The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Custom Shift Pattern Plates

Hey All

I want to create a custom shift pattern plate out of aluminum to mount on the dash of my 1946 2 ton chevy.

Since this is essentially a one off, I didnt know who could custom print on aluminum sheet.

something similar to this
http://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/custom-gear-shift-instructions-plate.569354/

any help would be most appreciated

find a custom screen printer, or an engraving shop, like one that does trophies

Bill

I found this one on a 52' parts truck a few years back with the SM-420 pattern. It is raised rather than etched. I did not drill my dash to attach, cut the screws flush and stuck it with acrylic painters caulk in case I ever need to remove it.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129178187/in/set-72157631867396207/

KMAC

hey red58
great idea.
I was going to make the layout on my computer then I can take it to a trophy place as you suggest.

I started a first draft of the plate I wanted to make
https://plus.google.com/photos/118219121658359708127/albums/6040955693139406241

I just made up the instruction part. If anybody has suggestions on what to include in the instructions, that would be cool.

Looks great, nice job!

I've used brass plates and printed circuit etching methods to do similar projects.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-...9MHqyo/s1280/2012-12-25_13-38-12_809.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...FbT0Os/s1280/2012-11-16_17-06-00_817.jpg

In this case you mask everything you want to be high, likely the letters and pattern and a border. Then everything else is etched away several thousandths of an inch. You can then either polish the high spots and leave the background as is or paint the whole thing and ever so gently sand the paint off the high spots.

I have an aluminum Roadranger shift tag that is of a very nice style but not quite correct for my model transmission. I will eventually make the necessary changes and make a new one on a brass sheet.

Grigg