trying to decide on center console

[idbeast]

I've got air bladder seats with infinite adjustments so it needs the controls, I had a wild idea yesterday and took a spare console I had out of a '90 Turbo Grand Prix, same one the seats came out of, and the table saw and I cut it down flat on the bottom and set it on top of the fiberglass center console I've be reworking to fit with my Vintage Air A/C center outlet. I know if I keep it I'm going to need to rework the blend between the 2 parts. I'm also thinking about using the automatic shifter out of the Grand Prix as it would work nicely with my 700R4 and save me $300-400 over a B&M. I'm just curious if it looks too out of place.

[Daze57]

looks kinda cool ------as long as you like it and serves its purpose

[vintovka]

Leave room for a 7-8" tablet. May give you all the goodies you'll ever want or need. GPS,SD player, Video player, Electronic Gauges, Internet, Bluetooth hands free phone, OBD readouts the list is endless (and possible dangerously distracting but fun) . Who know what the future will bring and having a place for a display handy is key. May even have aftermarket collision avoidance, car alarms, 360 cameras, Iff Radar (not kidding) and autonomous driving capability.

[idbeast]

Originally Posted by Daze57

looks kinda cool ------as long as you like it and serves its purpose

Thanks Daze57, I took some masking tape and some of the cut off pieces and thought I should try to see how it would look with everthing closed up and the seats uncovered...

Originally Posted by vintovka

Leave room for a 7-8" tablet. May give you all the goodies you'll ever want or need. GPS,SD player, Video player, Electronic Gauges, Internet, Bluetooth hands free phone, OBD readouts the list is endless (and possible dangerously distracting but fun) . Who know what the future will bring and having a place for a display handy is key. May even have aftermarket collision avoidance, car alarms, 360 cameras, Iff Radar (not kidding) and autonomous driving capability.

Thanks vintovka, I've got an 8" alpine for it but I'm thinking about a 8" 1din flip up screen both have most of the above mentioned stuff!

[vintovka]

Being ancient I decided to visit some car stereo shops and see whats new. The flat tablets seem to offer a window into unlimited expansion while avoiding obsolescence. The days of deep 1 - 3 din head units seem to be numbered. I was amazed to see that CDs (and even DVDs) are going ( or have gone) the way of VHS being replaced with SD chips and I phone/ipads. I find the SD the most amazing, efficient (and cheapest) way of recording and playing music.

Was warned against the "flip out" screens due to mechanical problems and prone to physical damage. They display them in stores inside protective cases to keep folks from pulling on screen and breaking it. Inclined to believe it.

I wasn't kidding about all the add on automatic stuff that can be added via a tablet. I have a new a semi-robotic autodriving car Can travel long hiways and never touch pedals or even look at dash gauges.

[mr48chev]

The console looks great but unless you are going with the whole mod rod billet pro touring thing the seats may not fit some builds. Sure will be nice for those seriously long road trips though.

[idbeast]

Thanks Daze57, and vintovka I've been busy playing with spray foam just to see how it might look... It's still a ways from being finished but coming along!!!

mr48chev, if this isn't what I like, I can always have the original seat recovered and make a different center console for it , the put this stuff in my 55 GMC!!!!

[dsraven]

the seats definately look comfy but do they fit inside the perimeter of the cab window without standing straight up and down? I found that is the problem with the high back seats, they have to be adjusted forward so far the steering wheel is rubbing your body and your knees are up around your ears. make sure you sit in there for a bit with your favorite beverage so you can see if you get fatigued from the riding position.

[dsraven]

the mock up process looks cool. musta done this before somewhere along the line?

[idbeast]

dsraven, the seats and the steering wheel actually fit me really well and even need to be moved forward just a little!
I haven't used foam before, but saw a bunch of picture of a guy reworking a Mercedes and thought I could give it a try!

[dsraven]

some guys use foam as a model for fiberglassing. it holds the resin so it doesn't just drip off. some would then remove that part as a mould and then redo a new part inside the mould, others would just shape the foam a bit small and fiberglass over top as a finished product.

[my56chevytruck]

Looks very retro, if that's the look you're going for. Seats look very comfy as well. Do you have the need for all the controls in your console? I say, do what fits you.

[idbeast]

Originally Posted by dsraven

some guys use foam as a model for fiberglassing. it holds the resin so it doesn't just drip off. some would then remove that part as a mould and then redo a new part inside the mould, others would just shape the foam a bit small and fiberglass over top as a finished product.

I don't know anything about fiberglass, so I talked to the body shop that's going to paint my truck, they said they could use the foam as a mold, and make and make a part inside, just as you said.

Originally Posted by my56chevytruck

Looks very retro, if that's the look you're going for. Seats look very comfy as well. Do you have the need for all the controls in your console? I say, do what fits you.

All the controls in the console are just for controlling the seats!!! Very comfortable seats out of a McLaren Turbo Grand Prix...

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by idbeast

I don't know anything about fiberglass, so I talked to the body shop that's going to paint my truck, they said they could use the foam as a mold, and make and make a part inside, just as you said.

making a mold for a one off console can be expensive in time and materials, time is money if you're paying someone else to do it
imo... you're better off just making the console out of fiberglass using material wrapped over a frame as the base


just a warning about working with fiberglass.... it can be addicting and quickly get out of control
what started out as a simple interior for 58 truk turned into a 2 year comprehensive fiberglass interior project

[_Ogre]

this is the base of my console with mdf frames for each component
single din receiver, 5'' monitor, door/window switches and cup holders
the base is a plywood frame with t-nuts to fasten to the lower base frame
all the bracing is temporary to hold the pieces in space

[_Ogre]

then i wrapped the space frame in t-shirt fabric and applied resin over the fabric
then applied fiberglass over the hardened fabric

[_Ogre]

one of many test fittings in truk with armrest and base

[_Ogre]

many hours of sanding, filling and sanding with a smattering of fresh paint

[_Ogre]

as you can see, ogre got a little carried away with fiberglass
the console blends with the dash fascia, armrest and subwoofer/amp/battery enclosure
i have a remote built into the armrest for ease of receiver control
in retrospect the window switches should be relocated to a better location

the i went on to build fiberglass kicks, door panels, seat pedestal covers, tonneau cover and finally a radiator cover

[Black_Sheep]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

as you can see, ogre got a little carried away with fiberglass
the console blends with the dash fascia, armrest and subwoofer/amp/battery enclosure
i have a remote built into the armrest for ease of receiver control
in retrospect the window switches should be relocated to a better location

the i went on to build fiberglass kicks, door panels, seat pedestal covers, tonneau cover and finally a radiator cover

The cane holder is a nice touch too

[dsraven]

that looks pretty nice.

[vintovka]

I like it. Smooth interior/exterior integration. You should be on a design team for automakers.

[idbeast]

Ogre, you make it so simple... where do you get the fiberglass? I'm not seeing very much about it on an internet search... How thick do you make the fiberglass?

[_Ogre]

i bought all of my fiberglass supplies from us composites, the EB general purpose resin is fine
use 3/4 oz chopped mat for all build up

as for thickness most of my stuff is 1/8'', but i built up the subwoofer enclosure to almost 1/4''
normally i would send you to fiberglassforums.com but it died a while back, i learned everything about fg there
the12volt.com has a fiberglass forum
i do have a lot of info and pics on my build thread you need google chrome and the photosuckit extension to view the pics

[dsraven]

when I replaced the floor in my boat I used woven roving, which is acourser than reg fiberglass cloth, and it had a layer of chop strand on the one side. it soaked up a bit of resin but it made a quick, thick layer and is quite strong due to the 2 types of material put together. I used a roller that looks like a paint roller made out of metal washers with spaces between each washer. when you roll it takes the bubbles out from behind the matting. grab some time on a fiberglassing site for boats and you will pick up a bunch of tech ideas.