58 power top under dash toggle switch

[Douglas C.]

Hi all. Question on 58 power top under dash toggle switch. I have the switch and the one thin nut. I assume I need a locking type washer under that nut to secure the switch to the dash fiberglass.

Aside from that it looks like I may be missing something. Is there a final bezel, etc. that is the finishing cover over the toggle to the dash pad material?

Thanks. Doug

[Douglas C.]

Re: 58 power top under dash toggle switch

Hi all. Question on 58 power top under dash toggle switch. I have the switch and the one thin nut. I assume I need a locking type washer under that nut to secure the switch to the dash fiberglass.

Aside from that it looks like I may be missing something. Is there a final bezel, etc. that is the finishing cover over the toggle to the dash pad material?

Thanks. Doug

Hi again, I found this picture from another poster, my switch has a groove in it which looks like it would match the notch in the keyhole cutout below. So I assume there is some type of bezel that goes over the toggle and lays into the groove. Any help appreciated.

Thanks, Doug

[Richard M.]

Re: 58 power top under dash toggle switch

Doug, I don't recall any form of bezel used on the pad. I think the serrated nut holds it tight to the fiberglass so just the toggle portion of the switch protrudes down. I'd have to check the AIM but I don't remeber seeing anything special.

Here is a photo of a switch for a PT system I have. Is yours like this one?

[Dennis C.]

Re: 58 power top under dash toggle switch

Rich is correct, as usual. What you see is what you get. There was no bezel used.

[Douglas C.]

Re: 58 power top under dash toggle switch

Doug, I don't recall any form of bezel used on the pad. I think the serrated nut holds it tight to the fiberglass so just the toggle portion of the switch protrudes down. I'd have to check the AIM but I don't remeber seeing anything special.

Here is a photo of a switch for a PT system I have. Is yours like this one?

Yes, although mine has a thin nut for a wrench, not the round thin nut. I assume the washer / wrench type thin nut secures the switch to the fiberglass under dash. Then I'm thinking the round thin nut (finger tighten) would be chrome / polished and just make a neat finish of the protruding threads to the dash pad. I saw a picture of a switch which had a star type washer, thin wrench nut, and a thin round nut. That final nut is similar to what you would find on an old lamp, if that makes sense.

Thanks, Doug

[Richard M.]

Re: 58 power top under dash toggle switch

Doug, Yes I follow. I took a quick look at my AIM and it shows the switch mounting hardware, and as I recalled, no bezel on the pad. I'd think that maybe the switch and harness was installed before the trim line on PT cars. This way the switch is in before the dash pad and speaker and easier to install. Just a guess though.

These toggle switches have a typical attachment method. It used that round thin nut on the toggle side(viewed side) and the hex nut and backup washer on the backside. The round nut isn't tightened. The hex nut on the backside is what was tightened to hold it in place. This prevents plier wrench marks on the round nut side.

Rich

[Dan D.]

Re: 58 power top under dash toggle switch

I'm not very familiar with power top hardware, but I am very familiar with this type of switch. We used to use them in the military radios we build back in my working days. This looks like what was a standard MS (Military Standard) switch of several decades ago. It is a DPDT on-off-on momentary toggle switch. The MIL switches (and hardware) were all stainless and this appears to have rust on it, so it may be a less expensive commercial equivalent.

These switches should also have a anti-rotation washer included - a flat washer with a small tab on it that fits in a small hole in the panel and prevents the switch from rotating. The washer fits up against the back of the panel.

I bought 2 of these switches 2 or 3 years ago from Digi-Key to turn the spout on my snow blower. At the time they showed 4 or 5 of them in stock. I'm sure they are long obsolete with very little demand in today's technology.

I don't have any switches of this configuration left (why I had to buy two), but I do have several non-momentary single and double pole switches left in my inventory. I also have a bunch of the the thin hex nuts, dress nuts, internal tooth washers, and anti-rotation washers (all stainless). FYI.

-Dan-

[Douglas C.]

Re: 58 power top under dash toggle switch

I'm not very familiar with power top hardware, but I am very familiar with this type of switch. We used to use them in the military radios we build back in my working days. This looks like what was a standard MS (Military Standard) switch of several decades ago. It is a DPDT on-off-on momentary toggle switch. The MIL switches (and hardware) were all stainless and this appears to have rust on it, so it may be a less expensive commercial equivalent.

These switches should also have a anti-rotation washer included - a flat washer with a small tab on it that fits in a small hole in the panel and prevents the switch from rotating. The washer fits up against the back of the panel.

I bought 2 of these switches 2 or 3 years ago from Digi-Key to turn the spout on my snow blower. At the time they showed 4 or 5 of them in stock. I'm sure they are long obsolete with very little demand in today's technology.

I don't have any switches of this configuration left (why I had to buy two), but I do have several non-momentary single and double pole switches left in my inventory. I also have a bunch of the the thin hex nuts, dress nuts, internal tooth washers, and anti-rotation washers (all stainless). FYI.

-Dan-

Interesting. Maybe this is why the dash pad cutout is like a keyhole and the switch has a notch in it also. I find GM part number 3747075 as an indexing washer for the switch. Also 3747077 for the thin nut, and another washer 3747076.

I must admit these things keep me up at night. Thanks guys.

Doug

[Stephen R.]

Re: 58 power top under dash toggle switch

I don't have any switches of this configuration left (why I had to buy two), but I do have several non-momentary single and double pole switches left in my inventory. I also have a bunch of the the thin hex nuts, dress nuts, internal tooth washers, and anti-rotation washers (all stainless). FYI.

-Dan-[/QUOTE


Tried to send a PM but your mail box is full.

Dan:
I read your response to the power top switch thread. In it you stated that you had the washers, nuts etc. Do you have a set or two for sale? I have the switch but none of the nuts etc. If you do have for sale, would you take PayPal?

Please respond to bonobo6@netzero.com Thank you very much.
Steve

[Joe M.]

Re: 58 power top under dash toggle switch

Thanks to John Shell, here is are photos of the toggle switch locking washer with tang and internal tooth. The tang is designed to fit into the notch in the dash fiberglass to keep the switch from turning. The internal tooth fits in the switch flat spot to also keep it from turning when the thin hex nut is tighten against the chrome internal tooth washer (on the outside of the dash pad).

[Joe M.]

Re: 58 power top under dash toggle switch

Now I need to learn how to size the images.

[Douglas C.]

Re: 58 power top under dash toggle switch

Thanks Joe. Would John Shell have these items for sale? Otherwise I think Dr. Rebuild may have them.

Tks. Doug

[Joe M.]

Re: 58 power top under dash toggle switch

I asked him if he had the special lock washers for sale, but he forgot to respond. Dr. Rebuild only shows the chrome internal star washer for sale; $1.50 each.

[Stephen R.]

Re: 58 power top under dash toggle switch

ok, I'm a little confused, is the sequence of fittings (working from outside the dash, above the radio):

1. thin nut, dash pad, chrome internal tooth washer, fiberglass dash, then switch or
2. thin nut, dash pad, fiberglass dash, chrome internal tooth washer then switch?

in other words is the chrome internal tooth washer on the outside of the dash between the pad and fiberglass or is it inside the dash, some how glued to the back so that the switch can be inserted through it?

[Joe M.]

Re: 58 power top under dash toggle switch

The sequence of installation, starting inside the dash - thin hex nut against the switch, locking washer with tang and internal tooth. This washer holds the switch from twisting side to side. The internal tooth goes against the flat spot on the switch and the tang fits into the slot formed in the fiberglass dash. On the dash pad side, the sequence is chrome internal star washer against the dash pad; followed by the thin hex nut to hold the star washer in place.