Middle console/shifter console question.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 27
Middle console/shifter console question.
I'm in the midst of resurrecting and "correcting" a '74 C3, just SO many little things that were done too quickly or completely incorrectly from the factory that the list grows with every piece that I remove from the car.
Right now I'm reworking the interior, in particular the consoles and was wondering if there are any alternative middle/shifter consoles on the market. The huge sewn edges are just SO out of place and only exist on that middle console, especially as they totally ends where the emergency brake console begins. No tapering off or blending whatsoever, just an abrupt end to the silly high ridges and a continuing on to the completely smooth emergency brake plastic.
Awkward and absurd design that I'd like to correct.
Are there any middle consoles offered at all in the aftermarket? Any videos or step-by-step on cutting the high sewn ridges off of the console? Any help at all with this?
Thank you ! ! !
Right now I'm reworking the interior, in particular the consoles and was wondering if there are any alternative middle/shifter consoles on the market. The huge sewn edges are just SO out of place and only exist on that middle console, especially as they totally ends where the emergency brake console begins. No tapering off or blending whatsoever, just an abrupt end to the silly high ridges and a continuing on to the completely smooth emergency brake plastic.
Awkward and absurd design that I'd like to correct.
Are there any middle consoles offered at all in the aftermarket? Any videos or step-by-step on cutting the high sewn ridges off of the console? Any help at all with this?
Thank you ! ! !
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,285
Likes: 4,375
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi TE,
The same stitching exists across the top dash pad and down the sides of the left and right lower dash pads.
I don't find it in any way "awkward and absurd".
I'm sure a "step by step" on cutting the "high sewn ridges off" is available.
Regards,
Alan
If no "step by step" is available perhaps you might try ZIP Products I-422.
68-69 consoles didn't have the stitching…. an the dash pads didn't either.
The same stitching exists across the top dash pad and down the sides of the left and right lower dash pads.
I don't find it in any way "awkward and absurd".
I'm sure a "step by step" on cutting the "high sewn ridges off" is available.
Regards,
Alan
If no "step by step" is available perhaps you might try ZIP Products I-422.
68-69 consoles didn't have the stitching…. an the dash pads didn't either.
Last edited by Alan 71; Sep 25, 2017 at 08:00 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 27
Thanks for the tip, Alan ! The stitched ridges on the other sections of the car are separate areas and work well on their own, I really do think that having those raised stitches on only one part of the consol area and not the others looks horrible. You don't, that's as cool as can be, to each his own ! Regardless, you VERY much for the potential solution to this "problem" that I'm having, Rob.
Last edited by Team Evil; Sep 25, 2017 at 12:22 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 27
I'll remember you. I was just looking on-line and on Ebay for the earlier shift console and found that most of the vendors don't realize that there's a difference between early and later. Many of them were selling consoles for 1968 to 1975 Corvettes and it was the same (later) stitched design. The one from ZIP would be perfect, but a smidge outside of my budget right now. I'm thinking that I might strip all of the cosmetic "leather" covering off of the console that I have, smooth out the fiberglass/plastic base and just recover it in a soft leather or nice grained vinyl to match the interior color. Easiest and cheapest way out of this for sure.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 27
Yup ! I was thinking that I would brush on a few coats of fiberglass resin inside to help hold things together. Maybe even a layer of fiberglass cloth in the "seams." Age has not been kind to these fiberglass/plastic interior components, but at least they respond well to repairs. When I brought my car home, one of my friend's friends steered it into the work tent. He, unfortunately used the emergency brake console to lever himself out of the car and it shattered to bits and pieces under his weight. NEVER let friend's of friends anywhere NEAR your stuff, they just don't seem to care at all. They don't use common sense. They don't offer to pay to replace what they destroyed.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 871
Likes: 73
From: Memphis Tennessee
Mine split at the seams, tearing the vinyl cover in the process. Instead of fiberglass resin, you may want to use plastic epoxy, soaked into fiberglass cloth for structure. May bond better.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 27
Thank you, I'll try just that ! At some point in the past, someone thought that a good soaking with Armor-All would benefit the interior, they must have used a fire hose. I've removed both consoles, all of the extra panels, the center gauge section, and heater control cluster. I wanted to repaint the satin black as it had worn, scraped away. Fish-eyes all over ! Every surface inside and out in front and behind covered in Armor-All. It's taken a week already to scrub everything clean so the the paint will take. Even at this, it's taken self-etching primer and adhesion enhancer to get the job done. Inside the dash, it's a little bit like the Emperors New Clothes, SO much raw grinding and hand fitting, random extra screws to hold the panels fast to prevent vibration. Almost like more of a kit car than a flag ship GM offering. Very surprising to peek under the covers for sure. Making some really good progress though and looking forward to each time that I head out to the car. Seats are next up, I've heard that they can be tough to get out, one of the bolts has a nut on the bottom of it that's tough to get at? I'll find out tomorrow.