So i've got this idea in my head about making a custom console out of the stock one as a budget saving idea. I've already pulled the console out, i'm going to wrap it in fiberglass, paint it to match the car... while add a few cubby holes for wallet/phone, a cup holder, and a more useful armrest i can actually use. I'll keep you guys updated, but would love to see some pictures or hear some ideas bounced around.

 

Good luck with that project. I'd like to see this come along. -Darkwind

 

it looks like a cup holder would fit good right where the clock is. but keep us posted with your progress.

 

Subscribing

 

so todays progress: Yes, those are my "pirates of the Caribbean" sleeping pants. And yes, they stretched perfectly over the console. I pulled the second leg through the cd player/ac control hole....figure thats a good way to keep it there. I got the shape i was wanting just from doing that. I drilled 2 holes in the corners of the cut-in where the E-brake will be, tied that down so the e-brake will still function in that spot.

I'm going to start with one solid piece and get it the shape i want, then start cutting into it... adding everything afterwards.

This will be the general shape, I like how its already smoothed out the sides and some of the sharp edges.

Tomorrow starts the resin work..... so freakin' messy.

 

subscribed!

 

Good luck with your console! I was thinking of doing something similar myself. I have a question...I cant really tell from the pics but are you keeping the exact same shape as the original console? Just making it fiberglass so you can do some easier customization to it?

 

Absolutely subscribed. If you get this thing the way you want it and other people like it do you think you might sell more? Make a little money?

 

keeping the same shape, yes....with a lot of modifications. It won't look the same

 

Nice pants....just kiddin

 

looks like a good start man

 

Can't wait to see the finished product, looks good so far.

Eric

 

Interesting...

 

I was thinking of doing some modification to mine also. I'm tired of holding my beverage while driving and a coin slot to hold my change would also help.

 

Cool idea, I was thinking of putting a 4th gen console in mine but will wait to see how yours turns out.

David

 

Hmmm.... very interesting

(settles in to wait for results)

Would anyone like some Candy Corn while we wait?

 

hahahahahahahahah

Thank you for making my day.

 

Isn't there a coin slot available that goes inside the stock console? I see them on eBay all the time.

I made a cup holder where the OP's clock is, And although I have a 1992, I always loved the clock, so I got one and mounted it in a box that's attached just under the center dash vents.

 

progress....... almost a quart of resin.

Molded 2 slots for a wallet and a phone, i dont like how they turned out. Any idea's on what i could use that is already shaped the size for a cell phone and one for a wallet? I'm thinking 3-4 inches deep, 1/4-1/2 inch wide....

would like some ideas....

 

target usually sells cell phone holders and crap like that, check out the useless auto crap setion, there's bound to be something

 

I have an extra clock console with the working clock, and ive been wanting to make a mold of it, and somehow modify it to have 69/10' style camaro console guages and look right, something like how it would look if it was made in the 80's.

Subscribing, you may have a pretty damn good idea going on here.
Can't wait to see it done.

 

... i want your clock :P

 

Is that a console in your pants or are you just happy to see me?

sorry, I couldn't resist! Great job though!

 

That just made my day.... Subscribing! This sounds promising

 

Don't hold back on this one man, be about it!

 

So starting this i had no idea that this many people would be that into the idea....its pretty awesome. I'm going to start being more detailed in the process now that i'm at the "too late to turn back" phase.

Today i cut holes for the cup holder and change tray, got them from oriellys for 4.99... it was a "wedge fit" cup holder with 2 cup spots and a change tray between them, cut the three of them seperate and cleaned them up, making the sides smooth so they would slide into a hole.

The first picture is the underside, i removed the old ashtray and shift cover, replacing the shifter cover with cardboard for rigidity.

 

i haven't decided where to put the window switches, i'm thinking about bringing the walls of the console up about 2.5 inches....mounting them there somehow. We'll see.... thats all for today.

I'm happy with it so far....

the only think i'm not unsure about........ Cover it in a material or get it smooth enough for paint? opinions?

 

Id say paint, OR you can buy that spray can truck bedliner stuff, to replicate the original texture. But I think painting would look cool

Awesome job!

 

hmmm, black vinyl wrap!

 

SUBSCRIBED! Some d bag just broke into my car so its new console time!

 

so its been a few days, but finally got some time to do a little more. today i cut out the spot for the e-brake, finally figured out where i'm going to put the power window switches....its going to be in the a/c vent spots. I cut out the backside of the a/c slots already and cleaned up the front of the console where the cd/a/c cover needs to screw in. I made a fiberglass mold of the inside of the armrest cover, i'm going to use the stock armrest...i was going to make my own and raise the console box up about 2in, but it works, and i'd rather not get in over my head with this but just make it look good....

Minor progress, but it works for today.

Sunday is fiberglass day....I'm almost scared.

Monday i'm going to the junk yard to pull off a back bumper(dumbass that had my car before me not only built a crappy engine, but also rested the exhaust tips ON THE BUMPER, melting it), find some window switches i like, and finish tuning my car, put my new 4in cowl hood on that was delivered yesterday, and drive her home for the first time since i got the car

I'm just waiting for the funds to get a quick silver shifter before i finish the console, need to figure out where to cut for the shift lever....i dont know if it is in the same spot and moves the same amount as the stock one or not....

Can anyone tell me this???? I'm getting the "quick silver" ratchet shifter and just need to know how the shift lever(rod, pole, shaft, stick, whatever) matches up with the stock one...if it is the same i can wing it and just finish the console before i buy it.........

 

More pictures.

Side note: havent worked on it much this week b/c i'm tired from work....something pretty cool happened. Tune in to "Man V Food" on the travel channel the wed. before thanksgiving to see my families business!!!!
We have a hot sauce at the Mean Pig BBQ that is just killer hot, called the "shut up juice," and they came out to film a show. It was very cool....

Don't know if you guys care, but its pretty exciting for us!

 

I know its OT, but congrats! Big fan of Man vs. Food.

 

I've been thinking of doing some tinkering to my interior. Same problems with my '85 Firebird, no cup holders, or change area. Not to mention its kina worn and tired looking. But that won't be 'till winter up here when I can't drive 'er anymore.

Great idea, the Pirates pants went to good use. I think you've given Pirate sleep pants everywhere something to aspire to.

 

Just as an FYI you can buy cup holders at any marine store (like West Marine or ebay). The ones you have now look jagged! Go spend $5 and it will really improve the look of what you are trying to acomplish.

 

Subscribed.... project sounds interesting.

Good luck. Keep the pics coming.

 

So I put 2 layers of fiberglass on the console....it turned out pretty good....still have not cut it in, so it looks rough. After the first layer, i cleaned up the edges, cut off the overhang in the cup holder and change tray slot, cleaned up the spot where the a/c cd cover will fit, and got rid of as many high spots as i could. I didn't take pictures of the process b/c its extremely nasty, sticky, and hard to work with. Lets just say i lost plenty of arm hair in the process and it wasn't worth the trouble.

I know it looks rough, but thats an unfinished project for you.

ps, got my car going today, it officially has 6 miles after the rebuild and running like a champ.

 

Who lets their passengers smoke in the car anyway???

The back ashtray had to go....just put fiberglass over it smooth so you'll never know it was there. Genius.

 

I'm going to grind down the area lower than the rest of the console where the cup holder is going to be inserted(the width of the lip that you see as 'jagged')....they just look jagged till i goop it with resin and sand it to be flush....

Thanks for the advice though, i hope you guys like the progress.

 

I spent three hours this morning working on the console. I sanded it with 30grit paper using the assistance of a air compressor. I don't recommend doing this project without one!!!! It cut out hours of work.

I like the overall shape. Not done, still have to hand sand, use body filler, and sand again, then paint.

I've decided not to put power windows back in the car, the door i have to replace has the manual setup already, and i'm getting one for the drivers... Less to deal with, and most of my cars have been manual so i'm used to it. Thats one less hole i would have had to deal with in the console.

I'm leaving the wiring under the console just in case i chose to put it back in later.

What do you guys think???
Has the result so far got anyone interested in trying it?

 

one more pic

 

I think You should leave the passenger side window power, that way you dont have to reach across the car to roll it down on those hot days, or when you have to talk to somebody on that side...say a state trooper after gettng pulled over! (Not that I would know or anything.. heh heh) a friend or what not, I think it would be more convienent, despite how SLOOOWW our windows already are. It wouldnt save you much hassle..Just my 2 Cents. Looks like its coming along good, cant wait to see the finished product!!

 

What all have you really done to it? Other than the cup holder I don't see many differences, and you can just drill a hole in the console and drop an aftermarket cupholder in there it would seem alot easier lol.

 

yeah but then it would like i just drilled a hole and set in a cupholder. I'm going for slightly modified, not red neck....its bad enough Arkansans have a rep for being lazy...and i'm not one of them.
I'd like it to look like the stock console to a non-camaro owner. I'd like someone that has had a camaro in their lifetime say "Woah man, thats neat. Where did you buy that console? My 69 didnt have any cupholders....i hated it!" or "my 80's didn't have a cupholder, it was so stupid"
It doesnt have its sharp edges anymore, which scream "80's" to me. I didnt like that. I'm a fan of smooth lines...which the car will reflect. It also won't tell me if i'm in park or reverse, like i was sometimes confused on that issue while driving down the road. Anyone who can count(or feel their car) knows what gear they are in.

It also doesn't have the carpet, or the sad excuse for a/c vents. Again, screams 80's. Just because my car is a 1985 doesn't mean everything on the inside has to look 25yrs old. It also doesn't have the horrible clock. Good god how ugly!!! Enough said about the clock....how about the after-the-fact add on power window switches that weren't cut in strait?

See, just because it looks similar to the stock console doesn't mean its the stock console. I'm taking something that was in HORRIBLE shape and making it my own. My only point to this whole project was to have something not like yours....and i think its working

 

Actually I've seen some really nice cupholders done like that but you're right, to each his own. I can't wait to see the finished product though.

 

Looks like it's coming along nicely.

Decided what kind of "finish" you're going to put on it? Rattle can bed liner/undercoating stuff might match the rest of the interior pretty well?

 

I'm going with the bedliner idea, I think it'd be easier for touch ups and much easier to deal with than vinyl or another material wrap. I've already started making a new lid for the box, i'm using the existing bracket, but taking the hard black plastic top off, replacing the foam, and wrapping it using the back to an old leather jacket i was given. I'm also making a shifter boot and e-brake boot out of it.

I added some body filler last night, trimmed the backside that fit against the dash so it'd fit in....and got it set in just to see how its looking so far. I really like it, its much cleaner. I'll take more pix tonight after i sand the body filler.

 

So the latest update: lots of freakin' sanding. holy crap, lots of freakin' sanding.

I got the cupholder and change tray fiberglassed in, got it smoothed out, washed, and now its time for paint.

Got the shift boot and e brake boot made, more pix of that later. Making the console lid this weekend.

 

This def inspired me to do something like this, good job btw, its always nice to have something that is unique to you and ur car. Good job, looks good.

 

Looks good so far.

Suggestion for color/finish.
Check marine supply houses (like West). Look for a fiberglass/gel-coat
repair kit, that will contain several tubes of color tint. You can mix the
color you want into a final coat of resin. You'll need to do some final
sanding for a smooth surface, so the best you can do is a "satin"
finish. (I don't think f-g resin can be buffed totally smooth.) If you
want a really glossy finish, gel-coat might be possible.
(West Marine does internet/mail-order, if you can't find anything locally.)