3rd Time's the Charm??? Mercury Cougar Dash Lilliput

antimatter · 05-08-2005, 03:07 AM

I just thought i would post my 3rd fabrication atempt for my dash bezel and share some things that i learned along the way. In the first two rounds I developed stress cracks but now I have figured out the problems that caused the cracks and would like to share my experience.

Here is the Original dash before any modification

Here is my first attempt

Here is a couple pics of the progress. Right here it is just primered. As you can see i filled in the volume buttons and all of the bevels and grooves that the stock lilliput housing has. I also sanded down the hump below where the volume buttons were and added some filler in the low spots to even it out. I didn't get rid of the hump completely becasue the ABS got too thin. I think it looks much better.

Some things i learned along the way:

1. When buying epoxy, get the the gel epoxy. It wont run on you or drip. This enables you apply the epoxy in the car with the dash bezel screwed in place so that it will fit perfectly when your done

2. When applying epoxy make sure that you sand the paint down so that only the plastic or ABS is exposed. This will ensure a good strong bond. In cases of stress the epoxy will rip of the paint and loose its hold.

3. Apply the first layer of Bondo in the car with the dash screwed in place. This will insure a perfect fit with less chance for cracking from stress.

4. For the main shaping use the bondo with the fiberglass hairs in it. This stuff is a pain in the butt to sand but it is very very strong and you shouldn't have any cracks

5. This one is Mercury Cougar specific but it could apply to other cars. Becasue of the dash size and shape the back of the lilliput housing was rubbing on the the metal (that you mount the the stereo to) So when the dash bezel was screwed tightly in place it created stress along both sides where the original dash peice was bonded to the front of the lilliput housing. This coupled with neglecting to sand down the paint off the front lilliput housing, the bond eventually gave way and the bondo soon if not immediatly followed.

Here in this picture you can see where i sanded down as much materiel off the backing as i could so it would not create stress points agin. I took a little to much on one side. I call it an air vent now

Please post comments and critiques

thanatos106 · 05-08-2005, 04:02 AM

Here is What I did So I don't Have to go inside and out to check for the perfect fit

:

"If maoma Doesn't go to the mountain,the mountain goes to maoma" (I think it goes like that, if not sorry

)

xdjxklusivex · 05-08-2005, 04:23 AM

get rid of ur buttons completely :-D

antimatter · 05-08-2005, 11:12 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by thanatos106

Here is What I did So I don't Have to go inside and out to check for the perfect fit

:

"If maoma Doesn't go to the mountain,the mountain goes to maoma" (I think it goes like that, if not sorry

)

hahah. your crazy.

Did you mount your lilliput rear housing back on the the back of the dash bezel you fabbed and if so did you notice any rubbing when you screwed it in tight?

antimatter · 05-08-2005, 11:14 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by xdjxklusivex

get rid of ur buttons completely :-D

I want to have the power, ir window, and av/select buttons available for sure. the left/right buttons i could get rid of but then it would look lopsided

JaxPt · 05-08-2005, 11:33 AM

main thing I've learned with advice from the pro installers is when attaching bondo to plastic , like interior panels, scuff the plastic with 80 grit sandpaper and scuff the edges of the monitor or your plastic strips the same way, you're looking to have small grooves in the plastic which will give the bondo something to bite into really well

xdjxklusivex · 05-08-2005, 03:54 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by antimatter

I want to have the power, ir window, and av/select buttons available for sure. the left/right buttons i could get rid of but then it would look lopsided

mess around with a soldeing iron tap 2 wires into the power button 3 wires into the ir and 2 wires into the av rerout em onto ur dash using small push buttons i was about to do that but then i didnt want the buttons at all u can hide em also if u want works perfect

thanatos106 · 05-08-2005, 09:49 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by antimatter

hahah. your crazy.

Did you mount your lilliput rear housing back on the the back of the dash bezel you fabbed and if so did you notice any rubbing when you screwed it in tight?

What lilliput?

acura cl · 05-08-2005, 10:01 PM

pretty clean install.

mine screen creation is cracking also.

i'm on my second one .. hopefully the third will be the last.

thanatos106 · 05-08-2005, 10:07 PM

Thanks.............

Also here is the back:

antimatter · 05-08-2005, 11:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by xdjxklusivex

mess around with a soldeing iron tap 2 wires into the power button 3 wires into the ir and 2 wires into the av rerout em onto ur dash using small push buttons i was about to do that but then i didnt want the buttons at all u can hide em also if u want works perfect

Although i have done the auto on mod and will be hooking a relay to short out pins 8 and 12 (i think) when the headlights are on (the blue lights will then light up and stay on based on if the headlights are on) i think what your talking about might be good for your setup but definitly not mine. I think the buttons are usefull and don't see the point in wiring up completely new buttons when the ones there work. Although i would be interested in conversion to the new lilliput housing. Armen says he should be able to get the new lilliput housing and new button circuit board

antimatter · 05-08-2005, 11:32 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by thanatos106

What lilliput?

I am sorry i confused you with another that ownes a mercury cougar.

thanatos106 · 05-08-2005, 11:39 PM

no problem.........

fordrule · 07-16-2005, 01:13 AM

probally of me. i just bought the trim pieces from a junked cougar. i am trying to get funds together so i can mod the shroud and the stock piece for 2 screens. one for nav only and the only for everything else if it can be done

antimatter · 10-06-2005, 05:20 PM

here is the final before and after

The paint is actually almost a perfect match. I think the original one was dusty or somthing thats why it is showing up more brown.