1968 4-speed console question

[csgt428]

I have a 68 4-speed console lower plate and pad I found years ago. I'd like to put it in my GTCS 390 4-sp but the console bases I have aren't cut for a 4-sp plate.... Do I just cut it to fit or.....?

 

[Restore]

Basic Answer is yes, A couple of things , Console plastic is brittle would use coping saw (fine tooth) and tape take your time, make sure you have right base 67 vs 68 seatbelt pockets are different you can cut new ones but does tend to weaken base. Also AC base should Have end cut off ends at the back of glove box (they block the ac duct.

 

[csgt428]

Basic Answer is yes, A couple of things , Console plastic is brittle would use coping saw (fine tooth) and tape take your time, make sure you have right base 67 vs 68 seatbelt pockets are different you can cut new ones but does tend to weaken base. Also AC base should Have end cut off ends at the back of glove box (they block the ac duct.

Thanks, looks like I'll be buying a coping saw. I need to either buy some aqua paint or cut the pad on the aqua console I have also.... The pad the 4-sp plate has on it is black. It looks to me like I could possibly cut the aqua auto pad but wouldn't be quite the same on the edge ? Don't want to ruin it....

 

[Restore]

i have not seen what I would considered a successful surgical incicision on a pad for 4sd insert. Now dying i have seen good and Bad results , same as to vinyl repairs. I would put it on the classified here and on vmf that you were looking to trade your black one for aqua, because you never know who has reverse problem. If you do decide to dye it. Remember to clean iy very well, use a vinyl adhesion primer and a paint vinyl dye with a flex promoter. I have used Sems in the past with good results. You may want to see what others are using (the last time I did it was 15years ago) . you may want practice on steering wheel pad or something less valuable to see how you do.

 

[csgt428]

Good advice, In the past the main problem was getting the paint/vinyl dye color to match the rest of the pieces. Generally, I just had to count on painting Everything to get a good match. Lately it's been hard to even get the paint.... at least in certain colors. I will try the classifieds first..... you never know. I hate painting soft stuff anyway as it's more likely to come off/wear off.... Holy smokes! I found a 4sp plate and pad on ebay they are asking $1450 for....same thing I have in black. I know they are hard to find but that's more than a Complete reproduction 67 4sp console! Seems unlikely they'll get it but what do I know.

 

[speedy02]

@csgt428
Looks like they have a Grade B lower Pad.

Lower Pad - Center Console - Standard - Manual Transmission - Grade B - Used ~ 1968 Mercury Cougar / 1968 Ford Mustang

This pad is in poor condition. You can actually modify a automatic pad to work with your manual transmission chrome bezel.

secure.cougarpartscatalog.com

 

[csgt428]

@csgt428
Looks like they have a Grade B lower Pad.

Lower Pad - Center Console - Standard - Manual Transmission - Grade B - Used ~ 1968 Mercury Cougar / 1968 Ford Mustang

This pad is in poor condition. You can actually modify a automatic pad to work with your manual transmission chrome bezel.

secure.cougarpartscatalog.com

Thanks, It almost looks like the right color.... hard to tell and they are closed till next week. My black pad is in similar condition, so I'd rather get this one and not paint mine..... IF... it's the right color. Looks a little off, I think more blue than aqua? I wonder how they modify an auto one to make it look right? I'm going to take a closer look at that. Bought a coping saw and ready to start..... My car didn't come with either console but I already added the overhead one and think the bottom one would compliment it nicely. I had an aqua rear window defroster I added also.

 

[csgt428]

Well, the console base was easy enough to cut, turned out nicely, but the pad looks to be a bit more difficult in getting the edges correct on upper left side where pad is raised.... I guess it depends on how thick the "vinyl skin" is before getting to the foam. I may have to dig out foam from under the edge and leave a "flap" of vinyl to push down around the edge.... I'll have a better idea after making the first cut for the shifter plate vertical surround.

 

[Restore]

Ok, I can tell you the methods I have seen used first for foam for craving foam, xacto blades and sharpen clay sculpting tools, for replacing foam expanding spray foam or craving a piece of foam of the right density and glueing in. When working vinyl with heat gun making extremely small cuts sealing with vinyl repair tools (liquid, powder vinyl, and irons) . Cuts on vinyl can get out of hand real quick and 50+ year old foam can turn to dust real fast. I recommend practice on a cheaper already damaged piece . Hate to see a nice original piece get ruined. Check online see what others have done for similar projects or aspects of what your trying to do. Also dash direct used to do custom work maybe they still do., either for the black one or your aqua.

 

[csgt428]

OK, the problem now is that the pad has a steel backing that the coping saw won't cut. I'm thinking about using an air powered thin cutoff wheel tool. I'm using a line I scribed on the bottom outside of the "boot' drop off. This will leave the raised foam portion of pad under the small overhang/flange edge around it uncut. Then I need to figure out how to lower that portion of the pad and keep the vinyl skin presentable.... what you described above will help with that.

 

[Restore]

They do make a blade for metal for the coping and you can just use a hack saw blade, I would not use a power tool to easy to lose control.I would go slow. Good luck

 

[csgt428]

OK, no power tools! A fresh hacksaw blade with a half handle sounds good.... It's tempting to just get some aqua spray paint for the average black pad and leave this pad alone....it's in really excellent condition. Having to glue a couple pieces back on the aqua base up front so that's no great loss if it doesn't turn out. In fact, I think I'll do that first in case it Doesn't turn out and I can't use the base.

 

[Restore]

I would try dying the black one first , I have seen some excellent dye jobs. I saw someone else's work the guy said he put on white over black then painted it it red(color he wanted). A lot of info online on this whatever you choose. Biggest thing everyone says is prep. I did one sunburn parchment steering pad back to original parchment 15 years ago and still looks good today. (See my earlier post for what method I did). Go slow light coats.

 

[csgt428]

Found some light Aqua dye, will probably try that first.