Any suggestions for armrests in a TF?

[Russell Ashley]

I would like to put some armrests in my truck and I'm wondering if anyone has found any junk yard armrests that fit up to the original mounting screw positions. I can buy new ones for $70 plus shipping but if there's something that fits that I can find at Pull-A-Part it would be a lot cheaper. The doors have captive nuts for arm rests built in and I want to use those rather than make something to fit.

[_Ogre]

i think i got carried away

[mr48chev]

That may be easier said than done these days. after the mid 70's most manufactures started molding the arm rests into the door panel rather than have it bolt on the door panel.

Outside of some somewhat expensive aftermarket arm rests I doubt if you will find any that are a direct bolt on using the original captive nuts.

I saved a pair for years that had a fairly long arm rest with a hand grip on the front but can't remember what I took them out of. Back in the 80's I scrapped a lot of cars out when people gave them to me and I drug them into the high school auto shop I taught in and took pieces off them to make training aids out of. I'm not even sure I have those in the shed anymore as that was close to 30 years ago and a lot of the stuff I stashed away then has self destructed.

[OrrieG]

Isuzu troopers have old style arm rests. I got a pair of back door ones for ten bucks at local pick yard, look new.
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[OrrieG]

Here is a photo, upper right corner.

[1project2many]

Toyota trucks and 4runners also have bolt on arm rests. Older (80s) Volvos, VW's, Benz's, and BMW's did as well. As to matching up with OE locations, well, some modification may be required.

[Rude Dude]

If you are creative get some green Styrafoam stuff that is used for sticking fake flowers in flower arrangements. It hard density so it can be carved to your own designed. Next after you made two sets cover with fiberglass and sand it smooth you can use body filler too. Next use high strenth 3M upholstery adhesive and cover with material to match your interior. The styrafoam can be covered with plastic wrap making easier to remove or left in just remember to glass thin plywood or plastic against the side that mounts to the door panel.

http://www.joann.com/floracraft-2-7-...green/prd9873/

[Rude Dude]

When working with fiberglass dont forget mask, eye protection, long sleeve shirt and gloves (I use plenty of baby powder any where were my skin is exposed it helps and duct tape sleeves to shirt helps from gettin the glass particles in the skin)

Originally Posted by Rude Dude

If you are creative get some green Styrafoam stuff that is used for sticking fake flowers in flower arrangements. It hard density so it can be carved to your own designed. Next after you made two sets cover with fiberglass and sand it smooth you can use body filler too. Next use high strenth 3M upholstery adhesive and cover with material to match your interior. The styrafoam can be covered with plastic wrap making easier to remove or left in just remember to glass thin plywood or plastic against the side that mounts to the door panel.

http://www.joann.com/floracraft-2-7-...green/prd9873/

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by Rude Dude

If you are creative get some green Styrafoam stuff that is used for sticking fake flowers in flower arrangements. It hard density so it can be carved to your own designed. Next after you made two sets cover with fiberglass and sand it smooth you can use body filler too. Next use high strenth 3M upholstery adhesive and cover with material to match your interior. The styrafoam can be covered with plastic wrap making easier to remove or left in just remember to glass thin plywood or plastic against the side that mounts to the door panel.

http://www.joann.com/floracraft-2-7-...green/prd9873/

That would work good! I would add a couple of these in the plywood..

[Rude Dude]

The TF Trucks have threaded nutserts already behind the door panel. Get a screw that fits sharpen it to a point, install door panel back on lightly tap with a hammer to make an identation from sharpen screw. Drill out a little larger hole than in door panel than screw size come in from front of arm rest and screw in.

Originally Posted by mknittle

That would work good! I would add a couple of these in the plywood..

[_Ogre]

one thing i noticed when designing my door panels is that unless the arm rest is very wide (or your very wide) the arm rest will be worthless as an arm rest
my door panels are 1 inch wide and my arm rest hangs out 4 inches more for a total of 5 inches out from the door skin
they are very comfortable there.


@rudedude: i guess me fiberglassing in shorts, sandals and a t-shirt would make your skin crawl
the only thing i wore consistently is disposable vinyl gloves

[youngrodder]

I was lucky and got a great deal on some fiberglass ones off of EBay.
Normally they run about $125 - 150 for a pair.

I think that I won the aucution for close to $40.00. They also have a pull handle which is nice.

Marc

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

I was lucky and got a great deal on some fiberglass ones off of EBay.
Normally they run about $125 - 150 for a pair.

I think that I won the aucution for close to $40.00. They also have a pull handle which is nice.

Marc

The pull handle is really what I'm most interested in. I've been driving my truck more lately and I don't think that the interior door handles will hold up too long if I keep using them to pull the door closed. Both door handles were flopping and would barely open the door when I got it and I suspect pulling on them had something to do with it.

It's a rainey day here in Ga and I couldn't get to the Pull-A-Part so I just ordered a set from Bow Tie Bits @ $35 each. The internet makes it entirely too easy to spend money, LOL.

[1project2many]

I have a spare set of doors for a 92 Toyota pickup. The armrests look like they might be a good choice. So good, in fact, that I might tryand install them on my '57. I have some original rests that I saved from a 56 GMC but I haven't installed them because they seem too brittle.

[solidaxel]

I had good luck with the stock ones from LMC and covered them to match the interior, either the AD or TF will fit the AD's

[Russell Ashley]

Your interior looks great. I didn't check LMC but I think the ones I bought from Bow Tie Bits are the same as the ones they sell. The catalog said they fit up to 66 models.