I got two cup holders (2" and 3" deep) and a 2-8/7" hole saw to add a cup holder to my center council like shown below by another member. I'm hoping someone that has done this before, or that has had their center counsel off recently, and can tell me what lies beneath. I just want to know how careful I need to be about wires or the trans tunnel, or whatever else may be under there. I can't see a way to look in their easily without removing the whole center counsel, which I don't want to do if I can avoid it... I'm also trying to figure out if there is enough room for the 3" deep cup holder, or if only the 2" deep version will fit properly.

 

Mostly void, there are wires, but nothing you cant push down/out of the way. If you remove the shifter plate you can get a good look.

 

Glad to hear that. I did actually do that too, but couldn't see much past the switches for my windows and the hatch release...

 

Forgot to say, 2-3" should be no issue.

 

I just went ahead and did it, carefully! Marked the center of the panel, predrilled it with a little maybe 1/8" bit, then with the hole saw center bit, whole saw removed, then with the hole saw, taking it slow, keeping the speed slow, and keeping light pressure. Eventually it made it through cleanly. I tried vacuuming up as much as I could inside and outside the hole. I then used a sanding drum, again at low speed in a circular pattern to open the 2-7/8" hole up so that the cup holder would fit snugly. Od actually measured about 2.9".

On my 1991 car, there actually is some sort of little box down in there, the use of yellow connectors make me think it is an impact sensor for the airbag. Can anyone confirm? This box actually does keep the deeper 3" cupholder from seating flush, though only by about an eighth of an inch. So i just went with the shallower 2" one and it fits no problem. I don't think the drinks will be any less stable. And the shallower one allows my tapered disposable. Offer cups to actually just touch the bottom, which is a plus to me.

It's really the only reason I did this. I like driving the Camaro to work on nice days, but I need my coffee in the morning or I'm a zombie. This gives me somewhere to put it down. Certainly beats holding it in one hand for 45 minutes!

I took a bunch more pics if there is anything else anyone wants to see.

 

That looks great. Where did you get that cup holder from, and what did you use to secure it to the console? Also, does it grip the drink well enough around turns?

 

It is this one from Amazon the 2" deep one fit best for me:
Sea-Dog 588000 Flush Mount Drink Holder, 2" Deep - Black https://amzn.to/3LP02r0

With the whole saw bit i got, the whole was still slightly too small, so i used the dancing drum on my drill and gently went around the edge of the hole one time then test fit the cupholder untill it fit snug. It is not perminantly secured, but there is nowhere for it to go, and it is snug. I mostly use it for those 12 oz disposable cardboard/Styrofoam coffee cups i bring my morning coffee in when I drive to work. It holds them no problem, but I don't drive agressively while I have a drink in there... if you have an older car, I suspect pre airbag, not sure what year that was, ypu may not have those yellow electrical devices down there, and may fit the 3" deep cup holder, also available from Amazon in the link above, and it may hold tapered cups even more securely.

The stuff in the way undery center council only gets in the way by maybe a mm or two, so I actually bought another 3" deep cup holder, cheaper than the 2", and I plan to try to cut the ring off the top of one to use as a spacer under the other to raise it up just that extra little bit.

 

I see your cup holder has drain holes like mine ... I took an old washcloth, folded in half then half again (quarters), and just laid it under the cup holder to catch sweat drops from a cold drink and keep them from shorting anything out under there.

 

Valid point, I definitely do not want any liquid getting down in there... I may just try CAREFULLY using a soldering iron to melt the holes closed from the bottom. Or I could put some Gorilla tape underneath, but that you would want to replace yearly so it doesn't dry out. Wonder if PVC glue would close up those little hoses too? I have a spare, may have to experiment when time permits...

 

Well, I never thought about how to close the holes, cause then I'd have a puddle in the cup holder. The washcloth folded underneath works great though. 12 years and it's never gotten wet enough to mold or anything. The heat from tranny and exhaust dries those few little droplets pretty quick.

 

Looks real good, but it's not a council. It's a CONsole...

 

Eh... thanks, spelling was never my strong suit.

I just went straight to sealing the holes, because I just last weekend had a take out soda cup where the glue holding the base to the sides failed, and i came back to the car a couple hours later and the cupholder jad 2 inches od soda in it. Dont want that all going through the little holes! Not that i leave take out soda cups in the cup holder for long periods of time, especially in that car, but still...

 

I tried using a soldering iron last night to close up the drain holes. I had to use a little extra material from a spare cup holder to fill the holes. Should be water tight...



I also tried cutting the top lip and using it as a spacer so the deeper cupholder could be used. It turned out ok, but I'm not sure there is that much to be gained from the deeper cupholder, other than I guess your drink sits an inch lower, so it gets in the way of the shifter less. Again, if you have a pre-airbag car, the electrical components MAY not be there and the deeper cup holder may fit unmodified...