Documenting my cheap button panel, that used the stock switches from the Cobalt donor.
The 7 controls are:
- 12v accessory plug
- fog lights switch on the Cobalt goes to the purple accessory wire
- dash dimmer dial
- emergency flasher switch
- horn
- info button
- return button
I repurposed the Cobalt button panels on the left and right of the steering wheel.
I cut and epoxyed the 2 panels together, adding a 1" strip of spare Cobalt plastic to the back to strengthen the joint. Then drilled 2 extra holes, for a Cobalt 12v accessory plug, and the Cobalt emergency flasher button.
The strap on the left was a 1" steel flat bar that goes up to the gauge panel bolt. The right side was an attempt at a light weight steel strap, but was too wimpy, so I need to go back and use a heavier steel strap like the other side. Then I drilled thru my custom button panel and the steel flat strap, using small button head bolts to hold the plastic button panel to the steel straps. I could have used epoxy there too, but didn't want to until I had done more testing.
The right panel with the info and return buttons was a little taller than the other side, so I sanded it down to the same height as the other side.
I probably should have bondo'ed it, and painted it white, but never got that far, yet. The Cobalt buttons had custom plastic mounts, so by re-using the stock button panels, I was able to keep the stock mounts, and didn't have to connect wires to new switches.
I originally put my horn button on the clock spring and then the steering wheel, later I got the DF quick release steering wheel, I added the white momentary switch for a horn.