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Old Dec 1, 2007 | 01:50 AM
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Default Weird screw question

How's that for a title?

Anyway, I took the shifter console off the '69 and disasembled it for detailing, and when it was stripped down I noticed 5 holes across the bottom where the fiber optic lights go. I have a replacement lens set which fills the middle 3 holes. Closer inspection suggested the 2 outside holes look like they are for mounting screws.

The plate attaches by four screws in the outside corners. There were no screws on the outer 2 mystery holes. There was nothing UNDER them to screw anything into.

So, I check the NCRS Bible, which actually said at a certain VIN, there were 2 extra screws outside the fiber optic holes. Then at a later VIN, there weren't! Yikes! How many shifter plate designs are there??? Is there anyone with screws in these holes that actually mount to anything? Pictures? Does anyone else care? (don't answer that!)
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Old Dec 1, 2007 | 04:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Vettebuyer5869
How's that for a title?

Anyway, I took the shifter console off the '69 and disasembled it for detailing, and when it was stripped down I noticed 5 holes across the bottom where the fiber optic lights go. I have a replacement lens set which fills the middle 3 holes. Closer inspection suggested the 2 outside holes look like they are for mounting screws.

The plate attaches by four screws in the outside corners. There were no screws on the outer 2 mystery holes. There was nothing UNDER them to screw anything into.

So, I check the NCRS Bible, which actually said at a certain VIN, there were 2 extra screws outside the fiber optic holes. Then at a later VIN, there weren't! Yikes! How many shifter plate designs are there??? Is there anyone with screws in these holes that actually mount to anything? Pictures? Does anyone else care? (don't answer that!)
As I said in a long-ago thread, "GM" and "logic" were rarely used in the same sentence for many years.
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Old Dec 1, 2007 | 09:07 AM
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i think that the design was changed between 69-70, and the mounting screw positions were changed to the outermost corners from the position you're referring to.
jeff
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Old Dec 1, 2007 | 10:05 AM
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Can anyone tell me what the screw size is for this?
I'm installing the missing fibre optics in my 69vert and need to know what size these screws are that hold the console lens.
Thanks to one and all!
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Old Dec 1, 2007 | 10:11 AM
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I'm going from memory (no data available to me), but I believe they are #8 or #10 round-head Phillips sheet metal screws about 1/2" long. Try both sizes in the "receiver" hole to see which works best.
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Old Dec 1, 2007 | 10:54 PM
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Originally Posted by jnb5101
i think that the design was changed between 69-70, and the mounting screw positions were changed to the outermost corners from the position you're referring to.
jeff
Well on my car, (a Nov '69) it has the 4 outermost corner holes, with corresponding mounts. It also has the 2 "extra" near the fiberoptics. There are no mounting "receivers" under those 2. It seems like I'll have to put 2 "dummy" screws there to fill the holes. Goofy.

NCRS says "the console plate is secured at its 4 corners.... at least by SN 32490 2 additional screws were added at the ends of the fiber-optic panel. At about SN 36927, the rear 2 screws were removed, leaving a new pattern of 4."

Not sure what the "rear 2" are, and what the "new pattern" is. Do owners of 1970s have a different pattern?
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Old Dec 1, 2007 | 11:32 PM
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I have an early 70 (Jan70) and the 2 outer screws go thru the console and into the fiber optics retainer. It is the one with the 3 lenses that the fiber optics cables mount to. The screws hold the retainer to the console plate.
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Old Dec 2, 2007 | 12:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Red70vette
I have an early 70 (Jan70) and the 2 outer screws go thru the console and into the fiber optics retainer. It is the one with the 3 lenses that the fiber optics cables mount to. The screws hold the retainer to the console plate.
Interesting. Mine only has the screw holes/mounts for the plastic retainer. Ill have to dummy the screws. Thanks.
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Old Dec 2, 2007 | 01:02 AM
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Is this what you are talking about?? The outer holes are for mounting screws. On mine, they are Phillips screws... Sorry for the big pic!!

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Old Dec 2, 2007 | 07:10 PM
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Yes, but on mine, there are no corresponding mounts for those 2 outer screws to screw into... only the outer 4 corners of the console.
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Old Dec 2, 2007 | 08:42 PM
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My apologies I finally got a chance to look at the console. The 2 outer holes are for mounting screws. They represent 2 of the 4 console screws. There are no screws in the lower corners. Many of the mounting tabs break off so there may not be anything underneath the lower holes. Many of the venders make a repair kit to replace broken mounting tabs.
Can you post a picture?
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Old Dec 3, 2007 | 01:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Red70vette
My apologies I finally got a chance to look at the console. The 2 outer holes are for mounting screws. They represent 2 of the 4 console screws. There are no screws in the lower corners. Many of the mounting tabs break off so there may not be anything underneath the lower holes. Many of the venders make a repair kit to replace broken mounting tabs.
Can you post a picture?
Aha, I get it now. Until I read your post, I hadn't noticed that the 2 bottom holes (in the corners) of your console cover are not drilled out. I assumed they all were on all the cars. In the pics below, you can see that mine are drilled on the 2 outside the fiber-optic (sorry for the fuzzy closeup) and also on the bottom corners. The picture under that shows the open console area (nasty, I'm starting to tear out the interior) where the bottom 2 corner screws will attach to, but nothing for the 2 next to the fiberoptics. There might have been something there at one time, but I dont think so.

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Old Dec 3, 2007 | 01:45 PM
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You are correct the 2 screw holes next to the fiber optics are dummies for your 69 but are functional for my 70. The bottom 2 holes are not drilled out on my 70 and the upper 2 are the ones used for ataching the plate to the console.

I wonder what the thought process was here? Holes in the bottom corners would have been better for securing the plate to the console yet they were eliminated by early 1970. Holes next to the fiber optics appear to be dummies on your 69 and are functional on my 70. What is that all about?
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Old Dec 3, 2007 | 07:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Red70vette
You are correct the 2 screw holes next to the fiber optics are dummies for your 69 but are functional for my 70. The bottom 2 holes are not drilled out on my 70 and the upper 2 are the ones used for ataching the plate to the console.

I wonder what the thought process was here? Holes in the bottom corners would have been better for securing the plate to the console yet they were eliminated by early 1970. Holes next to the fiber optics appear to be dummies on your 69 and are functional on my 70. What is that all about?
That's what started this thread. I don't get it. The 2 screws by the fiber optics seem like a poorer design than the lower corners, but they "evolved" to that change for some reason, I'm sure.

Must be the GM Beancounters.
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Old Dec 3, 2007 | 08:34 PM
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They went to the Deluxe interior in 70 which had a woodgrain insert. The wood grain insert could not accommodate the screws in the lower corners. 69 did not have woodgrain console inserts.

Bullshark
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Old Dec 4, 2007 | 12:05 AM
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Here's a '70 setup.

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