Has anyone come up with a method of getting the heater control face plate to stay in place when all 3 mounting tips have been broken off?
They are five pins...not three. I tried Velcro but it doesn't work to good. It will keep it from flopping around but it moves around all the time and never stays straight. It will give you something to do while sitting at a traffic light. I bought cover with pins from a member to replace mine.
I've experimented with different types of replacement fasteners. Ones that could be glued on to take the place of the orignals. Problem I have run into is they can't seem to hold the plate tight to the dash. The original pins have a tapered design that has a wedging effect and pulls the plate tight into the dash. Best thing I've found as an alternative is 2 sided mounting tape. You don't need a lot and it holds the plate in place just fine.
This is gonna sound dumb but... before I quit smoking I was using these elements papers that used a couple of small magnets on the papers box to keep it closed (INGENIOUS!!!). Anyway, I took sets of those very small magnets and glued them onto the faceplate where the pins where and into the holes. Sits like a charm, never falls off, and pulls off easy when I want it to. So umm, yea magnets and glue.
No, that was on the 71 that I scrapped, I haven't had to do it yet to the GT. But, I've got the magnets ready. I figure when I go into it to fix the bent line for the heat control I'll cut off the pins and put in the magnets. I might try and find ones that fit better, I had to drill out the mounting holes a little bit for the ones I used before. But it was easy. A few years ago I happened upon a bag of rare earth magnets about .25"x.5" rectangles that I started using everywhere for mounting things and so ever since I started collecting every stray magnet that ran through my hands. When I work on a vehicle long enough I eventually wind up with little magnetic tool holders all over it. The darn things stick so good they don't come off the car!
I like the magnet idea - one I would have never thought about. Thank MSmithPDX for your idea. Gotta love this fourm.
I use small strips of velcro, and I haven't had it fall off yet. Just have to get the industrial strength velcro.
I think if I was going to buy some today... http://www.rare-earth-magnets.com/p-23-nsn0591.aspx I would buy those. They would I think almost fit perfectly in place of the old pins. Then you put another one on the facing side so it insets into the hole the pin would have gone into. If you just epoxy them onto the back you have to find metal to hit against or live with it not sitting flush. I wanted it flush so I fit them into the holes. Those ones might be too small... I don't have the plate in front of me to measure but those should be close.
A while back I started this post asking how to hold the heater face plate in place when all the tabs were broken off. MSmithPDX suggested magnets. Well, I just got around to giving them a try and I am pleased how they work. I used 4 and glued them on the face plate, close to where they touch the metal dash frame. Seems to be all the strength that is needed. Thanks MSmithPDX for the help.
