Update on refurbishing my center console(PIC'S)

[BobbyK]

About 2 months ago I asked for tips on refurbishing my center console from my 71 Blazer.I took the suggestions given and went to work(I'm a slow worker)
Here are the results.I think it turned out AWESOME!!!!
Thanks to those who gave tips.

Before


After


To see all the pic's I took while redoing the console click HERE

[72shadetree]

nice job that looks good you sure you havent done it before hehe

[Yukon Jack]

I've followed some of the projects you have shown us and I must say you sure do great work. That console looks awesome.

[Lippyp]

Wow, that looks brand new

[wnc mountain]

Great looking console.
I have a question. Are the cup holders a blazer thing or a 71-72 thing, or aftermarket. my console just has slots and i want cup holders.

[Classic Heartbeat]

The cup holders are a 73 and later. 69-72 had the square holes for seat belts. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[Castiron9]

Very nice job....................

[darrel_s]

Good lookin console. I've eventually got to do the same thing. Can you list the steps you took and the various products you used. Thanks

[BobbyK]

What Wes said(about the cup holders)

darrel_s,there is a link to all the pic's I took and the products I used just after the "after"photo.
Or just click here

If you have to "sign up" to the Image Station to view the rest of the pic's let me know and I'll post the pic's here instead.

Thanks for the positive comments so far.

[chaptr2]

Man that looks perfect! You really did a nice job on that. The website asked me to sign up to look at your pictures. I would love to see how and what you did to make the console look that good.

[BobbyK]

Well signing up isn't that hard and it cost's nothing but I know most won't,so here are a few pic's.

The bottom had a hole and a major crack that went the length of the base of the console.

This is where the lid sits on.This cross piece was busted in half.I used J.B. Weld to fix all the cracks in the console.I bent up some 3/4" aluminium and rivitted it in place to help support this area.

Here the lid has been stripped to the orig. finish and is ready for paint.

I used 26 Gauge galvinized sheet metal to make plates for the bottom and the inside bottom.It covers the hole and will help to add stregth to the base.

The bend came out real well.

[BobbyK]

I have to make several posts.It won't allow me to attach all the pic's in one reply.

Here is the inside base plate cut and fitted.

Here is that plate inside the console.

painting things up with the black dye/paint I used

the bottom.I rivitted the two base plates together,sandwiching the fiberglass bottom of the console between them.

the orig. wire that limits how far back the lid goes was missing.I went to my local hardware store and picked up some chain.Looks good and works well.

the chemicals I used.The majority of the 2 layers of paint were taken off with the middle can of aircraft remover(bought at Walmart)It worked well.I got it down to the orig finish useing Acetone and a toothbrush.The can on the left is the dye/paint I used(bought at my local auto paint supply).The can on the right is call Molecubond.I used it to redo my sunvisors.I could have used it on the console as well.

my cup holder was boken in 3 places.Again J.B.Weld was used.Here I've sanded down the excess J.B.Weld.

spraying the cup holder with the same dye/paint I used on the rest of the console

The finished product

I purchased some clips for my "D"cell Mag Light at OSH(Orchard Supply and Hardware).I used existing holes in the back to mount the clips to the console.


And that's basically it.I've got more pic's but this give you a basic idea of what I did.

[Dan72cst]

That looks great!!!! Is it OK to use aircraft stripper on fiberglass? (I assumming the consoles fiberglass) I've heard cautions about it "soaking in" or something of that nature and plays havick after you repaint.


I want to do the same to restore the texture on my console as it has too many layers of paint and a stripper would seem to work great. thanks for any input.

[Myride]

looks nice.

[BobbyK]

I left the stripper on for about 15-20min. as stated in the directions on the can.I did forget to wipe off the stripper when I did the cup holder.It sat on there about an hour.Iwashed off the stripper,cleaned things up and then painted it without any ill effects.Maybe I was lucky.
The acetone works great also but it evaporates REALLY quickly.It takes a little more elbow grease as well.
The console is fiberglass but the outer,textured layer does not seem to be affected by the aircraft stripper.
If your weary of useing the aircraft stripper use the Acetone.

[Gene]

Ok this has nothing to do with your restoration but your pics popped a question into my head? (nice job by the way man!) I have a center console in my cheyenne and buckets, but mine does'nt have cupholders? It just has 2 1 inch by 3 inch slots on either side of the ashtray? What were these for and was just the trucks fitted with the non-cupholder type consoles?

This is the only pic I have of my console.

[racedvl]

The slots are for the ends of your seat belts. Cup holders are for the 73 & up trucks.

[BobbyK]

What racedvl said.
Oh...and thanks.

[chaptr2]

Hey Bobby I love the console you really did a great job. I love your idea for your mag light holder. I'm going to steel your idea and do that!

[BobbyK]

Feel free my man,and thanks