Author Topic: Center console rebuild  (Read 1443 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Europa73

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Dec 2016
  • Location: Canada
  • Posts: 228
Center console rebuild
« on: Thursday,May 11, 2017, 05:11:11 PM »
small update on my restoration.


Having the original center console with the car was great – so I thought.

On taking the interior out I was obvious that the original was bent where it should be straight and undulating everywhere else. Age and heat gets to us all eventually.

I tried clamping, heat gun but it was far too gone.

I reached out to Banks and ordered a fiberglass replacement – they did warn me that the surface was not finished and would need to be covered – which I though was great for the price.

Unfortunately as you can see from the pics this was a sturdy replacement – but – once again very few straight faces or edges.

But – it was fiberglass and not flimsy plastic and as such could be worked on.

After 2 days of work it was off to the upholsterer. At the same time I reached out to a fantastic local CNC shop who made the boot ring to my specifications. He turned the ring out the same day!

After a little time on the polishing wheel measuring 4 times before drilling – I am happy to report one more thing off the check list in the restoration.

Cheers,
also restoring 69 Elan +2 and driving a 1975 TR6

Offline BDA

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jul 2012
  • Location: North Carolina
  • Posts: 9,566
Re: Center console rebuild
« Reply #1 on: Thursday,May 11, 2017, 08:36:47 PM »
That really looks great!

Offline EuropaTC

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jun 2012
  • Location: Lincolnshire, UK
  • Posts: 3,034
    • LotusLand
Re: Center console rebuild
« Reply #2 on: Thursday,May 11, 2017, 09:55:12 PM »
That's very neat, both the trimming and the ally ring at the base of the gaiter.  So well executed that it could easily be the original manufacture by Lotus, although Chapman would never have spent so much money on a trim ring....    :)

Great result.

Brian

Offline Certified Lotus

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Aug 2016
  • Location: Princeton, NJ
  • Posts: 1,686
Re: Center console rebuild
« Reply #3 on: Friday,May 12, 2017, 03:14:02 AM »
That turned out very nice!

Offline Europa73

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Dec 2016
  • Location: Canada
  • Posts: 228
Re: Center console rebuild
« Reply #4 on: Friday,May 12, 2017, 04:43:09 AM »
Thanks for the comments.

Cheers!
also restoring 69 Elan +2 and driving a 1975 TR6

Offline 4129R

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: May 2014
  • Location: Norfolk, United Kingdom, not far from Hethel the home of Lotus.
  • Posts: 2,521
Re: Center console rebuild
« Reply #5 on: Friday,May 12, 2017, 05:54:17 AM »
although Chapman would never have spent so much money on a trim ring....    :)
unless it was surplus stock from a major manufacturer, available in quantity of around 5,000 units, at knock down cost.

Offline Bainford

  • Twin Cam 3682R
  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jul 2012
  • Location: Nova Scotia
  • Posts: 1,650
Re: Center console rebuild
« Reply #6 on: Friday,May 12, 2017, 08:19:42 AM »
Very tidy! Such an improvement over the original flimsy, and decidedly cheap looking piece.
The Twin Cam plays the symphony whilst my right foot conducts the orchestra. At 3800 rpm the Mad Pipe Organ joins in.

Trevor

Offline Keith A

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Joined: Aug 2015
  • Location: Houston Texas
  • Posts: 36
Re: Center console rebuild
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday,May 16, 2017, 06:36:20 PM »
Excellent job! Well done