Express/Savanna climate control knobs & headlight switch?

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bretcopsey

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I’ve searched everywhere and cannot find a how-to on using one of these knobs on the headlight switch. References are made to cutting the stem on the switch but nothing specific.

Does anyone have a write up or pictures of what needs to be done to make this work?
 

bretcopsey

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I went ahead and jumped in with both feet, hopefully this helps others. I bought Dorman 76852 knobs, this may be different if using genuine GM knobs.

The factory knob can be yanked off using pliers, however once I did that I found that it is designed with the ability to release from the shaft if you remove the face plate first. See the pick inserted in the access window on the side of the knob.
 

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bretcopsey

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The hole in the Express/Savanna knob is round with a flat spot just like the HVAC switch shafts. There was not enough material to enlarge the hole to fit the shaft for the headlight switch. In order to make the knob fit I had to shorten and cut a groove into the knob mounting boss. In order to do this, the steel insert had to be removed from inside the knob mounting boss.

I also had to shorten and shave a bit off the side of the switch shaft. Once I had everything fitted I mixed up some epoxy to bond the knob to the switch.
 

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bretcopsey

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Just to add some additional info on this project, the Dorman knobs would not fit my HVAC switches. The steel inserts were too tight, so I pulled them out and replaced with the inserts from the original knobs. The insert on the top is OEM and the Dorman is on the bottom. You can see the Dorman has more of an hourglass profile on the one side than the OEM insert. I used the picks from Harbor Freight to do this-I would probably recommend just using GM knobs to avoid this hassle.
 

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bretcopsey

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Wrapping this thread up, dash is now back together with the new knobs along with Metra double DIN installation, Escalade cluster swap and change over to LED lighting.
 

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bretcopsey

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I did a Google search for free stereo wallpaper downloads, found the image and saved to a thumb drive. You’ll need to make sure to follow the directions for your unit.

For mine it required a 800x480 .bmp file. I put the thumb drive in the USB PORT then went into the settings for display and selected my saved image as the wallpaper.
 

bretcopsey

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Yes, that is the Metra bezel kit. I helped my son install one in his 96 GMC and liked it enough to go that route on mine.

Metra DP-3003 Double Din Dash Panel for 1995-2002 GM SUV...
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mn_ski

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Wrapping this thread up, dash is now back together with the new knobs along with Metra double DIN installation, Escalade cluster swap and change over to LED lighting.
Almost a year later.. how has the metra full bezel been holding up? When you installed this did you move your HVAC down slightly? It looks like it since I don't see any of the graphic being cut off at the top. It looks more centered up and down.
 
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