Race car style ignition / control panel (lotsa' pics!)

[pdhunt]

Just a bit of a fun project, and I know people love pictures!


After having broken down with my partner in the MGB over the weekend, having the AA called out to diagnose the ignition barrel to be at fault, and then having looked at replacements on the internet when we got home...

We though it would be a good idea to make our own :-D




A trip to B&Q and Maplin later... we had bought a load of switches and metal and a soldering iron and stuff (we spent about the same as a new ignition barrel would cost new - £50ish?) - we then set to work.










After some bench testing and some untangling of the MG loom, which was surprisingly easy! - we put it in...

Even more surprisingly everything worked!

Even more surprisingly that that!! - First time!

We think it looks really cool! - Not ideal putting it in the radio slot, but when we come to redo the centre console we'll make it all neat with a nice surround etc.

Let us know what you think

[MSG]

only thing is you hit a large bump and your head struck the roof of the car, you would forget which switch is which, so you need to label them as well!

[djivesp]

That's cool
I'd spray the switch panel so it's the same colour as the dash panel, but that's just me

[pdhunt]

They're not labelled yet as we're not sure if we want to change what they do... at the moment its just the phases of the ignition exactly as on the ignition barrel, with the far right switch being an aftermarket electric cooling fan. - Ideally I think we'd like to link the second and third stage (blue and yellow fuse) and separate the fuel pump to its own switch, as that is part of the main ignition atm which is the covered red switch.

As for the colour... what about having the rest of the console finished in aluminium instead? :-D

[djivesp]

good stuff, i'd leave it complicated tbh just incase anyone tries to nick it .
I don't know, not a big fan of lots of aluminium in a car it feels very industrial, its all a matter of opinion obviously i just hate my car in that respect it's all rattly loud & echoey because of ally panels lol

[pdhunt]

Its an everyday car, however eventually it will be largely for track days and not really for the road so not too worried about noise... its pretty loud anyway being an MBG!

It does require a key to be able to run the starter motor, we didn't want to risk voiding the insurance by not having some security! even if it is quite easy to hot wire.

Does anyone know if that would effect the insurance?? :-s