He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
During my new restoration I decided to do a custom interior Upholstery etc. I just hate the original console setup due to a crap design and wasted space and stuff scattered everywhere has an after thought. I mean why do I have two ash treys and not a cup holder? The center console only uses one third of available space due to the forward rake. I started with repairing the dash that had seen better days. I have made that curved instrument insert and ready to make a mold. The reason I did this is that I wanted to add two more small gages and get rid of that ridiculous and ugly wiper panel plus it looks cool.
So now I needed to relocate the switches and other junkie bits. I also wanted to get rid of the light switch and replace it with a modern lit toggle type in my mid console along with a couple of additional functions and have it look like an old jag. So the net result is a few major changes.
I also added two cup holders with the front one being exchangeable for an ashtray via a pop in insert. The cig lighter is being moved behind the hand brake lever. Idiot lights going in the window switch locations (maybe) control switches being grouped in the new vertical rake center fascia in a strip and relabeled on the burl then clear epoxy resin coating. All the consoles have been repaired and reinforced. Where the fan switch was is now remaining flat and will be a burl cherry insert. The center panel will have a one piece curved and shaped burl insert going to the shift lever and made easier to remove (magnets). The main instrument cluster will be inlaid burl into the curved insert addition with the two new gages. Electronics will be upgraded with Ipod / sat capable radio and GPS housed in a reenforced cage instead of the old rattle trap the way fiat did it.
So I hope you enjoy the changes and will post new pics later next week when I get everything back from the upholsterer. A good tip.... For super strong repairs and for making mod's like mine use the NAPA or similar maxi glass fiber body filler. I repaired my spoiler that had been ripped in to several bits by a tow monster and now looks brand new and stronger than the original. Also great for shaping dashes etc and compatible with the foam filling in our dash and consoles.
If nothing else your Spider will always smile back at you while driving!! See pic?
So now I needed to relocate the switches and other junkie bits. I also wanted to get rid of the light switch and replace it with a modern lit toggle type in my mid console along with a couple of additional functions and have it look like an old jag. So the net result is a few major changes.
I also added two cup holders with the front one being exchangeable for an ashtray via a pop in insert. The cig lighter is being moved behind the hand brake lever. Idiot lights going in the window switch locations (maybe) control switches being grouped in the new vertical rake center fascia in a strip and relabeled on the burl then clear epoxy resin coating. All the consoles have been repaired and reinforced. Where the fan switch was is now remaining flat and will be a burl cherry insert. The center panel will have a one piece curved and shaped burl insert going to the shift lever and made easier to remove (magnets). The main instrument cluster will be inlaid burl into the curved insert addition with the two new gages. Electronics will be upgraded with Ipod / sat capable radio and GPS housed in a reenforced cage instead of the old rattle trap the way fiat did it.
So I hope you enjoy the changes and will post new pics later next week when I get everything back from the upholsterer. A good tip.... For super strong repairs and for making mod's like mine use the NAPA or similar maxi glass fiber body filler. I repaired my spoiler that had been ripped in to several bits by a tow monster and now looks brand new and stronger than the original. Also great for shaping dashes etc and compatible with the foam filling in our dash and consoles.
If nothing else your Spider will always smile back at you while driving!! See pic?
- wachuko
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Re: He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
Because Italians drink their espresso or cappuccino before getting in their cars?SpiderJim wrote:During my new restoration I decided to do a custom interior Upholstery etc. I just hate the original console setup due to a crap design and wasted space and stuff scattered everywhere has an after thought. I mean why do I have two ash treys and not a cup holder?
Looking forward to the final product!
Drive Safe!
Wachuko
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Wachuko
1981 Fiat Spider Progress thread
1967 912 Progress Thread
1981 911 SC Coupe RS Transformation
1983 911 SC Coupe RSR Transformation
1991 964 C4 Cabriolet Progress Thread
2012 BMW X5 xDrive35d
2015 FIAT Abarth
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Re: He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
Jim,going to look great
When its done,is it going to look similar to the tornado's dash ?
Starting making enquiries about the May long weekend..
When its done,is it going to look similar to the tornado's dash ?
Starting making enquiries about the May long weekend..
Last edited by narfire on Wed Apr 07, 2010 11:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
- SLOSpider
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- Location: Lompoc, Ca USA
Re: He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
Looks great but Im lost as to what product you used and how you extended the parts you did with what kind of material. Any during pics? Brian
1975 124 Spider
1976 Mazda Cosmo http://www.mazdacosmo.com
1989 Chevy k5 Blazer
1967 GT Mustang Fastback
1976 Mazda Cosmo http://www.mazdacosmo.com
1989 Chevy k5 Blazer
1967 GT Mustang Fastback
- Kingme2
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- Location: Calgary, Alberta
Re: He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
http://myfiat.weebly.com/upgrades-done.html
Jim, take a look at mine... we had similar thoughts (including a Tim's holder)
Toby
Jim, take a look at mine... we had similar thoughts (including a Tim's holder)
Toby
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil, we have decided to turn off the light at the end of the tunnel. We apologize for any inconvenience.
1981 Fiat Spider, all black... "Corvino", italian for the Raven
1981 Fiat Spider, all black... "Corvino", italian for the Raven
Re: He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
Toby... looks very similar. I may just do a flat temporary panel until I pull one off the mold. I have the plug made exactly like your dream dash except it will be leather covered on the rounded with a burl inlay for the instruments. Leather in gun metal the rest in champaign with GM piping. Need to get this thing on the road...Kingme2 wrote:http://myfiat.weebly.com/upgrades-done.html
Jim, take a look at mine... we had similar thoughts (including a Tim's holder)
Toby
Re: He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
So Jim,
I am glad that you are customizing the interior to the way that suits you. Is everyone else that likes the original look stupid and design challanged, because that is what I got from your remarks.
How easy it is to mock a car that was designed in 1964-65 in 2010. I am sure that you typed a little faster than you thought on this one.
I am glad that you are customizing the interior to the way that suits you. Is everyone else that likes the original look stupid and design challanged, because that is what I got from your remarks.
How easy it is to mock a car that was designed in 1964-65 in 2010. I am sure that you typed a little faster than you thought on this one.
- Redline
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Re: He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
Everybody knows it was for the cigar-smoking children in the back seat.SpiderJim wrote: I mean why do I have two ash treys and not a cup holder?
http://www.124bc.com
La Dolce Vita: Joy and frustration at the speed of smoke
La Dolce Vita: Joy and frustration at the speed of smoke
Re: He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
No I gave it a lot of thought. Obviously the design house of this and others of that period car did not. The radio console is case and point. Sweeping the panel forward removes two thirds of usable panel that could and should have housed some switches or whatever. Throwing a cheap and ugly toggle switch to the left dash for lights was stupid. If you really look at the design and manufacturability of the car it would rank pretty bad even for that period. Take a look at Austins, Rovers, XJ6, Porsche Citreon even the bloody mini of the seventies had better interior integration and usability. I mean just look at how the wiper panel and radio console panels are made in multiple bits that seem like an after thought. Utter crap and cost more to make and assemble than if they had used a molded one which would have looked better than what is on it now. I had a 70's Dino Ferrari that was similarly built with big black screws holding door panels and other stuff on and if you missed gears a few times you needed a new gear box. I have also owned a few sports cars and sedans from that era and earlier that where beautifully laid out and equal to many luxury cars of even today. However with all of the above the electronics and body work for the most part where all a disaster. Sorry if you disagree but I see nothing wrong in wanting to improve drivability and reliability and speaking honestly about these cars which we all love to own because we are deep down masochist...smile!.beachboy wrote:So Jim,
I am glad that you are customizing the interior to the way that suits you. Is everyone else that likes the original look stupid and design challanged, because that is what I got from your remarks.
How easy it is to mock a car that was designed in 1964-65 in 2010. I am sure that you typed a little faster than you thought on this one.
My other spider was a perfect example of an original and was super clean. I would not have touched that except to improve the electronics. This one was purchased as a parts car but was to good to strip so I spent more money restoring this than my immaculate original. So the opportunity abounds for me to make what I think are improvements at least for how I think that it should have been done. Many of the members here write me asking for info on how I have done things so I'm sure quite a few would like to improve what they have. Also, many would love to keep it perfectly original and that is also fine form my view point. Maybe I should simply stop publishing info on my mod's and restoration and keep it all to myself?
Just so you know my background was chief scientist of an advanced technology lab in charge of 300+ engineers and scientist along with a huge model shop with fabulous and talented people. We designed products 10 - 20 years ahead of current technology so had to make everything ourselves. So that is my excuse and I guess I just love to innovate. Call me an imagineer.. If time would have permitted I would have totally re-designed the entire interior or is that sticking the knife in a little bit more... Laugh. But unfortunately I can only make a few minor mod's for now. BTW I do not mean to be a smart arse. I'm just doing my own little thing but I can guarantee that this car will be gorgeous and do us all proud. Take care
Re: He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
Another engineer?/scientist? Who thinks he's a designer.
I can tell by the length of your answer your taking this too personal. You can do what you want to your car, share with everybody, and show us how you did it. I love that stuff.
I will repeat what I said. You can't call design that was done over 45 years ago, with a budget and boat from Italy, CRAP just because you have had 45 years to see what everyone else has done. Monday morning quarterback.
I am sure you inserted cup holders permanently for you own comfort, and that is cool. But you can't say by adding cup holders that you have improved the interior design the least bit just because you saw them in a Minivan once. I also hope you have a thick skin if someone comments on something you have done.
Wouldn't it just be easier to do your own mods and let them stand on their own without knocking the original design.
I can tell by the length of your answer your taking this too personal. You can do what you want to your car, share with everybody, and show us how you did it. I love that stuff.
I will repeat what I said. You can't call design that was done over 45 years ago, with a budget and boat from Italy, CRAP just because you have had 45 years to see what everyone else has done. Monday morning quarterback.
I am sure you inserted cup holders permanently for you own comfort, and that is cool. But you can't say by adding cup holders that you have improved the interior design the least bit just because you saw them in a Minivan once. I also hope you have a thick skin if someone comments on something you have done.
Wouldn't it just be easier to do your own mods and let them stand on their own without knocking the original design.
Re: He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
Jim
I agree the slanted panel does annoy me also but at least its not an Alfa with the gearshift commming out of the dash.
Great idea I have thought about doing something similar but I am not that talented. Just a little tip though. You might want to test fit the console in the car with gear shift in place and a cup in the the holder. I modified an extra front ashtray to hold my Ipod. Each time I go into 2 and 4th I bumped the Ipod. I think you are going to need a very small cup to fit in that location. Just a suggestion I like the idea.
I agree the slanted panel does annoy me also but at least its not an Alfa with the gearshift commming out of the dash.
Great idea I have thought about doing something similar but I am not that talented. Just a little tip though. You might want to test fit the console in the car with gear shift in place and a cup in the the holder. I modified an extra front ashtray to hold my Ipod. Each time I go into 2 and 4th I bumped the Ipod. I think you are going to need a very small cup to fit in that location. Just a suggestion I like the idea.
Re: He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
Good input and I agree the front holder is really not that functional so I made it an optional ashtray or smaller cup capable. I purchased off the shelf accessories that where actually an ashtray. I then chopped and modified them to make the mold so that the ashtray segment will just drop in flush with the chrome dome and indents for the smokes if needed.amsiegel wrote:Jim
I agree the slanted panel does annoy me also but at least its not an Alfa with the gearshift commming out of the dash.
Great idea I have thought about doing something similar but I am not that talented. Just a little tip though. You might want to test fit the console in the car with gear shift in place and a cup in the the holder. I modified an extra front ashtray to hold my Ipod. Each time I go into 2 and 4th I bumped the Ipod. I think you are going to need a very small cup to fit in that location. Just a suggestion I like the idea.
I did do test fitting and the shifter will put a tall cup in your lap. The back one is the bonus but I think the indent holder looks better than the chopped up crap ashtray that came with the car so that your Jack Russell or 4 year old kid can put out his or her smokes from the micro back seat. (Just for beachboy) laugh!!
Last edited by SpiderJim on Thu Apr 08, 2010 6:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
Allow me to respond but only this once. Why should I take your comment personally? You mean absolutely nothing to me and I do not even know you or if you have published positive help and input to the forum. Yes, I am an engineer and just maybe an industrial design engineer or maybe not. If you know what we do you will also know that that is a person who designs all the stuff that people use and what gets manufactured and put into the stores for you to purchase. So I can make my comments with the full knowledge and confidence in what I say. Regards my lengthy reply. Just a little info to support my claims. Please do not make any more negative comments in regards to a person trying to help others.... it is not productive and you come off looking the fool.beachboy wrote:Another engineer?/scientist? Who thinks he's a designer.
I can tell by the length of your answer your taking this too personal. You can do what you want to your car, share with everybody, and show us how you did it. I love that stuff.
I will repeat what I said. You can't call design that was done over 45 years ago, with a budget and boat from Italy, CRAP just because you have had 45 years to see what everyone else has done. Monday morning quarterback.
I am sure you inserted cup holders permanently for you own comfort, and that is cool. But you can't say by adding cup holders that you have improved the interior design the least bit just because you saw them in a Minivan once. I also hope you have a thick skin if someone comments on something you have done.
Wouldn't it just be easier to do your own mods and let them stand on their own without knocking the original design.
Sorry to be so harsh but that is what it is and I will not respond to more of your negative comments. For the record I really do not care if people critique my designs nor anything that I do personally or professionally. Designers design and not always for the best. My door falling off because it was not engineered right by Fiat in the first place due to the hinge cracking. Anyhow, I'm confident in what I say with my seventeen patents, two President and chairmans awards.
But thanks much for the input.
- courtenay
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Re: He Who Dares!! Console Mod's
I don't get it...why Boogie guy gets sensitive when Jim critizes the original interior design of the Fiat - and lets us all see his ideas on improving same. The original interior design of the Fiat is crap. The switches are all over the place - few of them convienent. The slot for the radio is diabolical! But that's not all that's crap on the car. I read all kinds of posts on the various topic areas on this site that complain of the crappy electrical system - with lots of proposed solutions ... eg headlight relays, brown wire surgery; The small wheels - and advertise Rotas. The springs that have to be cut. The rubber timing belts that have to be changed every 30k miles. The overly long shifter - and it's "Michigan shorter shifter" response;
The weak seat design... I'm sure I could go on.
But - in spite of all this - it seems there are a whole bunch of us who really love these cars. And really like to share our experiences with them on this site - Lets keep it up!!
The weak seat design... I'm sure I could go on.
But - in spite of all this - it seems there are a whole bunch of us who really love these cars. And really like to share our experiences with them on this site - Lets keep it up!!
Bruce Shearer
'80 Spider Fi
'10 Volvo XC70
'06 GMC 1 Ton PU
'72 Spider a long, long time ago
'80 Spider Fi
'10 Volvo XC70
'06 GMC 1 Ton PU
'72 Spider a long, long time ago