Console door questions

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moparmat2000

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I have never had an A body console until now. Have a few questions. The one I am trying to piece together is for a 69.

The door does not have a latch button like on a 71 up. Because of this. Is the hinge spring loaded open or closed?

Second question. The door doesnt sit tight against the console at the back end on the drivers side. Is the door supposed to be slightly twisted down its length to fit shape looking down it from the front to back in order to fit the console fiberglass?

Thanks
Matt
 
The door is spring loaded, it should hold itself closed. It also holds itself open because of how the spring action works. The door should be flat too, although it’s not uncommon for them to twist because of the spring loaded hinge.
 
Matt our 67 spring is super strong. Holds door closed. Ours doesnt stay open on it's own, no matter how wide we open it. Sits flush to body front and back.
 
My '68 door has a small "arm" that fits in a notch to hold it open, but otherwise it is spring loaded closed and even.
 
I have the little arm that fits in the back. The spring loaded hinge I have must be from a 71-76 it wants to hold the door open. This console is a mix match of different years parts to make it up. I am now assuming that theres 2 different hinges. One is spring loaded open for doors with a latch button. the other is spring loaded closed for doors without the latch button.
 
Since my hinge is spring loaded open, and the console has a spot for a latch button clasp to bolt in, I may do something with a high strength hobby lobby magnet on a fashioned up bracket mounted to the clasp bracket, and a glued piece of steel sheet to the door underside to hold it shut, and then let the spring hold it open.
 
Moparmatt2000.

I have a 66 console - factory in my 66 Barracuda. I purchased the PG set up from Classic. Let’s just say it’s 1/2 the weight, twisted screw holes are wrong and does not fit as well as the 66’- lots of mods to make work.
The entire “kit” they sell is junk. Back to yours... I am not sure if you went this route or have a complete factory set up still. They are wonkie regardless and you need to play with and adjust like any moving body part.
Just so you know. My 66’ set up the spring holds the lid down onto rubber pads and will spring closed from the 90 degree vertical position very easily factory lid or aftermarket lid.
Syleng1
 
I have 2 lids. One is OEM with the button. The aftermarket replacement is a PG. OEM is twisted 1 way, the aftermarket is twisted the other way. I am going to make 2 pairs of wood clamp blocks and on my oem one first, will clamp it into my vise, and using parallel clamps try to tweak it straight. If that works, I will do the same to the PG one. Since I bought it second hand, i cannot return it Will have tweak it to make it work.
 
On my 69 Dart, console is wood grain decal with no button, just a lip to pull open. The piano hinge is spring loaded to keep the cover in a closed position. The rear guide (screwed to the underside of the cover) has a round edge that catches a notch in the console base, that holds it open. A little downward pressure and the top pulls closed. (see pics of parts ):
spring loaded cosole top hinge.jpg

console guide 1.jpg

console guide 2.jpg


console guide 2.jpg
 
Do you have a pic of the metal notch piece in the console base at the aft end? If you have one that's a spare I would like to buy it from you, if not I am a metal fabricator by trade, could you send me a tracing of it?

BTW I took the later spring that is spring loaded to open, and wound it to be spring loaded closed, so that part is fixed, I also tweaked the door closer to flat by hand.
 
Matt, I do not have a pic of the piece on the console base, I am not even sure how to describe it. I thought mine just had a notch in the base itself, but I will have to look closer. My car is about 40 minutes away and will see it hopefully by the end of this week.
If you can wait, I will gladly document what is now there and take a few pics.
 
It's cool. I removed the one tab on the back of mine. It had a folded over end for I am assuming the cars with the latch and spring open console door, so it couldent be over extended open. Theres marks on it where the door tab scrapes against it. I can use that as a guide as to where to pop a rectangular hole or something. Will make a new one out of .032" stainless steel sheet with a hold open hole at work tomorrow. BTW with a little adjusting of the hinge, and tweaking the lid with my hands, I got it really close to perfectly lining up with the front plate.
 
Also noticed theres 2 holes for rubber bumpers for the door. One at the front, one at the back. Who sells these?
 
15742770041255141974568613912496.jpg

There is just a detent in the console plastic for the metal piece to snap into to hold it up
 
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That's it huh? Well that's something I'm gonna have to get crafty with. That chunk of fiberglass is missing out of mine lol
 
Yes. Mine just has a large opening in plastic console, not as nice as Rat Rods.
20191120_133023.jpg
20191120_135306.jpg
20191120_135317.jpg
 
Mine has been setting on top of the console to hold it open. RatRods looks more correct.
 
Still looking around...
Not sure if the ashtray rubber bumpers from Classic Industries would work for you.
 
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