Per the request on another thread I wrote up a tech article on how I got my console w/auto plate to work. I am missing a couple pics, but I will do my best to explain wht I did. If you have any questions feel free to ask!


After a couple test fits, I realized it fit pretty close left to right, but the shifter needed to be slid back quite a bit, so I got a BFH (big freaking hammer) and hammered the angled piece on the tunnel where the back of the shifter rested against. You can see in the above pic where the shifter screws had to be relocated to. the bottom arrow shows where the screw originally went, and you can see after I slid the shifter back where the screw acually had to be. The upper arrow shows where I tried to relocate the other screw, but I couldn't get it in due to it being close to the angled piece. I haven't had any problems with it moving or rattling.


This shows where I had to relocate the back 2 screws for the shifter plate.

Note - the wholes went into the car in the same spot as they were meant to, I just had to drill new holes through the shifter plate.



I did have to shift the lower portion of the console over a bit, but that wasn't really an issue. Just drill out the hole a little bigger.



This is before I started cutting. The arrows show what are the problem areas, and what required modding.



using my rotozip (or a dremel) with a cutting bit (stone bit might work too) I cut the areas out that were rubbing. This took MANY test fits, but you can see where it ended up.

Note - the green dotted line shows where the plastic originally came down too.



Looking at it from the underside you can see I had to remove a couple other areas.




I hope this helps, and if you have any questions feel free to ask!!
There might be an easier way to do this, but I couldn't find any tech articles on here, so I just did what I thought was right. Good luck guys

 

couple more "after" pics:

 

Nicely done; quite nice.

 

BEAUTIFUL!

 

looks good man, but what about the plastic slats that move along with the shifter shaft to cover up the hole.. i don't see it in the pics.. does it still bolt up under there okay ?

 

I am currently working on that piece. I will update when that is complete

 

Very nice. I may try that.

 

It looks like the 4th gen console comes down and coveres more carpet over the tunnel than the third gen console. Is this the case? It may be the answer to my carpet woes. Where I cut to much off the center console part.

Let me know. This interests me quite a bit.

 

willl this work on a 89 IROC...??

Looks nice..now i want it!!

 

Is it just me, or is that now one LONG FREAKING SHIFTER HANDLE???!!!??!!?! How cow!

Should be able to have it cut/shortened, huh?

Other than that, that looks REAL good!

 

That shifter handle probably looks so long because there's no boot on it.
That looks really good, not sure if its worth the effort though.

 

The 4th Gen console sits down farther in that area, so maybe that's why it looks so much longer........

Yes the 4th gen console does go down farther on the passenger side then the stock console, so it covers more carpet.....

Also what are your plans for making those 2 slots filled?? Where it is suppose to say P N D

I like the manual boot better, but then again, I'm biased....

 

That's good to know. I made a mistake replacing my carpet. I cut to much for the center console. Not to much. But enough to annoy me. I need a new console anyway and teh fourth gen is cheaper than the third gen console. So it looks like the way to go.
Thanks.

 

How mcuh is the 4th gen console, and where can i get one?

 

eBay!

 

rofl, ebay is wonderful. :-D

 

Thanks for the tech article.
Looks good. I am going to attempt to get mine done this weekend.
Are there any issues going into 1st gear?

Can the shifter shaft be shortened since it looks a little too tall with the 4th gen shift plate.

 

Not a prob, I have learned a lot from this site, so it was time I paid my dues

1st gear is good - no probs at all


Shortening the shifter...hmmmm. I dunno - I bought an extra shifte, and I am going to try, but it has a plastic center piece that would have to be removed as well, and on the outer metal part there is a slice on each side that keep the shifter handle from swiveling. Good luck on that one bro, and if you get it figured out - write a tech article

 

Will do.
That plastic thing on the inside of the shifter shaft comes right out. It fell out of mine when I was walking around carrying the 4th gen shifter and the 3rd gen one. I tried to get either one to work without cutting anything.