Center console

[Fitz]

Got tired of lookin at that empty space between the buckets in my truck so...relocated the battery between the seats and built a home for it.

[68 short step]

looks good, only suggestion i have is to have it sealed, and vented out of the truck...if the bat was to get hot (short, or voltage reg. malfunctions and overcharges) it can release toxic fumes....

[PowerPro]

Originally Posted by 68 short step

looks good, only suggestion i have is to have it sealed, and vented out of the truck...if the bat was to get hot (short, or voltage reg. malfunctions and overcharges) it can release toxic fumes....

And those fumes are highly flamable... yes, we know it's an optima, but they still have the vents for this reason. Just lookin out for your safety!!!

[Fitz]

It's been a long weekend doing the detail work necessary to finish the front half of my all steel console. The devil is in the details and it took most of the weekend to get the emergency brake handle fully functional and make the aluminum panel for the overdrive switches and electric dumps but it's done! Now I get to do the part I really don't like....spray it with primer and let it cure. After that, wrap it in leather and carpet and it's done.

A friend has a really nice 56 BelAir that has been the motivation for doing this so here's a pic of what I'm after.

[OARNGESI]

Any more pics of the belair

[Fitz]

Fab work on the console is now finished and the front half is wrapped in leather and carpet. I still need to stretch some if the seams to fit and install the polished bezel for the overdrive, electric dumps and the running lights but the front is about complete. I spent the last few days making patterns for cutting and trimming the carpet and pad on the trans hump so I can do the final fit on the front half of the console. It's beginning to resemble that '56 BelAir.

[Fitz]

It's been a while since I have been able to update this. The time has been spent adding the wiring and door switches for the courtesy lights, building the panels for the electronics and installing all of the switches, LED's and the stereo control panel. All of the carpets and mats have been trimmed in leather and the final check on the wiring is finished. The end is finally in sight!

[Richard H.]

Very nice Fitz , I'm really liking all the stitch work. I think a leather shifter boot out of the same material would be a nice touch or at least that is how I want you to make mine

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Richard H.

Very nice Fitz , I'm really liking all the stitch work. I think a leather shifter boot out of the same material would be a nice touch or at least that is how I want you to make mine

I'll be makin yours soon as you build the wall I need out front! Shifter boot andf e-brake handle boot are the last two things I do. Spent the day rolling out the rear cab cover , covering it with carpet and making the inset for the pushbutton key lock that goes into the back half of the console. It needs a lock because the battery is in the back and I installed a gun safe in the front.

[Fitz]

Well, it's finished! About eight weeks of weekends invested. You guys can tell me if it was worth the bother.

Now, the only thing left to do is go out and drive this thing!

[C20-67_N_MO]

I like it!

But why did you move your e-brake to the center console?

Thats about the only thing I would have left out of it, maybe some drink holders.

Over-all very very nice work on it!

[Burb]

Very impressive ...

I would like to see some more pics on that dash with the dash mount gauges

[tasian]

that just looks awesome man great detail

[rsavage]

Superior craftsmanship. Looks terrific. Kudos to you and your work.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by C20-67_N_MO

I like it!

But why did you move your e-brake to the center console?

Thats about the only thing I would have left out of it, maybe some drink holders.

Over-all very very nice work on it!

That goes back to the previous owner. He cut all of the front cable mounts to remove them then disconnected and removed the brake lever under the dash, it's mounts and the rear cables so there was no e-brake at all. After searching for almost a year for the correct pieces to string the front cable, a a replacement handle and all of the fittings to make it work I threw in the towel and had In-Line Tube make up a custom cable to go between the Lokar handle in the pics and the two e-brake cables on the trailing arms. I actually do like it where it is now, but it would probably be more convenient if I had put in a 69 and up pedal under the dash.

Don't get me started on cup holders. It's a pet peeve.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Burb

Very impressive ...

I would like to see some more pics on that dash with the dash mount gauges

Here they are. Dolphin instruments with Ron Francis switches and knobs for lights and wipers.

[Burb]

I was really refering to the actual dash ... where I see a clock and ...?

is that a custom pad ???

[panhandler62]

I have a vague plan to do something similar.

I like the hand brake. I've never liked the step on pedels and certainly don't like the big finger-biting handle in my 68.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Burb

I was really refering to the actual dash ... where I see a clock and ...?

is that a custom pad ???

Yup: www.justdashes.com

gauges from left to right are 2 1/8 in Autometer engine oil temp, clock , trans fluid temp