930S Console modification

[Leland Pate]

I've been talking to Jack about this but I would like to hear other opinions as well.
I think it is Better Bodies who sells the 930S look center console.
I dig it, for a while I considered just making one from scratch, but I discovered that Better bodies will sell me an unupholstered console for like $175. I can swing that.

What I would like to do is either mount my 3 new VDO gauges on the console as shown in the picture ***or*** mount my CD player in the console, and put the VDO gauges in the place where the CD player normally sits.
My only concerns with this is the fact that i have seen some cars where the shift knob actually gets in the ay of the CD player. I don't want to be cruising in 5th gear and discover that I can't get my CD out because it will hit the shift knob.
So, I am toying with where to mount stuff.

Secondly, has anyone ever upholstered something with compound curves like this console? I've done some upholstery before, I did my knee pads and stuff and it turned out pretty good, so I have a knack for it... I just don't want to get in over my head!

And lastly, none of you have seen the burlwood dash face kit I put on my car but let me tell you, it's beautiful.
I bought it from a gent on the Rennlist for $85 bucks.
I was expecting it to be one of those veneer "stick-on" kits you see in the glossy catalogs. Well, nope, when i got it I was shocked to find out that it isn't a veneer kit, its the real deal! Not stick-on, these are wooden replacement pieces for the vinyl dash face.
It's really pretty and looks killer.
What I'd like to do is to find "sheet veneer" of the same species, and attach it to the front fascia of the 930S console. (The flat part where the gauiges go).
My only concern is heat. I'm afraid the day to day heat from sitting in the sun will cause the veneer adhesive to come apart.
I know there's all sorts of different types of veneers out there and several different ways of attaching them.
Any woodworkers in our midst? Which way would be the best to attach veneer to a console?

Check out the picture.
with a new dash pad, carpet, RS door panels, and high back seats...my interior will not be the shame of North 18th East St!

Muhahahahahahahaa aa

[Leland Pate]

Just to clarify...
The area in red is what I want to be Bulrwood veneer.

And the area in blue is what i am concerned about getting the vinyl to stretch and conform to.

[clnilsen]

Lee:

I bought one of these unapostered consoles a while back, and am planning on doing the same thing.

I haven't upolstered it yet but my plan of attack is to take a really big piece of vinyl, and basically wrap it up.

Secondly, though, I wouldn't plan on mounting a CD player in the console. The console they send you requires some playing to fit, but there is not a lot of room to play with between the face of teh console and the shifter in 1,3,5

When I get more done, I'll post pictures.

Good luck!

Chuck

[Leland Pate]

Outstanding, just what I was looking for... "a dude who actually bought one."

So, can you tel me a bit more about it? I guess it comes disassembled? What is it made out of?
Fit and finish?

Now that I think about it, It'd be easier to leave the CD player alone anyway.

I like your "plan of attack"... sounds like me... "err...something will occur to me".

Do people use heat guns on vinyl to get it to conform to funny shapes?

[RoninLB]

Leland... not to start your brain matter spinning, but I did "gun checkering" on teak in my '71 Camaro. I did the "Bow Tie" 8in X 4in on redesigned/customized door panel. I planned on doing a group of 4 switches on dash with a "gun checkered" position for my lower thumb area to sit in that would allow 4 fingers to be positioned on switches. I would have control of sw. with out looking at them while driving. "gun checkering" tools are very cheap. Looks artistic and functional and very customized. "gun checkering" is the area on wood of shotguns that is diamonded out/carved. It will be exotic on my 911 if I can think of an area where it can be used. The technique is easy.

[Doug Zielke]

Happy New Year, Lee!

As far as upholstery is concerned...for me it's like sewing...I'd rather leave it to someone else.
Anyway, I admire your attitude. Knowing you, it'll look fine when you're finished. It's little wonder many of us nominated you as the Pelican D-I-Y'er for 2001.

[john walker's workshop]

i bought one new 13 years ago and although i got used to it, my big shoe had trouble fitting down in the gas pedal area. not much room for moving between the throttle and the brake. maybe they've redesigned it. i kept the CD in the dash and installed a EQ and a sony pop out tape player in it, along with pop out CD storage.

[Rich911E]

Hey Leland:

You bought the dash kit from me and glad to hear that it worked out.

I am interested to see how it looks installed -- perhaps you can send a picture.

Rich Murphy

[Leland Pate]

Hey Rich!

I had no idea it was you!

Well, I must say that I definately feel that I ripped you off!
Loved it loved it loved it...

One of my buddies is a wood worker by hobby and he told me the only place he has ever seen kits of that quality was a long long time ago and some of them were over $1000 in price.

He was very impressed.

I certainly hope the $85 bucks you got from me made you happy!

I will most definately post pictures once I get back home and get the carpet installed.
It looks fantastic. I love wood.

Hey thanks again!

[clnilsen]

Lee:

I checked my unuporstered console last night... don't worry about the drop around the shifter. It's only about 2cm deep, so it shouldn't present a problem to cover. However, realize you're probably going to have ot use some kind of ****er boot with this console to cover up the hose, which you can see right down into the ****er tower.

I bought a leather boot to cover it, I think pelican has them?

Good luck, and I'll keep you posted on how it ends up!

Chuck

[clnilsen]

Originally posted by clnilsen
of ****er boot with this console to cover up the hose, which you can see right down into the ****er tower.

Thank should read SHIFTER tower...

Guess I should proof more!

[Leland Pate]

I looked REAL hard at the pictures again and I think i know what you mean about the 2-3CM part. I was thinking that the deaper part of the shifter opening "went all the way down", so to speak.


What is it made out of? I have tried all sorts of upholstery contact glue (goop and spray) and none of it has ever impressed me.
I prefer to use the 3M stuff in conjunction with staples.
If it will allow staples anyway.

I think I'm going to order me one of these bad boys.

Oh, and I already have a leather shifter boot to cover the shifter tower.

[clnilsen]

It's made out of fiberglass.. and get it unupostered. Cause you WILL need to modify it.

1) it doesn't automatically fit all cars.. it's too high to fit under the dash. It's designed to fit flush with some kind of knee pad that I've never been able to ascertain, but you will need to shorten it slightly to let it slip under where the ash tray is (it's too wide to fit in the opening of the ash tray on my 1980 SC.

2) there's no clearly defined way to mount it. I haven't figured that one out, either. I was thinking of trying to modify the metal bracket that holds down the orginal console.. anyone?

3) (this is taste oriented) The plastic face on it is a little cheap, especially for mounting lots o' gauges and switches. I'm trying to find a piece of billeted aluminum to fit there instead, 'cause I think it would look cooler.

anyway, though, I think the result will be worth the effort!

Later!

Chuck