He Who Dares!! Console Mod's

[courtenay]

My apologies to boogie guy - I should have said beachboy...

[SpiderJim]

My apologies to boogie guy - I should have said beachboy...

Wow a compatriot. Bruce (Courtney) was more critical than myself. I think we should all go after him for the nasty things he and others say about our beloved Spiders..... LMFAO!!! I told you all... we are all closet masochists and loving it.... Yeah Baby!

[htchevyii]

Good work Jim, I'm always glad to see new ideas and ways to improve our cars so keep it comming. And to Beachboy, we're all here to share advise and help each other keep these cars on the road. I see that you are pretty new here, but please keep in mind that your negative comments don't help anyone and really just waste everybody's time. If you feel the need to argue or go off target use the private message feature so everyone doesn't have to suffer.

[courtenay]

Good work Jim, I'm always glad to see new ideas and ways to improve our cars so keep it comming. And to Beachboy, we're all here to share advise and help each other keep these cars on the road. I see that you are pretty new here, but please keep in mind that your negative comments don't help anyone and really just waste everybody's time. If you feel the need to argue or go off target use the private message feature so everyone doesn't have to suffer.

Thank you htchevyii - couldn't have said it better myself - Sometimes think I'm reading stuff from a kindergarten class. Sure wish we could all stay objective and keep the personal stuff off line. This whole thing with people getting in a huff and leaving the forum is getting rather tiresome. In the end, we all suffer in the loss of some really great advice and guidance about how to keep these lovable little beasts on the road. Sure be nice to see Mike and Nick back on board. I really miss their cogent comments.

[fiatS2000]

As I see it, you guys are being too harsh on Beachboy.

[Redline]

A colleague once told me, "There are engineers who feel romance and romantics who appreciate engineering."

Not everybody lives in a Dilbert world. The lines between engineer / designer / architect / artist are very diffuse. The Fiat design is lovely, but also had some flaws that are even apparent in its chronological context. Of course we are allowed to criticize the design. Know what? The Porsche 911 was a disaster from the beginning. It was wrong in 1964 and has only been tamed through 45+ years of design evolution. I still think an original 60s 911S is a beautiful, desirable and satisfying car, but it is fundamentally flawed and was so at the time of its design. How's that for taking pot shots at a sacred cow?

I may not need cupholders, but I think it's great that someone thinks outside a box and takes the initiative to experiment (and post the results).

[stefhahn]

Ahhhhh... new music in the forum .... getting the beer out....

Well, I don't like it when somebody calls the interior of the Spider or even the 911 being crap. But this is up to me, it's a matter of taste etc. - and, to be honest, I have rarely seen a so-called upgrade that is better designed than the original. Actually most of them are not thought to the end and look out of fashion after some time. If you like I can get you some examples of tooth-bitten and hand-sawn interiors that do not suit even the owner and "designer" anymore. But I don't want to hijack this thread.

Therefore: I think - Jim, you did well in thinking a lot before coming up with you idea and I think this can become something that is both sort of period correct and (having seen your other items) a really good piece of craftmanship.

As per the input thing - Jim, I was was thinking in a similar direction - not because I'd need cupholders (I'm still smoking...) but I want to keep the dash original (because stupid me really likes it) but I want to have some space to put additional instruments and switches, so I was thinking of changing the angle of the upper console - that it would be similar to the console in the Dino Spider - see:
.
I think this could be achieved by putting an changed middle console, giving the opposite angle of the current lower (pseudo-wood) part. I did not finalize or even draw the idea yet, just sharing toughts.

ciao,
Stefan

[beachboy]

is this a disfunctional forum or what.

I received some nice welcomes when I arrived here.
I post a response in favor of the original design and designers and am vilified...because I like the original design?
Some of you should go back and just reread my 2 short posts in this thread. You are inserting arguments that I never brought up. I encouraged Jim to do mods, to post his mods and that I loved mods! My only stance was that by Jim saying the original design was crap, that anyone who liked the original design was therefor incapable of appreciating great design and and his boastful assumption that he could do a better job some 45 years later.

I then receive paragraph upon paragraph trying to berate and bully me. I get a self inflated resume' the kept changing from post to post and a do- you- know- who- I- am and how important guy I am speech. Then his sidekick chimes in to double team me on how a 25 to 43 year old economy sport convertible has some issues

I suggest some serious soul searching and civility in this forum. I didn't think that by signing on and donating some money that I was supporting this.

[beachboy]

double post

[SpiderJim]

I think this could be achieved by putting an changed middle console, giving the opposite angle of the current lower (pseudo-wood) part. I did not finalize or even draw the idea yet, just sharing toughts.

ciao,
Stefan[/quote]

Stefan... Great pic of the Dino. What I have done is very similar and was quite easy to accomplish. I actually created another thread to show the new panel layout and to get away from what happened in this thread. So here is the new layout and some of what I did.
New panel almost vertical due to limited removal space if rake angle is to much.
One piece burl easy to remove panel with one connector for everything.
All switches and lamps to one place.
Added a clock disable switch to keep the battery from draining and the clock wearing out.
May add the GPS, DVD etc radio where the screen is motorized for long boring trips.

If people are interested I'll put together an how to PDF. Cost was around $20.00 Plus new switches & burl.

[azygoustoyou]

Looks good. I want to do something with my whole interior. Just haven't had the time. I like the original design too. I just want something just a little different. I'm still working on cleaning up all the little things on the body. Keep the pic's coming. Seeing something visual helps me determine which route I should take.

[SpiderJim]

Looks good. I want to do something with my whole interior. Just haven't had the time. I like the original design too. I just want something just a little different. I'm still working on cleaning up all the little things on the body. Keep the pic's coming. Seeing something visual helps me determine which route I should take.

Hey Brady
Found this for sale in Canada. Major changes but thought you would be interested in his mod's for ideas. A bit over the top for my taste.

[amsiegel]

Great this the second post with that car in it. I gonna have nightmares tonight.

[SpiderJim]

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

Thanks much. Really quite easy. I hope these help you. First using a cut off wheel on the angle grinder I cut the metal backing just under the radio plate beyond the bend to maintain rigidity. Then down the sides to about 1 1/2" from the bottom thus allowing me to bend the plate to the rear of the car giving a more vertical flow yet keep the original frame strength. Then I used cardboard forms taped to the sides forming the wings. I used Napa MaxiFiber a fiberglass body filler with glass strands in it. Simply mix then compact the filler into the forms. You can easily shape and clean it up with a dremel or similar so just get it in. Just keep forming and filling until you get the shape you want for the wings. Lastly simply form up a backing panel ridge for the console faceplate to be fitted to. That is it. I like to sand and remove as much of the old padding and glass down to the metal whenever possible. Spread the filler across anything that will not get in your way when installing for added rigidity. Any final cosmetic shaping can be done with the same brand of filler but it uses super fine glass fiber and sands well. It is really strong now and ready for covering in leather.

Two other tricks for finishing dashes consoles etc. Finish with a fine textured European type gravel guard and or also spray on truck bed liner in a can. These products are rubberized and will help bind your old dash/ consoles and look very nice depending on how you apply the finish. Just repaired and rebuilt my spoiler with maxiFiber then used the truck bed liner and it looks brand new now. Enjoy.

Not to pretty but functional

[rlux4]

I also wanted a cup holder in my car. Older members have seen this before, but for the newer members, here's what I did. It doubles as an armrest when it's not being used to hold a drink.

When Denise was visiting out here and drove my car she had a bottle of water. I got a chuckle when she automatically put it in the map pocket. She's just not used to having a cup holder in a Spider.
Ron