Worth saving?

NACvicSi · 07-24-2009, 08:04 AM

Well I picked up a "new" car recently (99 Honda Civic Si). The previous owner tried to mold a screen in, but obviously only failed. I plan on picking up a touch screen to install a carputer myself. Think this is salvageable?

Enforcer · 07-24-2009, 08:29 AM

It's only the faceplate they have messed with.

You should be able to pick one up at a scrapyard (in fact I would recommend picking a couple up) and then work on it outside the car.

Have a look at some of the the tutorials and worklogs on here and you will see what can be done.

Even the one already in there can be salvaged.

NACvicSi · 07-24-2009, 08:36 AM

Well they are impossible to find in a salvage yard around here. They are going for $130 on eBay which is just ignorant as that's the same price as a new one from Honda. I have looked through all the tutorials I can find on my car and looks like most mold them in anyways, so I am thinking it should be able to be saved, just wanted you guys view since you are the masters.

Nexson · 07-25-2009, 12:47 AM

Of course that can be saved! Hell, that is what it looks like before the screen is molded in anyways!

nobb · 07-25-2009, 01:10 AM

You can put a 7 inch screen in there perfectly. Take the bezel from your new screen, cut around it a bit to make it fit inside, add some epoxy/glue for structural strength, then fill it with bondo, sand flat, primer, paint, and voila you're good to go.

NACvicSi · 07-25-2009, 01:48 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by nobb

You can put a 7 inch screen in there perfectly. Take the bezel from your new screen, cut around it a bit to make it fit inside, add some epoxy/glue for structural strength, then fill it with bondo, sand flat, primer, paint, and voila you're good to go.

Hmm, I planned on using some epoxy as "filler" since I figured the expansion rates of bondo and plastic aren't the same and would just cause cracking.

CabeSipes · 07-25-2009, 09:40 AM

Thats fine man. I could mold a screen in that in 2 hours flat. Take a DA and 120 grit sandpaper and sand the edges of the opening down to clean it up a bit. If your good with a router or drimmle use straight guides on the sides of the opening to straighten them up. Then your good to start your new plate with the screen opening.

mdawg · 07-25-2009, 01:09 PM

If not hit me up I got one for sell for $50 bucks. It has a tiny crack on the right side but other than that its fine.

Nexson · 07-25-2009, 08:39 PM

You should be fine with a little bit of bondo. In that particular area, there is not a whole lot of heat, like the top of the dash. Remember, don't use bondo as your "bonder". Use as little as possibly. Use your epoxy to get it strong and use the bondo to get a smooth surface for primer, and then paint.

Shoot me a PM if you need any help through the process, I can give you some great tips!

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