looks good Dana, thanks for offering it up. Rear defrost is same as well.

I hadn't thought about the "TOP" switch bezel. I can change the text to that too.

These are 3D printed in AL or Stainless Steel OR could be plastic if you want to.

 

[Dana67Dart]

Rear defrost is same as well

Looks like I opened up a can of worms!

I'll Google photos of TOP and DEFROST

 

[4spdragtop]

It actually says "REAR AIR". I bet all those bezels are exact same size. Just different text.
Our oem 67 cuda.

Looks like I opened up a can of worms!

I'll Google photos of TOP and DEFROST

 

[Dana67Dart]

It actually says "REAR AIR"

REAR AIR it is

 

[4spdragtop]

I wonder if they all have a flat side on hole to "lock" in switch?

 

[like_A_pike]

Another worm for the can! Lol

 

[Dana67Dart]

Another worm for the can! Lol

Dang I'm going to go broke!

Both switches seem to be pointing at 1 and 7 rather than 12 and 6

Is the hole in the dash also oriented that way?

 

[str12-340]

I wonder if they all have a flat side on hole to "lock" in switch?

yes, to keep the switch faced front to back, especially since they installed multiple switches side by side. There is also a nub on the side of the bezel that you can't see in the original post. you have a big hole in the dash for the switch and a small hole behind it for the nub that faces the name plate straight out, then the switch is located facing the right direction by the flat. When I take mine apart for the test, I'll take pictures of the two holes in the dash and the nub on the back.

 

[like_A_pike]

Is the hole in the dash also oriented that way?

I’ll check for the aforementioned alignment holes and report

 

[Dana67Dart]

As far as I know the nubs on the back are the alignment holes for the bezel and the switch, assuming the hole in the dash is a round hole vs a D shaped hole.

 

[like_A_pike]

Feeler gauges .030&.028 together for the nub.

Slight curvature

That hole is too big! Allowing the switch to spin and why mine were wonky!

 

[340six]

I think other cars got same thing for trunk release. Saw a bunch in Diplomat and other cars of that era.
Other than that now I have this stuck in my head since y'all said Nub so many times.

 

[RedFish]

I think the latest were bakelite. Don't know there was a bakelite for TOP. I'm only guessing the bakelite came in 73 as drop tops ended.

 

[Dana67Dart]

That hole is too big! Allowing the switch to spin and why mine were wonky!

What's the ID of the hole top to bottom and side to side

What's the OD of the switch top to bottom and side to side

 

[Dana67Dart]

Found this in an Ebay ad

Part of a dealer add on kit

1968-1969 Valiant Dart Cuda Map Light Package | NOS MOPAR | NIB | United States

Large round hole and the small alignment hole

 

[like_A_pike]

What's the ID of the hole top to bottom and side to side

What's the OD of the switch top to bottom and side to side

View attachment 1716459759

.451 x .412

And

.421 x .388

 

[Dana67Dart]

That's close enough to what I got. What's a couple thou amongst friends!

.421 x .388

0.429 x 0.386

 

[Dana67Dart]

New Question...

Are all the chromed ones chromed pot metal or chromed plastic?

 

[like_A_pike]

Mine sound like pot metal when they hit the floor

Lil’ less wonky now!

 

[4spdragtop]

Chrome are metal for sure.