Does anyone have an after market center console?? UPDATED= PICS

[RUMBLON]

OK, I have been dealing with these cheesey consoles forever and hate them. I an taking out the original rally gauges out of my vert cuda and installing the original bezel with auto meter gauges in it and a tack, built into the center console. see pics.

I was trying to get a certain grain look but cant make it look nice so I may paint it (what color) or may prime it and smooth/ fill it out and shoot it. Not sure yet. However I am curious since its been a while if anyone has built or bought a nice looking/ working center console yet?

It would be great if someone built one that goes up to the dash and can house some gauges, ect.
Thanks

RUMBLON

Dave

[Katfish]

Neat concept, got any pics from the back side?  Did you fiberglass a shell to mount the tach?

[dutch]

I`m going to build one soon. I want to try to make enough room in it to put my new, larger fusebox inside ( I hate the position under the dash...) and I want the radio in it.  Biggest problem I see right now is getting the shifter high enough. ( auto)  a pistolgrip will get you enough clearance, but if you delete the shifterplate underneath, you won`t have a start safety....      enough to figure out first....

[RUMBLON]

Neat concept, got any pics from the back side?  Did you fiberglass a shell to mount the tach?

I used tin and built a shell, after cutting the inside edge and getting it where I wanted it, pointed right at me while seated. I used glass and a bracket and attached it, molded it in. Here are a few pics.

I am not crazy about the view from the backside but then again, onces its installed, I cant see it, its just the face forward view. I just wanted a tack, speedo and 4 gauges that are 2 5/8 and large speedo an dtac, and this is all I could come up with.

I like the look of the stock gauges and the tac will look ok. I now need to decide what/ how to paint it as ther grain came out uneven. I may try some of that "HAMMERED" paint and see what it looks like!!

Dave

Dave

[Katfish]

That grain doesn't look too bad.  You might be too critical since your so close to it.  I bet once you get in the car it'll look great.
I'd be most concerned with getting the lines to blend in smooth with the console.

[RUMBLON]

That grain doesn't look too bad.  You might be too critical since your so close to it.  I bet once you get in the car it'll look great.
I'd be most concerned with getting the lines to blend in smooth with the console.

I tried looking at it with the graines the way they were and it was ugly. My original console was shot red to match the interior. I used SEM. I THINK, I may just rattle can this in a HAMMERED plastic paint. Its kind of a rough look but MAY blend in. I know if I shot the grain in red I would have been disappointed.

this is the interior. I think black will be best at this point.

[the_engineers]

What about Krylon's wrinkle paint?

Dutch, wouldn't the Safety Switch on the tranny still prevent "in gear" start attenpts?

[dutch]

Dutch, wouldn't the Safety Switch on the tranny still prevent "in gear" start attenpts?

brooks, yer right about that... I was just wondering if anyone was paying attention....   

[the_engineers]

 

[RUMBLON]

OK, so this is what I ended up with. I used a FINE GRAIN paint to finish it after I sanded it down and used a 'SHOPLINE EPOXY primer on it. I like it  alot. I was trying to decide red/or black but have decided I have enough red.

I have the top plate in the same epoxy primer and am going to shoot the dash bezel and top plate the same "WHEEL" metal colored paint as well and trim them out in darker gray. This color goes great with the  AUTO meter ULTRA light series and it will match much like the original wood grain, which I HATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
]\
like it???

[Katfish]

Well done, please post a shot from the driver's position when you get it installed.

Great concept, curious how the viewing angle will be?

[ragtopdodge]

I don't know what this console is out of  (it's OEM out of something except the top plate), but I like it: