awesome thanks! I'll DM you when I have a minute to check some of those companies out - if we can get them to clone it in a LHD version I'd honestly be fine putting up like $1k of my own to fund it just to get the dang thing done. Ever since I found out that Japan had a screen there 20 years ago I've wanted 'mine' to also (both my 02 bought in 07, and this lifetime keeper 03 I have now).

 

If my attempt ends up poop, I'll go in on this as well.

 

Here are some preliminary 3D printed pics. The finish is rough on purpose. I have some CF plastic waiting if this works out. This is just a proof of concept print to optimize printer settings and see if the mirrored bezel will line up with the OEM pocket and dash curvature. I still need to remove the dash and test fit. The next update may take a few weeks as I have small children, and my free time is pretty limited. Ultimately the goal is to offer this as a "kit" with everything you'd need to add modern navigation to your s2k including a 3D printed pocket (since they are no longer produced) and either laser cut or CF reinforced 3D printed brackets.

 

Wow I love this!!

We might want to buy up the remaining stock of the OEM 'pocket', brackets, screws etc while they're still available from Japan. I believe we can still order those all from sites like Amayama.

Also if you want any beta testers let me know - happy to help fund this.

 

Same, let me know if you need a beta tester. I already have a dash that’s been cut to start testing. I was planning on taking my bezel in for scanning, glad I checked here lol.

 

Juice was kind enough to test fit the bezels I had and send me the pics.











Sorry for the giant pics. The gold colored bezel is another test fit bezel. The fitment looks good enough to move on to get the bezel made in a production material: ASA which is like an upgraded, more weather resistant version of ABS.

Juice was also very generous and donated the mounting brackets. I need to get those in CAD and a 3D print format. Laser cut steel would likely be more cost effective (but I'd still have to bend them) unless I contract out bending as well, but that that could make 3D printed versions the better option. I'm also going to get the mounting pocket 3D scanned as well for 3D printing. So in sum there is still quite a bit left to do. I'll keep updating this thread as there are things to post.

Huge thanks again to Juice! There would be nothing to update without his help.

 

Very cool. Seems like it needs to be just a tad bigger to be sanded down for true custom fit per application.

 

Don’t mind the gaps, I butchered my spare dashboard trying to make the RHD bezel fit. If you looks at the lower left and lower right corners, you can see how well this copy came out as it tucks in nicely when the appropriate cuts are made.

 

I did some sanding today and trust me, it's got enough material already to sand down for that perfect custom look. I don't know much about 3D printing or sanding but it was about an hours worth of sanding to knock down the print lines and somewhat smoothed out.

 

So I'm in the process of looking at quotes which is of course dependent on material. I'm looking for opinions on materials. I'd consider ASA the gold standard. It's just as robust as ABS, if not more so, and has the highest UV resistance of the plastics to choose from and considering this is a convertible, UV resistance figured prominently in desirable qualities. MJF nylon is an option. Doesn't have the UV resistance of ASA but is a little more than half the cost. SLS nylon is near identical to MJF but with a slightly rougher surface texture, and it's a smidge cheaper. There are other plastics out there, but they are not offered in the surface texture (at a reasonable cost), color, or temperature resistance needed. If anyone has any thoughts on other materials, I'd welcome them too.