I just received my console today and after some examination I don't understand how the auto upper piece wouldn't work. Worst case scenario looks like the shifter may have to be slid over maybe 1/2 inch or so. Not too difficult. The clearance for the shifter itself doesn't appear to be a problem either. Anyone here try and use the auto piece?

 

I think cuase the shifter is in a slighty different postion and ours sticks up to far. don't quote me on that.

 

It works but you have to cut a lot of bracing out from underneith the console. If you can track down Scott88gta he can tell you how to do it. He has a auto console in his car. Looks really good too.

 

From looking at mine i would say that the problem is that the shifter iteself is higher than the top part of the console. With the standard, the shift boot covers it up.

 

Yea his shifter does sit up higher but he is looking for a boot to make it look correct. It does look really good. I don't like the auto cars with a manual consoule. Something just doesn't look right about it. I think once he gets the boot made for it,it will look more natural than a auto with a manual consoule. I will talk to him today and have him post about it if I catch him online today.

 

I personally do not have a auto equipped 3rd or 4th gen (both of mine are manuals). I am just wondering if you thought about using the 4th gen auto shifter with the console. I have seen and read the installs but I never seen anyone say whether the 4th gen shifter works in a 3rd gen or not. I figured I throw that out there to see what you or others on the board think about that possibility. Good luck with your install.

 

That may be worth a shot. The auto gives a good place for the window switches where the shift switch is.

 

If anyone has pics of an auto 3rd with an auto 4th console please post them. And if anyone knows where I can find Scott88gta let me know. I'd like to talk with him about this as well.

 

Here is my 5 speed with an auto 4th gen shift plate,

Looks kinda funky, doesn't it.

Looks better this way,

 

I haven't seen him online for a couple of days when I see him I will give him a heads up on this topic.

 

Hey guys, Brock finally got ahold of me. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the finished product yet, but I will try and explain what I did.

The main problem is that the console sits too low on a Thirdgen transmission tunner (maybe it's narrower?). Anyway, it causes the shifter to sit up too high. The actual height of the Thirdgen shifter vs. the 4th gen is the same - I compared them, so swapping shifters isn't worth much. The shifter also sits farther forward and a little to the left in a Thirdgen as opposed to where it does in the 4ths. In our cars, the shifter is actually mounted on a piece of sheet metal that is raised above the tranny tunnel, I had to cut this out and mount the shifter straight on the tunnel to get even close to the right height. I also had to modify the top of the shifter bracket to gain some clearance. The switch for the back up lights (and TC lockup) is mounted underneath a piece of metal. That metal piece sticks up to high, so I had to bend it down farther and cut parts of it off, and drill new holes and mount the switch lower down, this was the only way to get the clearance needed.

Once you do that it'll be close, but there's no way to use the cover for the shifter that slides back and forth from the console, it takes up too much room. I ended up cutting the part that has the shift indicator off from the other piece so that I wouldn't have a gaping hole there. This leaves the slot where the shifter slides open. The best idea I've had to fix that so far is to just get a piece of stiff rubber and cut a slot in it (similar to the e-brake handle).

The other issue that I ran into was that when the shifter handle is moved back to the new position the shifter cable just barely fits, and the cable that locks the shifter when the ignition isn't on wouldn't fit in my car, so I just unhooked it.

Overall it took me a good 8-9 hours worth of work (with a friend) to get this right, but none was terribly hard. You just have to have patience, and take it slow and do lots of test-fits. In all honesty, even though it looks much better with the auto shift plate, it's a lot more work.

Also, for those of you with power switches in the console, I ended up cutting out the ashtray assembly and taking a piece of ABS plastic to fill in the hole, and mounted my power window switches in it. I also took the TCS cover plate (p/n 10280509) for the little cubby hole and mounted my power mirror switch in it. The only problem with this is that the directions are now incorrect. I'm trying to figure out how to rewire it so that they're correct, but I haven't got it just yet.

I hope you guys can understand that, if not let me know and I'll try and explain it better.

 

I've rewired the switch many times and you will not be able to get the directions completely correct. As close as it will come is having the swithc horizontal and the new left and right working correctly, and the up and down reversed. I've decided after rewiring and frying a switch in the process, that I'm just going to leave the switch alone and say that the directions are meant from the driver's side only. I might change it though...ug...can't make up my mind. Let me know if you want directions on changing the wiring, though it doesn't accomplish exactly what you want it to.

 

Yeah, I've figured out how to get it that far too (and fried a switch in the process as well ), I'm just still trying to figure out if there's a way to get it all the way correct. There's got to be a way.

 

does the ebrake match up with the 4th gen center console? cause I have a manual looking shift ****. ANd I have a 4th gen manual console. So I can just make a boot for the shifter and kinda make it look manual. But anyways will the ebrake be int eh right spot? Thanks.

 

I'd like to see some pics of how it looks Scott if possible. I have a manual top piece coming which I ordered before I got a good look at the auto piece. I'll go with the 6 speed console for now and may try and make the auto piece work at a later date. Would it be possible to fit the mirror control in the ash tray opening along with the window switches? I think I've seen a pic somewhere that had all three switches in there.

 

I don't think there is even close to the room needed to put the mirror and window controls in the ashtray. I was thinking if I did the swap I would put the mirror control on the drivers side of the consoule or inside the armrest.

 

Revlimit - the ebrake lines up fine, no problems there at all.

Mongoose - I'll try and get some pics up soon. I don't really think that there's room in the ashtray for all three switches, and if they did fit it'll be really tight.

 

Cool thanks for the help man. hell I guess imma throw it in today or tommorow haha...probabl post up some pics after.

 

I've seen pics of all three switches in the ashtray.
I'll see if I can find some.

 

here is a pic...i think it is 86firebird's...the guy who painted his TA the prowler orange that looks like the 4th gen. He has the two switches in a 6 speed console...i personally like teh 6 speed one better...especially since you can have such better placement of the switches...it looks clean and as if it belongs in the car. DOES ANYBODY KNOW IF YOU CAN USE THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER FROM THE 4TH GEN IN YOUR 3RD? HOW HARD IS IT TO REWIRE?

James

 

I believe that's Nosaints car. I'm planning to do something similar.

 

Woah, A thirdgen in Gran Turismo 3?

 

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here is a pic of my 96 firehawk console, was a automatic, that i made work, with my 700r4 , but im not really happy with the way it turned out so im buying a newer console plate, 5spd with the bigger boot, plus for my window swicthes,

 

opps here pic should show up now

 

All 3 switches will fit exactly end to end with no gap between or on the sides...

And regarding the cig lighter, you can cut the wire harness off of a 4th gen. It's just 2 wires +/- to a pigtail to each lighter outlet for the 97+ that has 2 lighters.

 

The above pic is the one I saw before.
Looks pretty cool.
Now I need to do that and try and make it flush with the console.

 

If/when the power window motor goes out on my RS, I'm going to go ahead and move the window switches to the door and make a panel/handle/armrest for that. That will make it easier for if/when I install a 4thgen center console. I don't really care about cupholders or the look, the only reason I would do it is because I like the way the console lid opens (hinged on the side rather than the back). Even though it's not hard to move the hinge on the existing lid... no matter.