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How do I straighten a crooked center console?

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Old Oct 27, 2013 | 11:18 AM
  #1  
Gen X T/A's Avatar
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Car: 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: LB9
Transmission: Turbo Hydra-Matic 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 limited slip differential
How do I straighten a crooked center console?

My center console (radio and A/C control housing) is not aligned straight. It's like it's slightly swiveled to the right so the front is slightly aimed towards the passenger, and a small amount of the rear of the enclosure sticks out into the driver side foot well. What's the best way to approach fixing this?
Attached Thumbnails How do I straighten a crooked center console?-ta15.jpg   How do I straighten a crooked center console?-ta16.jpg  
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Old Oct 27, 2013 | 01:15 PM
  #2  
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Car: 1 Owner 1986 TA with a WS6 package
Engine: 5.0 EFI
Transmission: THM700R4
Axle/Gears: 277 Posi Speedo
Re: How do I straighten a crooked center console?

It appears that your radio pod might be broken where the mounting bolts go.
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Old Oct 27, 2013 | 09:52 PM
  #3  
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From: Long Island, NY
Car: 87 Trans Am, 99 WS6, 16 Mustang GT
Engine: LB9, LS1
Transmission: 700R4, T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Posi, 4.10 Posi
Re: How do I straighten a crooked center console?

Originally Posted by mantaguy
It appears that your radio pod might be broken where the mounting bolts go.
Definitely the case. They seem to be broken on any Firebird that's been driven. The mounts are incredibly flimsy for the amount of weight they are supporting.
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 12:24 PM
  #4  
Gen X T/A's Avatar
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Car: 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: LB9
Transmission: Turbo Hydra-Matic 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 limited slip differential
Re: How do I straighten a crooked center console?

Originally Posted by _Nick_
Definitely the case. They seem to be broken on any Firebird that's been driven. The mounts are incredibly flimsy for the amount of weight they are supporting.
So which commonly breaks? The mounting hardware or the radio pod itself?

Let me guess, anything less than smooth road surfaces eventually rattles this stuff apart?
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 12:33 PM
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Car: 1 Owner 1986 TA with a WS6 package
Engine: 5.0 EFI
Transmission: THM700R4
Axle/Gears: 277 Posi Speedo
Re: How do I straighten a crooked center console?

The pods frame,it plastic,you could get away with a nice size washer.
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Old Oct 29, 2013 | 08:52 AM
  #6  
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From: Long Island, NY
Car: 87 Trans Am, 99 WS6, 16 Mustang GT
Engine: LB9, LS1
Transmission: 700R4, T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Posi, 4.10 Posi
Re: How do I straighten a crooked center console?

Originally Posted by Gen X T/A
So which commonly breaks? The mounting hardware or the radio pod itself?

Let me guess, anything less than smooth road surfaces eventually rattles this stuff apart?
Basically. I took mine out and epoxied it. Unfortunately, that broke too, so i bent some steel to fit with the frame and hold it together.
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Old Oct 30, 2013 | 10:17 AM
  #7  
Gen X T/A's Avatar
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Car: 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: LB9
Transmission: Turbo Hydra-Matic 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 limited slip differential
Re: How do I straighten a crooked center console?

The service manager at my Buick/Pontiac dealer took a look at it for me. According to the invoice:

CUSTOMER STATES CENTER CONSOLE IS NOT ALIGNED
CANNOT ALIGN CENTER CONSOLE DUE TO BROKEN BRACKETS

He claims the mounting brackets are broken, and they are no longer available from GM, so he did what he could, which was almost nothing, and buttoned it back up, no charge. Wish he would have snapped some pics.
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Old Oct 30, 2013 | 10:18 AM
  #8  
Gen X T/A's Avatar
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Car: 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: LB9
Transmission: Turbo Hydra-Matic 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 limited slip differential
Re: How do I straighten a crooked center console?

Originally Posted by _Nick_
Basically. I took mine out and epoxied it. Unfortunately, that broke too, so i bent some steel to fit with the frame and hold it together.
Good to know. I'll make a project out of it and remove the pod to see what's going on inside and take it from there. They obviously did not manufacture this part to withstand age + vibration.
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