You will be using the plate under the radio for your switches:

(This is for those of you that don’t have any options added to your radio, I.E. MiniDisk)

This is a great place to mount some switches. Whether it be for NOS, bottle warmer, bottle opener, neon, LEDs, or other electronics. Hope this helps someone, it would have helped me a few months ago.

 

First, you will need a few things:

Small flathead screwdriver.
Electrical tape.
Blue painter’s tape.
¾” drill bit (optional)
small drill bit for pilot holes.
Drill
Dremel tool or RotoZip tool.
Desired switches

 

Now take your flathead screwdriver and put a small piece of electrical tape on the tip.

 

Now go get in you 8 and pop out the plastic plate under the radio. Pry under the 2 and the 5.

 

This is what it looks like out:

 

This is what the back of the plate looks like, there are three clips.

 

This is what is behind the plate:

 

Next put the blue painter’s tape over the entire front of the plate.

 

Now depending on how many switches you desire, draw on the tape where you want them. I went with three, wanted four, but thought it would look too crowded. (If you look on the back you will see three intersections that are perfectly centered, if you are going for three switches. You can drill your pilot holes from the back if you don’t want to spend the time measuring and drawing.)

 

These are the switches I am using:

It’s a round switch with a RED LED. I got mine from AutoZone for $5, they come in blue LEDs too.

 

Here is what it looks like with the circles drawn on:

 

Now take your small drill bit and drill your pilot holes:

 

Now if you want to use a ¾” drill bit to get your hole going a little quicker you can or you can just use the Dremel. Beware if you buy the bit it’s about $18 and once the bit starts getting to where it’s almost there, back off. You don’t want to rip the plastic.

Here is the Bit:

 

Here it is started with the ¾” bit:

 

Now just keep using the Dremel to ream it out and check the switch in the hole often. Checking it will help you see where you need to remove a little more in the circle to make sure it doesn’t turn into an oval.

Here is what it looks like with the drilling and Dremeling complete and tape removed.

 

Now pop in all your switches:

 

Then pop your plate back in and there you go:

 

Now you got a real cockpit: ENJOY!

 

Seriously that is a really cool DYI.

 

Great little DIY, jenkins-crew!!! What did you use your switches for?

 

That's TIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT

 

Nice job and excellent instructions!!! Now, I need to figure out what I might want to switch so I can do this one, :D

 

Nothing yet, but I always have needed switched in my car for something, They will be used for Canzoomer, NOS and LED lighting. Can't wait to click everything on :D and those RED LEDs should look great in there.

 

Nice! I wanna see how you run the wires to the switches. Do you think the plate the switches are mounted to is strong enough to support switch pushing and not crack?

 

Just going to run them under that back plate. It is definately strong enough, they don't even budge. PLus there is reinforcement in the back.