Lately I have been drawing up some designs for a center console for my 75 duster. The car, when finished (sometime after I win the powerball), will have a t-5 or a four speed. Dusters didn't come with any such pop holders/consoles that I am aware of, and the generic things you can buy never seem to fit right or be anywhere near what I want to have.

Since I am a plastics machinist, I can make about anything I want. I have some basic ideas that I want it to have; A CD rack (or/and cassette), a junk area, and drink holders. I am toying with the idea of having a upward face (leaning backwards) behind it also, possibly for a speaker or switches. It is very much a work in progress at this point, nothing is set in stone except the overall size I want it to be, and the mounting system I came up with. If I use a backing face for additional things, from the side it would give it sort of a short "L" design.

Also as everyone knows, it is cheaper to build many at a time than to do a single unit. That is the purpose of this poll, to see if when I do make such an item, if I should make more if people want them. So I have tried to come up with some viable questions to gauge the interest. I don't plan to have a complete unit right away, with any of my projects I always make a few test versions to see what I like. Once I get some prototypes cut I can post some pictures.

I have bucket seats, but I plan to build it to fit either bench or bucket.

please take a minute to say what you think would be a good thing to incorporate in such an item, even if you are not interested in getting one from me.

Before anyone asks, I don't have an automatic console handy, but I might be able to make something for them. I just need to be able to get my hands on one to see if I can fit anything over the existing size, or need to fab up a new unit.

And I can probably make them for other cars too, its just that I have a duster now so I will concentrate on those for the time being. feel free to say you would want one for another car though.

Right now the prototypes will be made black, because it is cheapest and I have it all over the shop. If enough people are interested I can check into getting custom colors.

Thank you for any suggestions you have-

All I need are cup holders (YES YES YES) and a junk pocket. Got any drawings done up yet for the bench console? You've got me REALLY intrigued with that idea.

Also, Rob's post reminded me, I also have a column shifter but will be moving to a floor shifter, whether I keep the automatic or convert to a manual.

_________________
'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

Hey Mark,

I voted for the CD, cups and junk option because that would best suit my car, but I believe that the majority of Slant 6 A body driving folks would likely have a bench seat with an automatic on the column...

That's what my car was originally, but I'm swapping to buckets and an aftermarket floor shifter...

I think you would have best results with your plan to make one that will fit either bench or buckets and try to make it so that it is somewhat universal in that the buyer could get it to fit either a standard, automatic or just leave it closed on top in the event they have a column shifter. Try to make it as universal as possible. Anyone that is in the market for this type of thing will lilkely have some ingenuity of their own to fit their particular application if you give them a good platform to start from.

An A body is an A body... seats, shifters and schtuff that people like are all over the map.

Keep us posted! And thanks for what you do.

_________________
Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

Yup what Rob said
I think a universal (as to tranny type and location) will be your best bet.
Thanks
Frank

_________________
Scrapple: Because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
73 Duster - Race Car
66 Dart Wagon - DD
178" FED
82 D150
All Slant powered

just an idea, what about a din chassis slot for aftermarket audio systems? i have a 67 dart gt with buckets and a center console, but for the 74 valiant i had with bench/column shifter, a console that slid up to the dash and had a spot for a cd player (maybe even with speaker holes on the side) would have been nice, when i drive the dart i have the cd player fastened very poorly to the factory ac vents,there might not be enough interest or universality to do this, but figured id toss it out there, my hornet was already butchered for an aftermarket deck when i got it, so i built my own speaker holder that sits between the tranny hump and dash, but thats a completely different beast...

I agree with the speaker holes (I'd go with 1 on each side in front, probably 5-1/4") and somehow room for the little tweeters (1-1/2-2" range) on the sides of the console's "glovebox", for lack of a better term,
with an upturn maybe to meet the dash, maybe not quite that high, with molded in 2-1/8" holes for aftermarket Sunpro-type gauges, or maybe perforated pop outs so that you can use as many gauge slots as needed, maybe similar to how an electrical box such as used in a house has them with different diameters superimposed over each other, (in case someone wanted to put a tach there instead) on a CNC type program where the shifter hole could be varied depending on trans used, and maybe either a slightly raised surface where you'd use something like a stock A body chrome trim ring and shifter boot (for those of us that prefer to row our own gears) and a raised up "glovebox" area that would double as an armrest similar to either an F body or late-B (cordoba, etc) design and the cupholder holes ahead of the armrest/lid, between there and the shifter hole. Another option would be the bottom of the shift boot being basically flush with the console top with a "countersunk" ridge for the trim ring, placing the trimring flush with the console surface. One thing would be for sure; I see alot of ideas here posted before mine, it would definitely need to be a versatile design that could be adapted to the buyers needs maybe have a couple of the most commonly asked for versions made up, both as display models and as ready stock and custom designs made to order? While I really like the A bodies I don't currently have one I have a B and an F body, and I don't know how closely "1 would fit all". As far as the shifter area I don't think that Id like it "sunken in" like Chevy did with Camaros and such as it would make cleaning the interior that much harder. Oh 1 other thing; No ashtray needed!

Hey Mark, I would be interested in one. Mostly just the drink holders and junk space. My car is a 73 Dart, bench, auto on column.

BTW, I got my gauges in the car in August (using the gauge panel you made), but my camera was broken, so I didn't send you a pic of them installed. I got a camera for Christmas, so I will send you a pic of them in the dash. They look/work great.

Thanks for all the responses so far!
At this point I have just some sketches, and a few items measured for clearances. Trying to combine items at this point, need to make some more tests at work tomorrow.
I do want to make something for the automatic folks, but the mounting will have to be different. Looks like I will need to make two separate models, one for stick, one for collum shift.
Already thought about that too- that was my first design, and the first version I cobbled together many years ago had a tape deck in it with two speakers right under it that snugged up to the dash. That was the other plan for the plate-behind-the-console-tilted-back idea. My first version of that never looked quite right, and I have access to better tools now, so I'll try a version like that too. I plan to make it an add-on type unit that can mount to the existing (my design) console, so you don't have to have one if you don't want it.

volaredon: you are closely describing what I have planned in my intent for some of the shifter and mounting. the basic design, so far, is pretty close to what you are describing. I will know for sure once I make some physical mock ups I can take out to the garage and guinea pig for testing.
thank you very much! I am glad your happy with my work, and am looking forward to your pictures!

Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions! Keep them coming!

What years and trans options are we talking about here. My Valiant is originally an auto, but no closer to being a 77 Aspen 4 speed. Used the trans hump from the donor car. So I suppose a box for a Aspen would fit.

_________________
66 Valiant, 225.
84 Van, 225.
71 Maxi-Van, 318
60 Valiant wagon, 225
87 Maxi-Van, 318 4spd

I'm working on an 80 Volare 2 door with a 5 speed and have a stock Volare console that I am wanting to avoid the hump as would be needed with an 833 OD, and possibly a custom location for the shifter hole.
Another idea, don't know how it would work on a stock A body console but for my Volare, which is notorious for the "glovebox" lid cracking/falling off, I remember on another forum that I can't seem to find any more (it was one primarily tailored to F bodies, a classified ad site more than anything), a guy who used to make custom console lids that would accept a factory latch/lock button, out of about any hardwood you specified, price was around $35. Once I get the fitment of the 5 speed dialed in, I might be interested in an F body one with a slightly relocated shifter hole so that it would "look" stock, at that point I could possibly send you the one I have now, with some sketches/rough measurements if possible, of where I would want the shifter hole moved,
with the "upturn" for the gauges and a cupholder or 2. But it might be a while as I'm still "grounded" from driving and haven't heard a word from the bodyman as to when he'll have my bare shell of a body ready to bring back home. I had thoughts of trying to start from scratch with my current console as a model to make one from scratch out of fiberglass resin and cloth.

I've never worked on any of the F bodies, so I will have to see what I can find for similarities.

Once I get some sketches I'll post them here.

I'm eagerly waiting. I might have to do up an emblem or decal for my car once it's finished that says something along the lines of "Sick6 Customs", given that I'll have a console and gauge cluster from you

Another thought, just for the sake of throwing it out there (since if I keep my 3spd auto I plan on doing this), have it able to be integrated with certain Hurst and B&M 3spd auto shifters. That's something I'd love to see. I hate how they just stick up off the floor and don't look at all factory.

_________________
'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

after all the crap in my personal life the last couple days, that really made me smile. you just made my day.
I have thought about that too. there are an endless array of combinations out there, but my idea for mounting is centered on the manual 3 and four speeds.

what I need to get my hands on for a little while is some of the automatic consoles and an F-body. I know I can come up with a solution, I just want to have accurate measurements. I pride myself on getting all of it right before it leaves my door.

Hey chris, you got any of that around your area? all the yards around the cities are long gone.

I am thinking I'll need to have sort of a checklist for options; car type, type of automatic; type of manual, CD or cassette, and then from there combine them all in my programs to make each unit.

............I just thought of an idea!

does anyone have some good, high quality pictures of an automatic floor console for a body and volare's?

I can't seem to find any. if any of you folks that have these and are still interested I could use some good pictures.

edit: forgot to ask, but if anyone also has a couple shots without any carpet so I can get an idea of the contours of the tranny hump that would be a bonus also.

anything would be good at this point.

Put me down for two. Buy American!