Hey guys I'm still here! Have not done much withthe car this year but am making plans fro spring 2002.

Has anyone seen e replacement 85 shifter console plate anywhere. I have refurbished mine but thought I would buy a new one if they are around. I thought my previous investigations proved that they are discontinued. Still so?

 

Yep...discontinued. However, Sam at TLD says in the near future they are going to start making them again. ...Who knows...:::shrugging:::

 

Do you need one with the OD button hole?
I've got one.
It's currently in my ride, but I can change back
to the OEM overdrive button.
Or if you have a console plate for the '85L-'88
4+3, mebbe we can work something out.
corvettebob@erinet.com

 

Mine has the 4+3 logo on the console with the switch in the shifter ****. I have one now on the car and can rework it again if necessary. I had planned on buying all three pieces new but it seems that only the speedo and center display plates are still being made.

 

Keep an eye on eBay, esp. at this time of year.
A New-In-Box 4+3 console came up on eBay last year. I dropped out of the bidding at around $400.

I eventually ended up with a new '89 4+3 console plate. It fits my '86. I'm not going for any NCRS judging, so I went for it. It came up for sale around Christmas time, and there wasn't any competitive bidding. I got it for around $85 as I recall. Sometimes you get lucky. So I'll have a completely new interior, albeit not authentic.

 

I think I will try one more attemtp to hide / fill the small hair line cracks around the screw holes. Other than that it looks like new.

 

How did you do that? The ZF6 was out in '89, not hte 4+3.

 

The '89 console plate, for the 6-speed, is nearly identical to the 4+3 console. The shift hole opening is 3/8" wider on the '89 - that's only 3/16" on each side. With an '89 shift boot, it'll fit fine. Actually, even an '84-87 shift boot will fit the '89 console plate - the mounting holes for the metal boot anchors are in the same place. But the '89 boot was $20 cheaper for some reason (from Jeff Kopp), even though it's virtually identical to the '86 boot. I have to admit I haven't actually tried it yet - I just overlaid the '89 console on my '86 console and verified the only difference is the width of the shift hole opening, and the presence of the hole for the FX3 Adj. suspension switch (which was offered in '89). So I ordered a FX3 switch that I'll put into the hole in the console plate. I might use the switch to control something else, or may leave it disconnected. It only had 2 wires going to it, and 3 positions, so it must be a resistor array inside and not a straight switch, so I'll probably just leave it disconnected. My only disappointment is the '89 FX3 switch looks like an afterthought - it sits on top of the console plate and is not nicely integrated into it.

I can show you the '89 vs. the '86 when you come up to pick up the speakers. I haven't put the new console plate on yet, and have the old one off.


[Modified by gh86E, 7:38 AM 12/18/2001]

 

Good to know!!!! Thanks! :D I guess we lose that nifty little 4+3 emblem though huh? ;)

 

Ahh yes, that's the 3rd difference.

 

Call Contemporary Corvette 1-800-367-8388, last time I was there, he had one in pretty good shape, I think around $150.

 

Those 89 4+3 plates sure are rare !

 

I got one off eBay awhile back, new for $450 or so, I also had a real nice one that was practically new from a used car and sold that for $200, and another one with a few scratches for $75, and another one for $40 and for $20. I have a custom made one from an auto car, shifter boot fits fine. It's an easy and cheap conversion. BTW, they have been discontinued for awhile. Good luck!-C.J.

 

Before I got th enew '89 console, I kept staring at pictures of the auto's plate, wondering if it could be converted over to a 4+3. It looked like if you just cut out the connecting piece, it would work. But I couldn't think how to clean up the cut section to look good - how did you do it?

 

I have never done this but have thought about it. I can put the plate on a milling machine and clean it up so that you probably could not tell the difference. I am willing to try it for someone. I doubt very much that it would be noticeable.

The problem is mine has the 4+3 logo in the plate.