[Ye'OleAstrologist]

Hello everyone! :wave:

I'm looking for a source for the headlight switch bracket on our 88' CL (The thing which holds the headlamp switches, the dimmer and little light bulb.

I've gone to several different pull a part JYs to get this part, and usually the bracket is already broken, or breaks when I'm trying to remove it, or if I buy the whole piece the bracket comes apart when I'm putting my new switch and stuff into it. GM does not seem to stock the part anymore, however I can get the switch itself all day long. A few years ago the lights started flickering, etc and within a minute or two the switch decided it wanted to smoke and catch fire in the middle of the night, thank god I keep a fire extinguisher in all vehicles. I pulled over, smoke boiling out from the area and a guy which was following behind me in a pickup pulled over too (I was in the left lane and did all kinds of screeching stopping, etc and I hollered if he had a hammer, he did and I whacked the hell out of the dash around the switch, breaking it and was able to get the small fire put out with minor damage. Got the van towed and it sat for about 4 years until a couple months ago when I decided I was gonna get the old girl going again. I got dash pieces from the JY, the little black box from the JY, as well as the gauge glass. I got a new switch, and dimmer from Advance Auto parts and the wiring harness, etc from the JY as well.

The problem is, I can't seem to find the bracket intact which holds the switches and dimmer.

If anyone knows where I can get this, I'd love to know.

Thanks a Ton, Brian

 

[Ye'OleAstrologist]

Oops, feel free to move this to the electrical forum if that's where it needs to be, since this is to do with a Switch Bracket.

 

[Matrixx]

Hi Ye'OleAstrologist

I don't know if http://rockauto.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;"would carry something like that but you could have a look. I am not quite sure of the part your looking for:
http://198.208.187.182/internet/PartIma ... rtnbr=D844" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;"
http://198.208.187.182/internet/PartIma ... rtnbr=D817" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;"
Source:
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carco ... ttype,4340" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;"

If you're having a hard time finding that particular piece, then might a suggest fabricating something with a bracket you do have that might help prevent it from falling apart before you install it. JB Weld - Epoxy - Fiberglass. Something to help reinforce that bracket before the install. Just a thought.

 

[Ye'OleAstrologist]

It's the plastic piece which holds the headlight switch and dimmer switch in place inside of the dash.

The problem is, the part is so brittle from all these years that as soon as you put any pressure on it, it breaks, and then you try gluing it, and it breaks somewhere else. I've gone through 7 of these things just trying to mount the switches in the dash.

I wish there was a way to do away with that little bracket.

 

[rev_les]

Sounds like Matrix was right on just fabricating one, and save yourself any additional trouble.Instead of trying to save an existing one, just build something from scratch.I don't know what your particular year bracket looks like, but you can fabricate quite a bit of stuff out of a simple sheet of ABS plastic, and a plastic welder ( I just use a cheap soldering gun). You can purchase plastic welding sticks , but just cutting thin strips of the ABS works fine as a filler.A Dremel or die grinder works well for making cutouts.

 

[Matrixx]

Try using one of the above mentioned items to help support the bracket before putting it in Ye'OleAstrologist. Maybe use a paint brush and paint a resin on it first if it's that brittle. Another idea is to fabricate the bracket out of a metal of some kind if possible. Just a thought.