Need Suggestions for Bondo'ing my LCD please.

**tbird2340** · 12-06-2004, 08:16 PM

Ok. I just got an extra Bezel and an empty Xenarc casing and I need some help.. The problem is that the Xenarc is a hair wider then the opening of my bezel. I had the Lilli which would have fit perfect but it SUCKED so I bought a Xenarc instead. Here are some pics:

I am thinking of putting the LCD behind the Bezel and bondo'ing it.. I'm not sure if it will be TOO recessed though.. I'm hoping people have some opinions on what I can do..

EDIT: I'm stupid and just realized that the buttons wouldn't be accessible.. Anywho.. Please help. If more pictures would be helpful let me know.

Thanks!!

**Homebrew** · 12-06-2004, 11:05 PM

Have you seen this post:
Sport trac, Ranger, Explorer touchscreen, check it out so far. Xenarc

Theres pics of various stages of bondoing a xenarc into an explorer/ranger bezel. Not sure if its helpfull to you at all, but its food for thought/ideas.

-Kevin

**Geese** · 12-07-2004, 12:29 AM

Turn it on and place the screen behind the bezel. Is it too deep? If not, put it there. Glare is a beotch, and recessing it really helps to cut down on that during the day.

**RedGTiVR6** · 12-07-2004, 12:39 AM

Problem is, just placing it behind there doesn't look as custom and looks kinda cheap IMO. But that would only bother someone who wanted it to look pretty slick.

Your problem here is really pretty simple, not really a problem at all...lol

Cut out the lip of the dash piece that's in teh way, simple. Get some stuff called "Plastic weld". It works like a 2 part Epoxy but is made for plastic. Once you have te screen lined up the way you want (just the two pieces butted up to each other) put that epoxy on the back side to lock it in place. Once it's kicked, lay a few layers of glass on the gaps on the sides. once that's kicked sand it down a bit then bondo and sand. Done. Quite a simple process, just have to know what the process is first of all...lol

See the attached pic for an idea:

**tbird2340** · 12-07-2004, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by Homebrew

Have you seen this post:
Sport trac, Ranger, Explorer touchscreen, check it out so far. Xenarc

Theres pics of various stages of bondoing a xenarc into an explorer/ranger bezel. Not sure if its helpfull to you at all, but its food for thought/ideas.

-Kevin

Yes, I've been watching that one. I'm just not sure I want it to be flush like those..

**tbird2340** · 12-07-2004, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

Problem is, just placing it behind there doesn't look as custom and looks kinda cheap IMO. But that would only bother someone who wanted it to look pretty slick.

Your problem here is really pretty simple, not really a problem at all...lol

Cut out the lip of the dash piece that's in teh way, simple. Get some stuff called "Plastic weld". It works like a 2 part Epoxy but is made for plastic. Once you have te screen lined up the way you want (just the two pieces butted up to each other) put that epoxy on the back side to lock it in place. Once it's kicked, lay a few layers of glass on the gaps on the sides. once that's kicked sand it down a bit then bondo and sand. Done. Quite a simple process, just have to know what the process is first of all...lol

See the attached pic for an idea:

Red, thanks for the assurance that it's going to be possible.. I really don't know what you mean by "cut out the lip of the dash". If you could photochop one of my images to show me what you mean that'd be great.

Also, did you see it was a hair to wide?

**RedGTiVR6** · 12-07-2004, 08:20 AM

cut it - meaning cut the dash piece to fit the screen, I don't know how else to describe it.....cut it so that it fits like a puzzle.....

step outside the box with me here...want to flush mount it right? ok, so you need to make it to you can flush mount it. In order to do that you need to physically CUT that dash piece. CUT part of it away so that you can fit the screen UP inside so that the top of it is flush with the top of the dash piece....=]

**tbird2340** · 12-07-2004, 08:58 AM

No, I don't want to flush mount it. I would rather get it recessed...

**Altimat** · 12-07-2004, 09:11 AM

I'd slice the buttons off and mold those in at the very bottom of the panel.

**IntellaWorks** · 12-07-2004, 09:37 AM

Just finished my bezel. (finally) I definatly wouldn't keep the LCD "behind" I'd cut what you need out of the bezel and use bondo to build up what you cut out. If you didn't want to do this originally because you're afraid you'll ruin the bezel, once you add bondo (even if you didnt cut) you'll "RUIN" the bezel. (Or at least have to do a ton of sanding and re-painting.

ANything you cut from the bezel can be built back up with bondo.