AMC Eagle Den Forum

The Shop => Inside Your Eagle => Topic started by: vangremlin on October 31, 2013, 03:59:00 PM

Title: Sheet metal help needed
Post by: vangremlin on October 31, 2013, 03:59:00 PM
I'm planning to add a modern radio to the rally gauge console.  To do this, I'd like to remove the piece that holds the gauges, and replace it with a piece of sheet metal bent to the same shape, and cut a hole in it to hold the radio.  The problem is, I don't have any real equipment for bending and cutting sheet metal.  Anybody got any suggestions on how to perform this with things I have laying around the house?  Or an alternate idea rather than using sheet metal to hold the radio in the gauge console?  Or, as an alternative, if you are handy with sheet metal, I will pay to have you make the piece for me. 

Thanks in advance!
Title: Re: Sheet metal help needed
Post by: 1985amceagle on October 31, 2013, 04:59:54 PM
is there any chance that you have a vise, and a hammer of some type?
Title: Re: Sheet metal help needed
Post by: vangremlin on October 31, 2013, 09:29:42 PM
Quote from: 1985amceagle on October 31, 2013, 04:59:54 PM
is there any chance that you have a vise, and a hammer of some type?

Yep, got a vise, although its probably not as wide as what the piece of sheet metal will be.  Also have lots of hammers and the bruised thumbs that go with them lol
Title: Re: Sheet metal help needed
Post by: 1985amceagle on October 31, 2013, 09:32:07 PM
if you want a square edge then, ive stuck the piece of metal in the vice so the clamps grab on the line where I want to fold. I usually use a hammer to get a nicer edge. it wont be as nice as what a machine would do, but it at least gets the job done.
Title: Re: Sheet metal help needed
Post by: vangremlin on October 31, 2013, 09:41:41 PM
Thanks!
Title: Re: Sheet metal help needed
Post by: Billman on November 04, 2013, 08:29:47 PM
I have been collecting old bed frame material from apartment building dumpsters and I use that for everything including metal shaping (http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/Bill21_2010/2012-08-22200835.jpg) (http://s995.photobucket.com/user/Bill21_2010/media/2012-08-22200835.jpg.html)
This is from a fender rebuild I did and it worked out pretty well.
Title: Re: Sheet metal help needed
Post by: vangremlin on November 04, 2013, 11:04:03 PM
Thanks Billman!
Title: Re: Sheet metal help needed
Post by: 4x4jollyr on April 04, 2014, 11:57:31 AM
Hi vangremlin,

Just wondering if you were able to fabricate a piece to fit? Is it for your 81 Kammback?
Title: Re: Sheet metal help needed
Post by: vangremlin on April 04, 2014, 12:05:04 PM
Quote from: 4x4jollyr on April 04, 2014, 11:57:31 AM
Hi vangremlin,

Just wondering if you were able to fabricate a piece to fit? Is it for your 81 Kammback?

Thanks for your message.  I ended up using a piece of ABS plastic, glued it to the original face of the console, and then cut a whole in it for the radio.