Ive always wanted to try and make or have a custom made console for my 68. It would utilize the stock console, but from the dash on down to the console and back to the firewall would be console also. There would be a flat almost vertical place to mount individual guages or cd player or switches... Can anyone see this in their head? It may seem stupid to some, but i think it could look and serve a good purpose if done right. It could also enclose the heater outlet and have the heat routed to the sides of the console (aiming at your feet!)
Maybe this has been done already? What do you think?

BUbba

I'm going to install some aftermarket seats in my 69 and have been thinking about building a custom console,too. Hopefully,someone can post pics of theirs to maybe give us some ideas.

I have thought about this as well but never tried it. I was thinking of starting with 1/4" plywood to start, then once you had a basic shape that you liked, molding fiberglass around it, for a smooth transition. Dont attach them so you arent ruining the console, and could even remove it later. The problem I encountered was: how do you make the fiberglass texture the same as the console?

I also think you'd have to fab a new top plate or it would look weird...

i made one for my 71. it is just about done.

i used 1/4" plywood for the sides. used alot of cardboard to make the template i wanted, and then traced it on to the plywood.

i then wrapped it in foam, and then black vynal. the top of mine will be stainless steel. im just about done with it, i have a template made and the holes cut out in it. i just need to pick up the metal, and im set.
mine would of been done along time ago, but im lazy. smile.gif def. wasnt hard to make.
here are pics.

starts on this page, and goes on... Here (http://www.s10forum.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album151&page=15)

aaron

that looks pretty darn good

I prefer the speakers in the kick panels but it still looks very nice.

yeah i wish they were in the kick panels as well. but i dont have the money for those right now, and i thought what the hell, might as well add em in the consol while i have both of them already.

aaron

Looks real good, are you going to implement the old console in any way? maybe the top late? Does the heater outlet go through the console?

BUbba

i never had a consol. my car was origionally a bench seat car, and i added buckets in from a 3rd gen camaro.

i still have to do somthing with the heater vent tho. other wise it will be going through the consol.

the top plate will be stainless steel, and will have my guages in it (white faces with chrome trim), equilizer, horn switch, Hurst Q-stick and cup holders.

thanks for the comments.

aaron

Originally posted by BowtieAaron:
yeah i wish they were in the kick panels as well. but i dont have the money for those right now, and i thought what the hell, might as well add em in the consol while i have both of them already.

aaron Yeah, I bought the $70 ones that had no speakers since I already had Pioneers. All I had to to was cut a small piece of sheetmetal from behind the speaker since I had decent ones instead of the crappy ones they wanted to charge me for.

The console does kick some serious ass though, and best part is that I bet if you ever did get kickpanel speakers you could always stick some subs in the console.

Good work graemlins/thumbsup.gif

do any of you guys know if it is easy to install vinyl on that type of console?

on the consol i made?

yeah i wrapped it in foam, stapled it on, then i cut vinyl a little larger than i need (about an inch all around), and then folled it over, stapled it on. i stretched and heated it with a heat gun, and it came out pretty good.

thanks for the kind words.

oh BTW, my dad is gunna try to pick of some stainless for me today, so hopfully this baby will be in the car by sunday. smile.gif

aaron

I just did this with my 69 made a custom 3 gauge pod that mounts on the flat part of console in front of shifter. 3-2 1/16" gauges heres the pic: console4 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/TINMAN/console4.jpg) sorry the quality of picture.

looks good

Damn bowtie that looks SWEET. VERY nice custom job there, i would be proud to have that in my car.

thanks.

i got the stainless steel the other day. have the holes cut out for my guages (need to be filed down to fit the guages in on the right angle). only thing left is to bend it to the shape of the consol, cut out for equilizer, horn button, and then shifter.

i will post a new thread on this once its done.

aaron

My latest Super Chevy mag had a pretty mean 69 chevelle that had a trick console in it. Not very many pictures but cool looking though.
AAron- SWEET CONSOLE DUDE !! I will be using your pictures to make one if you will allow me to do so.

Juan,

thanks. go right ahead use the pics.

its still not done. grinding the holes bigger for the guages to sit on an angle is a pain in the balls. that stainless is so thick, and hard, its almost like its hardened. i went throgh one grinding stone, and still didnt get it to where i want it.

aaron

I work with stainless almost every day... I work in the dairy industry. The key to machining , drilling or grinding stainless is to keep it cool. If it gets really hot it will harden and then nothing will touch it. Keep it cool and good luck

thanks or the tip


aaron