Console Project

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Serj22

Serj22

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I'm sure lots of people have made a custom console for their A-body if they don't have one. I have personally made one for pretty much every car I've ever owned. Not sure why, but it's kind of an attention getter right in the middle of your car. I'd love to see other people's ideas here, and creations.

Basically, when I started this - I knew I wanted cup holders. That's all I cared about. After that, I noticed that I like to set things on the hump. Now I needed a space to set things down. On top of that, I have a few USB ports unused that would be nice for charging phones, gps unit, etc... so that can be added in there. Then later on I'll probably add a Oil PSI gauge, a vacuum gauge, and something else... so I might as well have a space to do it without screwing sunpro generic meter holders under the dash. So I came up with a concept, and as it evolves and I built it I may add or subtract things.

This was the basic idea:
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Except the hump arc would be molded to fit exactly on the hump, not just free-float over it. The entire console is 10" wide and about 32" long. It will sit about halfway between the buckets and then go forward from there. The tip of the front should be just under the radio (but on the floor) when done, and not block the air passage behind it - hence the angled back side.

I started it today and made the basic platform out of ABS. I cut 3 small 2 1/4" ABS pipe sections to house gauges -which in the past work perfectly for 2 1/16" gauges. after the console is complete, the pipe will come off so the brackets on the back of the gauges will attach properly. It'll all make sense in the end...

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I cut a slight angle in the porton the gauges fit in to arc the head portion of them back towards the floor. Then temporarily glued the pipe to the back spaced evenly - using ABS cement.

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I then drilled a 1/2" hole in the center of each gauge space and dropped a router in and cut out the circle using the ABS pipe as a guide for the bit.

Now the pipe makes sense yeah?
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Not worried about scratches from router table; this piece gets filler and paint when it's all done.

Glued the top portion of the gauge housing on to the top.

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Put the piece at the end of the blank for fitment, roughed up the blank platform on the end, and glued - perfect fitment and ready to move on to the cup holder portion - the sides get built at the very end when I figure out the contour with my super nice -new contour gauge.

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That's all I had time for today. Hopefully more tomorrow.
 
Nice, cant wait to see it complete. I too plan to build one but i am not to that point of my cars build yet.
 
Cool. I really like the console in a Dodge Caliber. So much that I would move the shifter back to the column for it. Sad part is... it wont fit between my bucket seats.
 
Thanks for sharing your process. I trying to design a revised console for my 65 cuda. Where did you get the ABS sheet stock and what thickness do you use for most parts? Looking forward to the rest of the project.
 
I will take one :) hahha wish someone in the 70's would have thought about cup holders....
 
grr8_65 said:
Thanks for sharing your process. I trying to design a revised console for my 65 cuda. Where did you get the ABS sheet stock and what thickness do you use for most parts? Looking forward to the rest of the project.
Click to expand...

The abs sheet is 1/2" and that's a good solid platform for anything. A 4x8 sheet is about $80 from any sign shop supply Company
 
Here's the one currently in my '64 Valiant, but it will soon be replaced.

There are several features I don't like, or could improve, and I'm also hoping to make its replacement look closer to something that might have come from the factory...except for the sound system. The radio will be replaced with touch screen controls and GPS and it will move to the console. The A/C and heat controls will be revised, and the additional gauges will move to the dash.

This one has a wood frame, with masonite sides and aluminum plates. The armrest raises for more storage space and access to the seat control module and wiring.

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A closer view. The new version will also have two cup holders, the storage bin will be covered, and the power jack will be hidden inside.

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I really dig that console. It looks almost factory to me as-is. Minus the radio and gauges of course. The pocket is a neat idea. I'm trying to keep the console centered on this build. I thought about making it meet the dash as yours does, but then decided to leave it on the floor. Maybe I'll make multiple ones...
I really dig that console though... the colors and everything combined with the aluminum is great.

Well I decided 2 cup holders initially, and that's what I'm going to do.:glasses7:

Cut 2 ABS 3" pipe sections at 3" long. Perfect for a variety of cups and drinks.

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These will eventually be routed into the top plate, but the ABS pipe will remain to hold drinks.

MY next conversion on the design (which might as well be scrapped at this point :D) was that the console that is supposed to go here - has wood grain. Well, what's the easiest way for a carpenter to add wood grain to anything? Well - add wood.

Redwood

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1" thick, then planed down, and cleaned up. The wood will only be visible on the inside of the "cubbys" that hold stuff, other than that, they will have body filler and paint, to make a multi-layer design. It'll make sense in the end.

Cut two pieces and made them exactly the same and mated them together for shaping.Pulled back apart and screwed in through the bottom. The cool thing about ABS, is it's got a certain softness to it, so you can utilize screws through it without pre-drilling, and the heads will sink in enough to make it flush. The screws for the wood pieces won't be visible on the bottom anyway, but make for some nice finishes if you have to screw through a visible area.

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Cup holders are just sitting there - not mounted yet.

Added an 8" wide plate to the back of the front cubby/ storage area, which will finish the trim for that area.

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Then I used that same piece to line up the cup holders, and just accepted whatever distance was between them, as good. 2" seems fine to me. ABS glue yet again to hold them in place. For those that don't know, PVC and ABS glues aren't necessarily a glue. They make a chemical reaction that basically fuses/melts the pieces together - kind of. So this method of gluing these is very strong.

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After that, I added another 8" wide panel to the back of them in case it would be visible in the elbow portion of the console. It may not be, but just in case.

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Added a final plate to the back for wherever my imagination ends that rear pocket. I now have a finished exterior frame - nowhere to go from here but up - and down to the carpet.

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And that's all i had time for today.
 
grr8_65 said:
Thanks for the info! You've got a great thing going. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you
Click to expand...

No problem. If you get desperate and can't find it anywhere, West Marine sells sheets. They are only about 3' x 1' and are $30-$40 but are definitly nice quality ABS.
 
i like it... Although i may have to google search the caliber console redfish was bragging on and see if its floor shift tweakable
 
hemitheus said:
i like it... Although i may have to google search the caliber console redfish was bragging on and see if its floor shift tweakable
Click to expand...

The caliber has a shifter on the dash (sort of) but it's still in the center kind of like a cross-over or modern station wagon (which it is) So the console is intended to mate up with it about 6 to 10" above the floor. It would basically make you reach over the top of it and down to get to a shifter on the floor. Also, if you modified the front to slope down at all, you'd cut off both the cup-holders and basically have an arm rest left over.
 
So, moved on to the sides of the lower portion of the console.

This part I am using "STARBOARD" it is made for marine applications and thus will withstand lots of abuse - like kicking it on accident, and climbing into the back seat. Makes sense yeah? This stuff is about $100 for a 4.5' X 8' sheet. It is very flexible and for this application I am using 1/4". Since it flexes, this would be ideal if you were making a slightly curved console.

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One length cut, which will do both sides.

Layed the console on its side and traced. If you want nice straight lines - learn to drive a bandsaw - like really learn how to drive it. I have been using one since I was 12 years old. But that's the secret. Learn to draw with it like a pencil. If you can't and you are making a complex shape - use the bandsaw to make curves, then a table saw with the guard pushed away to make straight lines. Just run it into the blade at an angle that will hit the soft side of the cut. The higher the blade, the straighter (but rougher) the cut. If you have the blade down low you can actually use it to cut curves.

Learning time OVER!

Now, sides attached with ABS glue and screws, which will get ground down and filled.

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Note that the sides aren't EXACT, this is good. You want a little left-over to sand down to your desired height. Yes, ABS sands, and it sands rather quick, so I recommend not using anything tougher than 100gritt.

If you want the ABS to turn black again after you sand it (it will be frosty grey) you can heat it with a hair dryer, or paint abs glue in a thin coat over it and let it dry. The glue will cause the surface to melt a little, and re-harden with a glossy finish.

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Now it's ready for a test fit. the sides sit down 2" on both sides of the console. This is where the carpet will attach eventually, with a vice-like piece inserted into the inside of the console. I'll show you how that works later - when I get to that part.

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Messed up a gauge hole earlier - going to remake that plate in a smaller (1/4") section. Not a problem!

Also thanks for all the feedback guys.

Had to stop for the day cause muffler time!

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Looking good. What car are you working in and how wide is the rear of your console ?
I ask 'cause the pics show more space between you buckets than what I have.
 
It's a four door dart. The reason it looks wide is because it is. The console will have a tapering section at the back. It will be two pieces that are molded together. The reason it's wide is old owner installed the drivers seat about an inch too far to the left. Not noticeable unless your driving and notice the wheel is slightly to your right.
 
Yeah. Waiting on two more gauges to come in so I can make a wire tunnel for everything and have it all rigged to a 12v lead on the ign side so that everything is clean. So far the Oil Pressure gauge came in, the vacuum and tach are still in the mail. They are all smoked so it will look black under there when the car is off. Too many prying eyes when I park it. For some reason people lean down and look in the windows. I don't like it. That's why i built a radio blank that looks like the stock radio. I try to keep the dash as un-interesting as possible.

Still waiting on white vinyl to come in and I am toying with different arm rest ideas...
 
Hi...hope to be working on the car this summer. I need to build a console for a ratchet shifter (and coffee cups) . I cannot decide if it would be best to do it out of wood or sheet metal. What I cannot figure out if I use wood, how I attach it to the car especially if I cover with auto carpet.

There was a guy that designed this couple years ago but I cannot find his name.

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any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ian.
 
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