FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

I want to fit a centre console comindg down from the dash, I am about to make the frame but am worried about glovebox clearance and my glove box door and hinges are packed away somewere.
I was going to have the console 2" wider than the radio panel on each side as well as sticking out about 2" from the dash panel, will it clash with the glovebox door when you open it?

...that's one BIG console Leon,

Are you sure you want a monstrosity taking up your front space??

i reckon the glove box would foul on the thing, but with a console that big you probably won't need a glovebox!

Cheers

Ed

I would like to incorporate a tv, snack and drinks bar, telephone and guages in it.

Serious!

ok then...

this is how I made mine, you can definiltey get a better flowing shape.

make the side profile panels up with MDF you can put curves or whatever you want..

to get the shape across the top between the profile  sides stretch some fabric and staple it down to the sides.

fibreglass resin this to give it form shape.

you then laminate it with appropriaet matting (i use lightweight mat as it conforms better to shapes).

after this you can sink recesses into itm glue brackets or whetever on to it and use body filler to get your final smooth shape.

then paint of trim as appropriate.

this way you avoid big ugly joins, vast acreage of flat panels, and you actually get a nicely formed flowing piece of art.

if it's going to be BIG, make it look GOOD

you don't want it to look like you've bought a Wall Unit from Mad Barry's and trimmed it to fit.

remember to post pics of the build

Cheers

Ed

LMAO ;D

To add my two cents..
If there are only simple curves in the centre, you could add braces between the two sides and screw down a thin sheet of MDF to the shape. Laminate another sheet or two on top of this to add strength.
Alternatively, you could incorporate separate interlocking panels in the centre that would more easily allow a two-tone trim design if you want to go that way.

Or, you could do this....

(http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/carcontent/streetmachine/mercules/13b.jpg)

(http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/carcontent/streetmachine/mercules/15b.jpg)

(http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/carcontent/streetmachine/mercules/16b.jpg)

(http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/carcontent/streetmachine/mercules/30b.jpg)

:o

What, Leon hasn't got enough on his plate?  :o

That really is something though....

that truly is art...

Daryl Macbeths Magna had a cool console too from memory.

(http://tinyurl.com/hp6p3)

nice.. thanks Shane.

how do u link this pic?  

this is what to AVOID...
http://gallery.oldholden.com/ReaperHR/ReapersHRPics/Inside_Reapers_Cars/P1020769small.jpg.html

(http://gallery.oldholden.com/d/53404-2/P1020769small.jpg?g2_GALLERYSID=1e697923ea93fc5df4f13a7728a03e6f)

Oh dear. ::)

More of McBeth's, can't find a completed one at the moment though.
(http://tinyurl.com/km3s3)

(http://tinyurl.com/h2j5y)

(http://tinyurl.com/z7sup)

(http://tinyurl.com/hbnyo)

That purple thing's fantastic :D.

Just what all you FC owners need, an internal Tilli Detroit kit  :P

Cheers
John

Leon,

I had a look at the glovebox last night.

it drops down about 2 inches below the level of the dash unfortunately.

didnt measure exactly but can do if you need.

Cheers

Ed

Have you had a look at Smithy's console?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/smithy59/DSC_0768.jpg)

hey guys, cheers for posting the pic stinky but everytime i look at this console the cheaper and uglier it looks. :-/ and i was having problems getting the top section looking good. i wanted to have a lid to hide valuables when parked and when removed allows me access to wiring etc.
i am in the process of ripping it out as my next door neighbour has offered to roll me up one out of mild steel. if i can get away from his harley and his bar in his garage: ;D

fccool, i had to step the console in on the left hand side to allow me to use the cowl vent, the glove box lid will foul on yours as the edge of the lid will drop under the dash by around an inch.

back to the drawing board i think ;)

cheers
dean

I like those car seat covers....mmmmmmmmmm ;D

FWIW Smithy, I like the concept but the design just needs to less "boxy".
Doodling whilst on a conference call to Sydney I came up with the following. Taking the lines from the speaker grille and replicating them below the dash line should neaten it up and still provide clearance.

(http://i1.tinypic.com/v3py7d.jpg)

You could even get some strips of alloy (Bunnings etc) and glue/screw them onto the edges to make the design more '50s. Well, as '50s as you can get with CD players etc  ;D

cheers stinky, i like what you've suggested especially the bunnings idea yeah i think it looks way too boxy aswell, ive got a sheet of 3mm aluminium plus a couple of small 1mm offcut sheets which i may cut up and use for gauge surrounds. im still working on a few designs but i want to get a more flowing line through the console.
just a bit limited with space as i dont want to get the CD player too close to the heater, and i have a rather large and boxy trans tunnel which sort of complicates things, and seeing that the EQ was shorting out somwhere internally this will be the first to go, i also have an old smiths clock out of some pommy car which i may incorp aswell. the Cd player will have to stay around this area though as i have made up a solid mount / braket that im using to solid mount the head deck.( if someone wants to steal the CD player they better be prepared to take the whole thing apart  ;) )
cheers again

dean

Fitzpatrick's FC has a real boxy design that works in with the whole interior from memmory (SRVLIVES) :)

I havent done much drawing since leaving school and just realised how out of practice I am so this may look a little out of proprtion and skewif.
here are some of the ideas I had in mind and have already purchased the materials for.
I have 1" pipe to make the frame ( I also have a pipe bender.), the tv fascia will need to be made from scratch, to get the aluminium I wanted I had to buy a bbq tool set in a aluminium case.
The tv would be quicker to set up if I have the tuning control on the side of the console and already has a rca video input for the dvd player, it is black and white and cost $29.
I first planned to have the guages, switces, knobs , telephone and tv below the dash but the shifter is mounted to high.
the telephone can be recessed into the console by 1.5", it is a early black backerlite one wich I eventually plan to fit a port-o-rotary module to so I can use it with a modern sim card.
I am not sure if a warmer / cooler will fit as there is less room than I thought when you put the seats in but it looks like it should and they are only around $35, thats the part I still dont have.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/console.jpg)

Hey Leon.
Nothing wrong with your drawing skills, looks like something Barris would have penned on a napkin over lunch.  ;)
Regards
Alex

?

I can't find any online pics of Fitzy's

Although I tip my hat to fitzy pulling of multiple grand champion wins, I dont really go for the street machine or hi tech style that much. most of the styling in this car will be late fifties / early sixties custom style.
hopefully the car will end up looking like someone picked up all the napkins at a table that the Barris brothers, Daryl Starbird, Bill Hines, Joe Bailon, Bill Cushenberry had lunch at and found them all to have drawings and used the Ideas when they came to Australia and bought a Holden.

sorry to drag up an old thread but I'm looking for a simple console. Small and neat. About the width of the centre piece and through to the back of the ute between buckets, so not very wide. Am not a crashhot manufacturer so was wondering has anyone any ideas that can be purchased from the wreckers? 5 speed celica box
Ok, that all very vague...but would appreciate any pics that were about :)
Cheers
David

I used a console out my old 929 wagon (mids 70's?) in my wife's ute.
You would think it was made for it considering it fit without mods over the Aussie 4spd shifter and Torana handbrake.

(http://tinyurl.com/2adho8)

(http://tinyurl.com/25zytj)

A bit of 3mm mdf/ply and some fibre glass/carbon fibre worked for me.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/sgomachen/FC HOLDEN-V6/Consol002.jpg)

I used a type of plastis that you can form by heat and then once cool holds its form. Then covered with fabric, basically you can get a bit of curve into those flat peices after all/

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y184/Fevanv6/F1000025.jpg)

Cheers
Jason.

Just do it like you planned to with tube but come straight down a coupla inches or whatever for clearance
and thendo a coupla tight 90degree bends to bring it out th distance and then go straight down into th consul
shape.
I guarantee this'll still look period but Trick enuf to still
stand out from th rest and hey - presto it'll look neat.

Its got me to thinking that tho I can dig ya consul designs but they look hauntingly similar to th tube consul in guru's EK kustom cept his only flow to th seats and wrap under th dash for a touch of corvette.

Just out of interest, when I was tinkering with fitting a centre console, the console out of a 1984 Ford Telstar/Mazda 626 works a treat, it almost fits perfectly, and accommodates a floor shift and floor handbrake in an FC, providing you have bucket seats.

An easier fit still is the centre console out of a 1997 Daihatsu Charade - it's a small, nifty little object which will fit between a pair of buckets and accommodate a floor shift.

Just my two cents.

;D

Regards,

Ol Girl 58