console and shifter bezel question

[burdar]

I test fit the original console in the car and found a problem.  You can see that the console is broken and I see why it broke.  The chrome shifter plate doesn't clear the side of it.  When the console is screwed down, the shift plate pushes up on edge.  Over time, the edge broke and lifted up.  I'm going to buy a new console this weekend but don't want this to happen again.

Is the chrome shifter plate supposed to clear the console or is it supposed to come in contact with the edge?  I guess I'm going to have to play around with shimming the console so that no pressure is put on the edge.  The shift plate and shifter also don't mount horrizontal to the floorpan.  The back sits up a lot higher.  In the pic, I already have some shims under the front two bolts and it's still not level.

[Bullitt-]

Just thinking about it seems that if the back of the console was raised with some shims it might solve the problem.
  My plate goes under & I had a bulge similar to yours a little heat & I was able to straighten.

[Giveitawack]

Mine looked like that too.
I have seen other consoles with the same problem. I think it is a design flaw. That part is too thin.
It gets worse if someone uses the console as a handle to get in or out of the car. When the console is pushed downwards, that thin section climbes on the chrome shifter bezel.

I cut off the warped section.
Borrowed some of the wife's skin moisturizer as a release agent.
Mixed some Bondo and made a mold of the section next to the part i cut off.
Moved the mold to the missing section.
Filled the mold with Bondo.
Removed the mold and made the final detailing and painted it black.
Had some bad luck, though. The new section cracked on one end after some time in the car. I then reinforced the Bondo with strips of stainless sheet metal. I also attached the top half of the console to the bottom half.

If I buy a new console, I will probably reinforce it in that section.

[burdar]

I've seen a lot of consoles like that too.  I just didn't think the shifter plate would be sticking up as high as it is.  I'll try shimming the back up but it's going to be about a 1/4"

I havn't heard any bad things about the consoles Tony's Parts sells.  I'm going to pick one up at the Mopar Nats.  I'll save the original one incase I need one down the road.  Heating the raised section would work to bring those sections back into shape.  I'd have to figure out how to attach the two halves though. 

I've got a new chrome shifter plate, clear plastic gear indicator, and slide plate.  I wanted to test fit the console with the old parts first.  I didn't want to risk scratching the new parts.