I did the same thing but a little more ghetto. I laser cut a drill guide. Taped it on the back and drilled them by hand. Looking back, it would have been quicker for me to program and fixture it in a CNC.
Has anyone set up a system to have the speaker holes drilled Or laser cut, and is offering either the services or sets drilled for sale?
I am interested in having a few sets made once the details have been worked out.
Gavin
www.CougarClub.org
I think the lowest cost solution would be a set of drill guides, basically injection molded plastic templates that would be designed to match the contour of the stock panel and guide you through the process. You would need to clamp the template to the panel and drill to your hearts content.
Andrew -
Can you send me the file, please?
I’ll load it into an eMachineShop file.
Then anyone can order and have a template made.
Andrew -
Can you send me the file, please?
I’ll load it into an eMachineShop file.
Then anyone can have a template made.
Sure thing Vic, just sent via email. One thing I just remembered about it that might be a factor, is that I think I designed it in such a way that if you print it out and lay it over the contour of the panel, the holes line up that way. So the spacing of the middle section might be affected by that, if you’re looking at it as a purely flat 2D representation of the spacing, without the page having to follow that raised middle section. Something to double check.
What would you guys rather have:
Option 1 Kick panels that are pre punched and ready to go. Black ones probably $60 pair. (thinking about $30 over the cost of the panels.)
This requires a two part die that will cost $3000 minimum so figure about 200 pair to break even.
Option 2 A metal template that you would clamp to your panel and drill yourself. Probably a $25 item.
This assumes that the template is single piece of steel to do both left and right that can be laser cut and bent on a sheet metal brake.
Both have their good points.
Ready to go is always nice, but if you need other than black, then the purchaser will need to dye them. Depending on the dye product, and properly following the preparation proceedures before dying, this may be OK for many.
A template that the buyer can attach to their aftermarket kick panels (in whatever colour) and drill out themselves also has it’s merrits. Could be time consuming and tedious and you will need to have a drill and the proper size bit.
How’s that for an oppinion that is as clear as mud.
Perfect. Have you ever considered politics? LOL!
Actually I just learned that the price would be good for colors as well, based on NPD getting them back in stock. And it might even be a touch lower say $55.
I think a template would be the way to go. That is how I reproduced mine. I used my old kick panels that were all cracked up anyway, but the portion where the holes were, were in good shape. It was painstaking, and didn’t come out perfect being my template was plastic, but turned out ok. A steel template would be great, way more cost effective up front, and I think would sell better.
Going back to the original pic though, it seems there is a row or so of holes missing close to the ridge. I will have to look again, but I think my originals have holes almost on the ridge, unless someone added some at some point.
So I could get you to acquire a set of parchment kick panels and have the holes done and then you send them to me?
I’m in!!!
This would be perfect for my black interior. I’ll take a set!
If there are panels being made, I will be in to order two in black and one set in tan. If there is a template for self drilling I am interested in one as well.
Whichever direction becomes available add me to the list.
I like the idea of pre-punched panels the most Bill. Seems like the quality would be better than hand drilled. One the tool is made, you can crank these out forever. I wonder if WCCC would be up to purchasing the tool, then they could punch out any color of panels as needed, since they usually have them all in stock.
Template has its benefits as well, like for people who have already purchased the blank repro panels (I’m in this category). Maybe it’s possible to do both?
Resurrecting this post! Have the Gods of Kick Panel blessed with any movement? I got aqua panels that need holes!
I dropped this because the instructions my friend left for me were not in a usable form (handwritten set of numbers). Since this must be annoying to all who have posted, I’ll get back in touch with him and try harder.
I am about to start drilling yet another set of repro black kick panels because the car I am restoring has the AM / 8 track stereo. Got all my cordless drill batteries charged and extra drill bits ready.
I would be interested in a couple of sets once they become available.
This got pushed to the back of the line when the tooling guys realized that they would only sell tooling, not tooling and parts made off the tooling. Still in the works but it will take some time.
