1967 396 SS 4 speed, with center console. Thing is the center console has begun to rattle, toward the front of the console up near the shifter, not toward the rear by the lid to the compartment.

I plan on taking it apart tomorrow and was just wondering if anybody could give me a heads up as to what to expect? Any useful hints? Tips? What should I be looking for? Anything I should be careful about. Does it break down pretty easily? How can I get a full head of hair?

I figured I would ask first, as I usually just dive in, mess it up, come back inside and post a message. When I get the answers I slap my head, shout "duh" and go back and fix it. Just hoping to bypass the "duh" step.

Any help/advice would be truly appreciated.

Thanks
John

TC rules.

The 70 is pretty streight forward and the picture of the 67 looks easy enough. take off to plate and you should have access to the font section. I.ld check to make sure the scews holding top plte on are tight first. they may have become loose over time and that may be the rattle.Good luck
P.S. wig duh

Lapper... I just rewired a 66' console...same animal as your 67'. Remove 2 screws at the very front, between the console and carpet hump, 1 each side. Remove any screws in the compartment bottom. Remove 4 screws from the trim boot ring ( offset phillips helps ). Leave boot on shifter. Disconnect console wire harness at floor air duct ( assuming your console clock / courtesy lights are live ) so you can pull cable thru carpet as you start lifting console up and over shifter. Not sure what would be rattling ( maybe the clock or wire harness?)..but here's a shot of the harness connector to disconnect, and the belly of the top console plate. Not much to it... ( replace the bulbs while you have it out )

thanks for the info guys, and the pictures were much appreciated. this site is too amazing.

one last question, any trick to taking off the top plate?

thanks
john

>>any trick to taking off the top plate?<<
Nope... just use a nut driver. They're those self threading speed nuts. Just don't over-tighten...or you might crack that old brittle plastic. Good time to shine up everything. I got some thin black foam sheets from an art supply and lined the compartment too. Keeps stuff from slapping around when you mash the gas pedal ;-)

At the risk of sounding realy stupid, after a quick glance the other day all I saw were the four screws inside the "compartment"? How exactly does the top plate come off?

I'm expecting a slap to the head with a loud "duh" when I get the answer!

the top plate can't be removed from above. You must take the entire console out first.. then flip it over... pretty self explanatory once you get it out and on your workbench.

Your rattling may be coming from your console door. I had the same problem with mine...and the door edge that is closest to the shifter was actually rubbing the console section. The noise from it traveled the whole length of the console...it drove me crazy! All it took was a quick adjustment on the door and voila! :)

thanks stickman.

as to the compartment door, i don't think that's it as when i'm driving i'll put my hand on the door and the rattling doesn't stop, when i put my hand on the top plate the rattling stops.

i think sevendchevy might be on to something and hoping it's just the top plate is loose.

okay guys, i pulled the console, no problem there. removed all but two of thos self threading nuts. the two nearest the compartment, the two that are at the "rear" of the top plate, are covered in what looks like melted wax but is a hard dried plastic? it's black. i'm guessing here, but has someone melted some sort of plastic on there as some kind of a loc-tite agent? should I just chip it away? this is definitely where the rattle is coming from!

any thoughts?

Lapper... I don't recall any goop on the screws of my console. I would carefully chisel off the sealant enough for you to get your nutdriver over the nut. Again, be careful, because that old plastic could be brittle... Hopefully someone didn't put something on there because the top cover studs are stripped.. In that case just use a smaller nut

stickman, thanks for "sticking with me" on this one. so i did just that, carefully chiseled away this plastic stuff and found that the "male stud" not only were stipped but had been broken. oh the joy.

i fiddled around with some rubber washers and some felt padding so once the remaing nuts were tightened back up the rattle problem has been mended, for the time being anyhow.

will definitely need a new top plate, but am now wondering if i shouldn't just get a whole new console kit. there are a lof of other little things the previous owner did to the console that is just plain wrong - it won't last long in the state it's in.

any recommends on consoles? i hear/read the repros are not so hot?

Original consoles command ridiculous prices on ebay. You may be able to keep an eye out for individual oem console parts. Do a TC search on repop consoles... I think most have had marginal luck with those in both fit and finish