Well, I had a few minutes to monkey around with the dash piece that I started cutting for the clino install where the center vents are and decided to start on the switch area also.

It is possible to fit 6 switches in the area to the left of the steering wheel in 2nd Gen 4Runners (and 3rd Gen trucks).

I first cut out the area between the two switches to make the bank of two into a bank of three. I have not built the backing area for the switches yet, but you get the idea. You can create another bank of three switches over a little farther toward the steering column. You need to start the new bank over the distance of one switch to clear the dash structure. I marked it on mine in marker (kind of hard to see), but again, you get the idea.

Let's see, 6 switches...

1 compressor
2 front locker
3 rear locker
4 rock lights
5 fog lights
6 air discos?

 

ceebs,

are you using a nibbler to cut those cutouts? if so, can you show us the tool you are using as well as the cutouts themselves?

thanks,
bob

 

Those were cut the same way as the vent for the clino - hot knife attachment in a soldering gun for the rough cut, dremel with cut off wheel and utility knife/fine sandpaper to clean it up.

As I said, I still need to epoxy the backer (the lip that for keeps the switch sitting flush) to the dash. The cut out is pretty clean, but still needs a little work. I'll go snap another without the switch/covers in it. This will be "dyed" with SEM trim black to get rid of the hazing from working the plastic.

 

Sorry, it was the last pic I could get out of it with the battery croaking. You can see the lip on either side of the center of the opening that I need to install in the center also.