TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:22 pm

I would like to make one of these for the radio I am putting in my '65 bus and don't want to pay $40+ for some rusted POS. Does anyone have plans or dimensions they can share? Thanks all,

Arthur

Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:19 pm

I've seen nice ones for under $40 in the classifieds, although not right now.

Would detailed photos work?

Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:27 pm

I saw a repo on ebay

Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:31 pm

Mikee wrote: I saw a repo on ebay
Me too, I couldn't find it again though.

I guess someone is making them now?

Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:32 pm

Here we go:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4604556445

Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:25 pm

Thanks Mikee and Everett,

I saw that one too, which makes me think I could make one for less than $20 plus shipping. Everett, detailed photos would be great! I have searched and found many pics, but I'm still not sure what the correct dimensions would be, especially the curve to confrom to the dash.

Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:37 pm

arthurnugen wrote: think I could make one for less than $20 plus shipping.
how much is your time worth? I would much rather pay $20 then to try and fabricate that. it would likely take about 3-4 hours of fabrication time to make one that was very close to an original. there are lots of bends, holes and cutouts in that piece.

Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:11 pm

I have a real nice one. I'll dig it out and measure it up. I suppose I could put it on a copier and scan it too.

Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:22 pm

I wonder if the repros have the curved sides that follow the dash. Even if they don`t that s still cool.

Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:04 pm

stevem49090 wrote: I have a real nice one. I'll dig it out and measure it up. I suppose I could put it on a copier and scan it too.

Steve, that would be awesome! Measurements would be just great. :D

And Lind, seriously? 3-4 hours? :shock: It really does not look that complicated! From what I can see 4/5 bends, cut out the center pieces, and I'm done. I'm not looking for a show quality piece, just something close that works.

The worth of my spare time, what little I have, is measured by my enjoyment, not in anything else. Fun factor is key. :D

Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:19 pm

arthurnugen wrote: stevem49090 wrote: I have a real nice one. I'll dig it out and measure it up. I suppose I could put it on a copier and scan it too.

Steve, that would be awesome! Measurements would be just great. :D

And Lind, seriously? 3-4 hours? :shock: It really does not look that complicated! From what I can see 4/5 bends, cut out the center pieces, and I'm done. I'm not looking for a show quality piece, just something close that works.

The worth of my spare time, what little I have, is measured by my enjoyment, not in anything else. Fun factor is key. :D
if you are only after functionality or coming somewhat close, then it could be done in less time. fabricating parts and making them fit is often not as easy as it looks. having a finger break and a plasma cutter would make the job go faster. not having an sample right in front of you will make it go slower.

fun is the key. I was stoked to have a whole weekend free to work on my cars last weekend. I worked on three of them and did it at an enjoyable pace. I don't mind working on them, but I would much rather drive them around and find more buses and parts.

Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:28 pm

Lind wrote: arthurnugen wrote: stevem49090 wrote: I have a real nice one. I'll dig it out and measure it up. I suppose I could put it on a copier and scan it too.

Steve, that would be awesome! Measurements would be just great. :D

And Lind, seriously? 3-4 hours? :shock: It really does not look that complicated! From what I can see 4/5 bends, cut out the center pieces, and I'm done. I'm not looking for a show quality piece, just something close that works.

The worth of my spare time, what little I have, is measured by my enjoyment, not in anything else. Fun factor is key. :D
if you are only after functionality or coming somewhat close, then it could be done in less time. fabricating parts and making them fit is often not as easy as it looks. having a finger break and a plasma cutter would make the job go faster.

My thoughts exactly! My wife is a sculpture major at the UW, and their shop has a plasma cutter, press brakes and just about every other type of fab tool. She's taking bronze casting now; maybe she can just cast me one? 8)

Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:00 pm

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=250832
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=250833
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=250834
Height:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=250835
Width:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=250836

The sides have a curve that is 22 mm tall at its greatest point.

The center circle has a diameter of 142 mm.

The bends on the top and bottom are at 45 degree angles.

What else would help?

Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:07 pm

Everett, you rock! :D That is extremely helpful, thanks! So if the sides are 22mm tall at the greatest point, is that in the middle or more towards the bottom? It looks like from the side photo the 22mm high point is towards the bottom, but I can't tell how far.

Arthur

Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:18 pm

Kool pix! 8)

I made my own to install a speaker from the "speaker pile box" in my garage. Simple bend to screw onto the under-dash and the speaker. It is nowhere near stock and much less elaborate. The speaker is for the CB radio and works wonderfully. You can't even see the speaker, let alone the bracket itself. Does the job for me! :P

Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:42 pm

EverettB wrote: Here we go:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4604556445

The seller is called Vintagevwparts in Glendale, Calif. I bet that's Bob Scott's old company that is now run by his son-in-law. Here's the link
http://www.vintagepartsinc.com/ I would send them an E-Mail and hope they have it in stock.

Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:00 am

I got the one in the auction and it's formed out of plastic. :sad: Other than that, it seems to be a very nice repro but I haven't tried to mount it yet. I will have to use machine screws & nuts rather than the original sheet metal screws to mount both the speaker to the bracket and bracket to the dash. Looks good though and it will probably work just fine. At least it won't rust!

Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:13 am

Plastic?! I wouldn't call that a "good reproduction of an original." Seems deceptive to me. I was able to make one out of 20 ga. steel using a press brake using the dimension Everett gave me. It came out pretty good, but I messsed up the angles on the ends because it will take some tweaking.

One more question: My dash already has the two holes in it for mounting, but how does the top of the bracket attach? It just has a bend and I don't see where it goes. On the wiper assembly?

Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:48 am

arthurnugen wrote: Plastic?! I wouldn't call that a "good reproduction of an original." Seems deceptive to me. I was able to make one out of 20 ga. steel using a press brake using the dimension Everett gave me. It came out pretty good, but I messsed up the angles on the ends because it will take some tweaking.

One more question: My dash already has the two holes in it for mounting, but how does the top of the bracket attach? It just has a bend and I don't see where it goes. On the wiper assembly?

Deceptive? Maybe. I certainly wasn't expecting plastic but it looks like it will work OK. I'll post some pictures of it later.

The top of the bracket does not "attach" to anything. It just sits there. There should be a foam strip (1/2"W x 6"L) to pad it where it hits the top of the dash. The foam can be 3/8" to 1/2" thick and just keeps the bracket from rattling. Blaupunkt brackets had a screw through the top of the dash to secure them. :sad: At least Sapphire never did that. You can see the "plastic foam cushion" at the top of the speaker noted in this picture...

Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:14 pm

Excellent, thanks Dave! :D