reproduction console and chrome trim

[70Stub]

I have a new repo console and repo outside chrome trim ring. It appears that the chrome ring is about 1/2'' longer than the console. Has anyone ran into this problem? I don't know if the console is smaller than an oem one or if the trim is longer than an oem one. I have no original ones to measure to compare. Has anyone ran into this? Can someone measure theirs for me? I know the repo stuff is crap but its tough to find an original console thats reasonable priced, but I hate to try to cut the ring and take a chunk out of it to make it fit. Thanks

[dagnabbitt]

Post some pics so we know which repro you are talking about. I have a couple of them myself and you can make them work if you have a dremel tool.

[70Stub]

Attached are pictures of console.

[Hidesertchevy]

If I’m not mistaken the trim will only work on oem consoles not aftermarket. I bought aftermarket trim for an original console and it fit ok.

[dagnabbitt]

I have a different repop console - yours is much nicer actually - and I measured carefully and then used a dremel to make the slots for the trim to fit into. Not perfect but close.

[weq92f]

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Help a guy out...what were those consoles designed to hold in the slots there in front?

-Kevin

[Hidesertchevy]

Seat belt buckle holder.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Yeah I dont think you can get that trim to work, the back half of the repop consoles is alot different than a factory console. You cant really chop the trim up and shorten it. Forcing it at the back will most likely kink it as its pretty soft.

The stock console is more angled in the back which would then create the longer upper area where that trim would fit. Can kind of see it in these pics of when I was putting buckets and a console in my truck.

[dagnabbitt]

Buy some more OEM parts and some that are available on the board. You can make it look OEM.

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by Hidesertchevy

Seat belt buckle holder.

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Back then I suspect very few gents were riding around with mugs of coffee or spirit, certainly not something like big gulp so this makes sense to me. Seat belts on the other hand weren't a thing of necessity or maybe even on many folks mind at all. My first thoughts on them floated towards cigarettes and related paraphernalia. Maybe other items of the era also conveniently fit into them. Just curious indeed as this stuff fascinates me almost as much as what SpaceX is doing.... not kidding.

-Kevin

[1970cstblazer]

One of the more subtle mods I did to my 1970 Blazer was using the top half of a 1975-80 cup holder console. This makes the console much more useful, since it was very redundant to have an ashtray in the console and in the center of the dash-plus I do not smoke. I thought the seat belt slots were kinda idiotic. Also there is a center slot that fits my smart phone just fine on the cup holder version. MUCH better!

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

Buy some more OEM parts and some that are available on the board. You can make it look OEM.

If that is a repop console, which brand is it? that looks much closer to an original console than the one the OP bought.

[dagnabbitt]

Originally Posted by CAMAROBOY68SS

If that is a repop console, which brand is it? that looks much closer to an original console than the one the OP bought.

Its a piece of junk I bought off of LMC. I knew it wouldn't be great quality but I was really disappointed when I got it. When I complained they sent me a second one. So I used an OEM lid, OEM trim ring, and a cup holder off of ebay - and the dremel tool - and made one of them look a little better.

I am quite happy with it now. What would be the lower two pieces on an original (the parts that always break) is just one piece of molded plastic on this repop.

I am thinking about making that lower section into a cooler.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Well the lower half shape is much more accurate. Might be something for me to think about for the busted up parts console I have.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Hidesertchevy

Seat belt buckle holder.

Yeah. I remember when these trucks were new. Even then, we considered that a polite fiction. Their position within inches of an Ash Tray gave away their real purpose.

[dagnabbitt]

Originally Posted by CAMAROBOY68SS

Well the lower half shape is much more accurate. Might be something for me to think about for the busted up parts console I have.

It wasn't a difficult mod, and lids are easier to come by than unbroken lower and middle pieces. And as long as you like black: the repop plastic is not paintable.

The first thing I would do if I were OP would be to contact PICKMUP about the cupholders he has for sale. He wouldn't sell me one - he refused to ship to me because I live in Canada - but they look like they are really good quality. They would dress up that console a lot and you'd decide that you don't need a trim ring. Do that, drill two holes in the lid for an OEM emblem and it would look great. Only purists on this forum would give it a second glance. I'm a purist too, but until you find that perfect console at a swap meet this will work great for you.