Center Console Redux
 

Well, I am sure this post will get accolades and flames. I was really disappointed with the look of the center console and position of the shifter in the 89 930, so I took a little liberty at revising things. I removed the lower console and revised the shifter position with the shifter from Hargett. I tried to keep it in the same design theme in general but add a little aluminum to tie together with some of the other interior items. The first two are before pics followed by a few pics of the after revision.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1231595743.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1231595868.jpg

The addition of the arm rest with a little extra storage and a retractable cup holder in the rear as well as a cup holder up front were things I couldn't resist. I know, I know, drive don't drink, but I cannot resist a coffee or a cold drink every now and then and hate the constant juggling act one has to perform. Also, the arm rest is nice on those long highway miles.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1231595943.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1231596070.jpg

The auto heat was relocated forward and now consealed in the console with the control relocated to the console deck. The A/c controls are now reachable and the retarded 3 position fan blower ( never could select a position that was just right) is now a infinite selection rheostat. I am still in the process of relocating the flasher and defroster switches to the dash if they will fit at the cig lighter and blank locations.

Overall, I like the feel, form and function. I am still refining a few details to finish up. but thought I would post the current project nearing completion.

-Tony

Well let me be the first to say it looks fantastic!!! Wow great job. What console did you start with? Fab your own? Detail man details!!!!!!!!!!

That looks great !!

Now I'm getting the itch to change mine out.

flamers be danged, man... loioks awesome. You really did do a fantastic job. v ery tasteful in my opinion. And you made itmore functional for you as you. Well done!

wheres the e-brake?

Thanks guys,

I started with a 964 console and recovered it with Black vinyl. Got it off evilbay for $40 but it was tan and tired. Cut the front tip off and created a new tip or end that would house just the a/c module and the auto lock module. The vinyl then covered my fab work. And the module with the defrost and flasher was deleted to relocate those to the dash.

The arm rest was actually a new part from a Suzuki that had the perfect dimensions and black color to work. It bolted down to the tunnel, carefully, and gave me a anchor point to hold the rear of the 964 piece while I fabbed a bracket right behind the ashtray to hold the front on the 964 console. Then I was able to fit in very thin plywood for the sides which really made everything solid.

I considered deleting the ashtray and making it swoop up to the knee pads but just too much trouble and I liked the way it kept the dash/kneepad clean looking.

The e brake is under the hargett and the auto heat was moved forward of the old shifter position. I extended the wires and the cable system, cutting a new hole in the tunnel (carefully!!!) for the linkage arm.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1231598545.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1231598589.jpg

All together, the pieces weighed about 3 lbs and the shifters were about equal. The infill pieces were 1/4" aluminum sheet cut to fit the old fashion way (band saw, jig saw and file) (read: PITA) as I didn't have access to a cnc or the like.

-Tony

Do you use the e-brake? if so how do you get to it. Beautiful work.

This looks like a project right out of the Industrial Design Department of the Art Center College of Design, great job. Are you saying that you have sacrificed the e-brake for the up grades of the rest of the design or is it still a functioning e-brake?

It is still a functioning brake and I took a little slack out of it so the throw works with the hargett shifter, which Mark designed to be placed over the existing e brake. The auto heat controls had to be moved though. As for the design, yes, it can still be used. I have set it up for access on the right side where I would have to open a small access door which the carpet hides. It's kind of a hand hole and it works, but now there is one more step to pulling the brake; first you have to open the door panel.

-Tony

Right now, being in Florida, I have no hills or real need for its use, but I did not want to just delete it. I looked into hydraulic e brake kits so I could just have a switch, but I did not like the cons assoc. with that path. I am waiting to see how much I miss it before I modify anymore.

I have a blue 993 console in decent shape for $50 if anyone wants it.

PM sent axl911

I have put off buying a Hargett because I can't stand the way it looks but now I know what to do. This is effing awesome!

Tony,

More Questions:

1. I think a good working e-brake sooner or later would be imperative. At least I couldn't get along without one here in the Hill Country. Pretty tough leaving an electric light with a 4X4 pick up on your back bumper without the help of the emergency brake. The problem I see is that you really need to be able to pull directly vertically on the e-handle to have it effective.

2. Do you like the Hargett shifter? I hope so after all of this...

3. Can you show some pixs of the relocated auto-heater control installation? Did you lengthen the piano wire cables and move the entire auto-heat module forward in the console?

Hargett should put this out as a "kit"... You've done an outstanding job of doing what the factory should have done in the first place, well when you work out the e-brake then it will be perfect...

I have both accolades and flames...

Wow! What a great job! More pics?

If you only added 3 lbs. - no biggie.

Nice.....it's what you wanted,..and THAT'S really all that matters.

Best,

Doyle

Mitch,
1. I completely agree, but like I said the biggest hill here in Florida I encounter is the 4 inch difference in elevation I have from my garage to the street Bahaha. I have tried pulling the e brake from the side and I can pull straight up. With the shortened throw, it works fine, its just I have to open the access panel which is about 2 inches to the right off the handle centerline. A little awkward indeed, but not all bad. In this design, just no other solution I have come up with. I'm not sure I get the 4x4 on the back bumper comment. However, I do have a awesome bright 8 inch wide by 3/8 tall LED strip brake light in lieu of the factory third brake light in the rear window. I have also added two more LED brake lights in the center reflector to each side of the center panel that says Porsche. I feel a lot better that people see my brake lights and the response time is quicker from when I apply brakes and they use less amps than the incandescents.

2. Yes, I have the Hargett for the G50 and I like it. It has taken a little bit to get used to, its accurate and the position is way more comfortable. Mede8er has the Hargett on his 915 and did not like it. It's a little different design than on the G50 and he switched to a Rennshift and loves it.

3. Yes, I lengthened the piano wire and the tubes that they reside in. With due credit to The Turk, the tubes were 6mm OD steel tubing and some .049" s.s. piano wire from McMaster. The tubes friction fit into the ends of the existing tubes and then you just stop them where ever you need, a few inches back from where the actuater lever arm is placed. I replaced the entire length of wire from one flapper box up to the control lever, twisted it around the lever like the original application and returned down the other tube to the other flapper box. I think I bought 20 feet of wire and 5 foot of tubing just to have plenty. Its pretty intuitive once you look at the original installation. Once I determined where I wanted the auto heat, I then cut a hole 1 inch wide by 2.5 inches long where the lever sticks down thru the tunnel to pick up the cables. EXTREME care must be taken to not drill or cut any of the many fuel or electric wires in the tunnel. A Strong light and a small mirror made that much easier. I was so consumed with making progress, that I did not take enough pics of those steps, but it was pretty easy. I used a dremel wheel for cutting and the entire module moved forward, has 4 bolt holes and needs some of the wires extended/spliced.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1231619648.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1231619686.jpg

I could see doing something similar on an early car with stock shifter.

It would run along the tunnel.

How did you create the curved vinyl radii? Or were they built in on the 964 piece you started with?

That's very impressive! I would like it even more if you covered the shift lever with a 964 shift knob and leather boot - that would look very stock. And maybe a turbo script stenciled onto the aluminum in front of the arm rest.

PM sent
 

pm sent

That's really beautiful work.

The e-brake access issue is a drawback, I guess. But the thing that strikes me the most is that it makes it look (to untrained eyes, of course) as though the car is front-engined. In other words, a console cover extending that far back kind of suggests a driveshaft hump is being concealed.

But that's the look Porsche used in the later 911 iterations, and your implementation is -- if anything -- better looking than what Porsche did (in my opinion).

You ought to partner up with Mark, solve the e-brake issue, and start selling a complete kit.

Tony,

I only met with my 4X4 pick up on the back bumper comment was that when you're on a "hill" at a light with a vehicle on your butt you need the emergency brake handy so you can immediately move forward without rolling backwards before engaging the clutch. For you flatlanders that's not a problem...

It's a great project... the best interior change I've seen. Thanks for sharing it.

Rwebb,

Thanks and the radii with vinyl is done with a heat gun as you pull out the corners and such as you apply the vinyl (contact cement on both pieces set up for a few minutes first). Some of the radii in the 964 piece were cut in by me, but if you are referring to the gentle curve along the top of the piece, that was there to start with and exactly what I liked and which gave me the entire inspiration. Our eyes must both like that curve, eh?

Jack,

Mark and I had discussed this possibility and I look forward to see if we can make this work.

-Tony

Mitch, Thanks for the compliment and clarification. Been a flatlander (lmao) so long, forgot whats its like.

Regards

yeh - nice curve

Jack's idea re a production run might be interesting...

General question on the e-brake issue---could it be reasonably located to the left side of the chassis ala 914, maybe even use the folding handle of the earliest 914's??

Jeremy,

I considered putting it facing left/right in front of the drivers seat which could be done with extending the main cables and a pulley to turn it 90 degress, but never really persued it. I really like your idea on the left side of the chasis. I will have to look at a 914 to see how the system is configured. maybe someone will chime in on that solution.

-Tony

Flaming accolades from me......you do fantastic work. I'm envious of this kind of skill.

Now, having said that, I'm glad its in your car, too "Toyotaish" for me. But, I will say that the Hargett is a bit obtrusive in a full-interiored 911. In a stripped out or full race interior it looks better. I really think the stock no console look is kind of iconic....part of the character like the 5 gauges.

But, that's my opinion, and again your work is superb.

Hey Ed,

Thanks and I totally understand your comment on the iconic look. It took me a bit of courage to give that up, but I took the dive and I really like it. It's not for everyone, but it was perfect for me.

Regards
-Tony

Really nice work. Would this possibly help with the access to the handbrake for you -

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1229756192.jpg

More here - http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/447273-nice-solution-hargett-shifter-handbrake-problem.html

Hey, I like that, I will have to see if I can make that work. Thanks. Do you like the Hargett and what transaxle are you running?

I will assume this question was to me?

I have a 915, and love the Hargett. Took me a long time to get set-up, but once it was aligned it is a dream to use. The only issue I had with it was the access to the handbrake, so that is why I developed this extension - If you look in the other thread I posted, Shaun is looking to do a group purchase on these (if you are interested) SmileWavy

Hi Tony,
Beautiful. I always wanted to make my own high console but couldn't think of how to fit one in without interfear with the seats. Does your passenger seat has the left lever to manually move the seat forth and backward? If so, can you move your seat all the way to the front without interfearing with the new console side panel?

I don't use my parking brake much, but have other "must do" things on my list.

Very nice work, thanks for posting it.

rnln,

I have power seats so I cannot speak to how manual seat would be different. The auto seats move unimpeded and the passenger seat would have to be back at least half way to access the brake side access panel. Typically, the seat is almost all the way back anyway just for maximum passenger leg room.

I know, mine is always almost all the way to the back but sometimes I need to pull it up to the front to access to the underneath from the rear. Anyway, my passenger seat is 1/2 manual, 1/2 power. Sliding back and forth functions are manual.
Thanks Tony.

A console is often a backbone in other cars which adds to structural integrity. Make it a weld in kit with sheet steel and you'd proably add to the structural integrity of the chassis.

Beautiful job and creative!

I wonder if you could use a solenoid activitaed e-brake. These are used by hot rod builders. I beleive kits exist. Maybe have a look at Summit or jegs. They are push button activated.

Doug

Doug,
Yes there are kits. One is called a Park-lok and is described like this,

The Hydraulic Lock That Uses Line Pressure To Hold Your Brakes Locked. Apply Foot Brake, Depress Park-Lok, Release Foot Brake, It'S Automatic. Fits Any Vehicle. Eliminates Ring And Pinion Pounding When Trailering And Can Act As A Hill Hold.

They use they on R/V's and some 4x4 applications. They are considered a little unreliable in that over a period of time, say 24 to 48 hours, and as the temperature changes, the volume and pressure of the brake fluid can change and thus may lose the brake hold. I am not sure how much is true vs. hype, but I considered it and just got busy with other challenges of the project. Maybe someone with experience here will chime in. They look like this and are just tied into brake lines.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1231974155.gif

I'm actually refering to solenoid activated cable brake pulls. I believe they exist, could be wrong.

The hydraulic line locks which you show is something different and not what I had meant.

Doug

Sorry, I see now, and I like that idea better than line locks, but have never seen that type of system or kit. Thanks for the clarification.

-Tony