ARCHIVE Wits' End 80 Series Clamshell Upgrade
- Thread starter NLXTACY
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definitely in on this one!!!
Hanging all this crap on the STEERING column?
CB's, tablets, clips, holsters, HAM radios....?
Doesn't it have a TILT function that SHOULD still operate? I know I don't want more crap in front of me to impale me during an unexpected automotive strike.
Isn't the steering column designed to CRUSH? Hey...let's make it out of 10 ga steel and place it right in front of our chest.
Actually, I'm OK with doing this, since some of these are NLA, but there MAY be some safety concerns with it. However, it shouldn't affect the airbag at all because the AB is on the steering WHEEL, not the column. I would NOT hang a bunch of crap from it, though.
Maybe we could make some sunvisors from stainless...........
Pipe grab bars....
12 Ga. door handles (interior)
Hey, we need to find a use for some diamond plate aluminum SOMEWHERE! Maybe THAT's for the sunvisor........With the diamond plate towards the driver.
Oh....and the UltraGauge is where it's at....... (OBD2)
CB's, tablets, clips, holsters, HAM radios....?
Doesn't it have a TILT function that SHOULD still operate? I know I don't want more crap in front of me to impale me during an unexpected automotive strike.
Isn't the steering column designed to CRUSH? Hey...let's make it out of 10 ga steel and place it right in front of our chest.
Actually, I'm OK with doing this, since some of these are NLA, but there MAY be some safety concerns with it. However, it shouldn't affect the airbag at all because the AB is on the steering WHEEL, not the column. I would NOT hang a bunch of crap from it, though.
Maybe we could make some sunvisors from stainless...........
Pipe grab bars....
12 Ga. door handles (interior)
Hey, we need to find a use for some diamond plate aluminum SOMEWHERE! Maybe THAT's for the sunvisor........With the diamond plate towards the driver.
Oh....and the UltraGauge is where it's at....... (OBD2)
A very bright single LED pointing down at the floor so you can see what fell or is there when you open the door. maybe one at an angle down to the center console also. An insert with a bunch switches and wiring harness that people can hook up as needed. Something neat and clean.
A bag... much like a scrotum that you can let your keys sit in so they don't make a bunch of noise while you are wheeling hanging out of hte ignition. < thats right I said it.
A bag... much like a scrotum that you can let your keys sit in so they don't make a bunch of noise while you are wheeling hanging out of hte ignition. < thats right I said it.
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Flame on baby!
Get the feeling I totally took the bait. It happens to the best of me.
LS1FJ40
SILVER Star
Says the guy driving a 24 year old vehicle with 24 year old airbags. I’m sure they will operate juuuuust riiiight!
No. Don’t even joke.
Its a damn cockpit in there!
That looks great!
But none of it is hanging from the steering column directly in front of you that would interfere with an airbag or act as a spear to impale you during a collision.
Now, that doesn't mean something won't come flying off and hit you in the head!...........
Where's your shotgun mount and which switches operate the lights and siren?
Where did you get that switch panel behind your shifter?
LS1FJ40
SILVER Star
I’m trying to figure out if you are serious or not. The clam shell doesn’t interfere, in any way, with the SRS. The air bag is on the steering wheel and the sensor is behind the bumper.
Local fabricator made it. Another mud member designed it, mocked from cardboard and had it made. I saw it and talked to the fab guy. Was designed for 6x Carling switches, an air pressure gauge and a USB port but ended up needing 9x switches and 4x USB ports and no air gauge. So I ended up with 16x switches in all! Some are keyed, some are hot. I have about 3 spares right now. Most all loads are running relays. I'm going to use Brother label tape initially then have a laser engraved plate made for identification. Reading them is handled by a small 1/2" long USB touch on/off light in the old cig lighter housing that I can touch to illuminate all the switches at once.
Well, I'm not really serious about the airbag part except when you start hanging other crap from it because it can come loose and be between you and the airbag in a collision and that's NOT where you want it. I even remove the pens from my shirt when I drive a vehicle with an airbag because of a firefighter friend telling me about the rescues he's done where the airbag caused eyeglasses to carve out part of a guy's face and the pens in the front of his shirt stabbed him in the throat for another guy because when the airbag blew, the force pushed it all back at him.
I am serious about the crush on the column though. Because the column is designed to move to one side and to crush in the event of a collision and placing a large metal box around that part will limit its ability to crush.
Mind you, I also drive a Studebaker that has no airbags, no seat belts, no ABS, a solid steering column that is literally part of the steering gear with a solid shaft (to act like a spear) so do I REALLY care? Not for mine. However, for someone who is selling these, it does need to be considered. That's why I brought it up. But it DOES have a 3/4" thick pad on the bottom edge of the dash for a "knee rail"............
I know, you've spent a small fortune on these. I would be more inclined to get some 3D printed or similar before I made one out of steel.
LS1FJ40
SILVER Star
I don’t think Joey is making them out of 1/4” steel plate. My guess is 24 or 22 ga steel. Or .040 aluminum. That will crumple in a second.
As for anything attached to the clam shell getting between the airbag and your body, impossible. The airbag is triggered from the bumper almost instantaneously. By the time the force got to the steering column to start collapsing and possibly sheering off an Ultragauge or whatever people mount to it the airbag will have already deployed and be deflating.
I think this is a much bigger nonissue than driving around with a heavier bumper, spare fuel, fridge, dual batteries, or whatever additional weight on stock brakes. Oh, and bigger tires.
They are 25ish year old vehicles. They are inherently less safe as compared to a modern vehicle.
Let the buyer beware.
As for anything attached to the clam shell getting between the airbag and your body, impossible. The airbag is triggered from the bumper almost instantaneously. By the time the force got to the steering column to start collapsing and possibly sheering off an Ultragauge or whatever people mount to it the airbag will have already deployed and be deflating.
I think this is a much bigger nonissue than driving around with a heavier bumper, spare fuel, fridge, dual batteries, or whatever additional weight on stock brakes. Oh, and bigger tires.
They are 25ish year old vehicles. They are inherently less safe as compared to a modern vehicle.
Let the buyer beware.
Actually, the airbag sensor is NOT in the bumper. It is an accelerometer under the center console, just under the PWR/2ND buttons for those of us who have them......
But hell, none of yours have airbags anyway!
Let the buyer beware.....then let the lawyer sue if you;re still alive!
I'm saying that because of the horrible litigious society we live in. I don't like it, but it only takes one........ Where's Atticus?
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