1969 Camaro Update
 

Console

The car also had a GTO console in it……………..I can’t even really describe what the guy did to it………….anyways, it had to be fixed.

Before (yes, that is carpet wrapped around the front, and yes it looked like he trimmed it with a sawzall…………….

http://www.hzemall.com/wordpress/wp-...10167small.jpg

The console didn’t fit right, it was to wide, it was digging into the seats and damaging the leather. We took the console and cut 1.5″ out of the center of the entire console.

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We then used pieces of ABS and riveted the whole thing back together, we then molded everything together. (see how the top trim curves up to where the dash would be in a GTO)

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We then added to the front of the console to round it off and modified the trim panel to flow with the new front instead of “up” like it did.

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We removed the power window switches from the doors and rear panels and placed them in the console.

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With it almost finished we wanted to get some pictures of it. The two small holes are for the door pop switches. The large hole is for the Sony marine controller. The client really liked the silver accent that came on the console to begin with, so we kept it. We still have to clear coat the console and flock the storage compartment but it’s almost done.

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Rear Seats

The car came in with 2006 GTO leather seats (as well as many other GTO parts). The person that installed them used some back straps and some drywall anchors to hold them in. The seats had this large “hoop” section on top that the head rests sunk into. This “hoop” actually stopped the top from folding down properly. We took the seat apart and removed the “hoop” and redid the leather on the seat. We also modified the entire metal frame so that we could mount the solidly. We also removed the center section to allow for the future home of the subwoofers. By modifying the metal frame we got the seats lower, back and created more of a gap for the future woofers.

Before

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After

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Rear Side Panels

When the car arrived, the rear side panels were really hurting…….they were made up of 3 seperate secured with several visible chrome screws.

Before

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Doing some panel repair as we join all three panels together and then adding the speaker mount.

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We then covered it with fleece and fiberglassed it, did some sanding, filling and shaping. We want to do something else on it so that it isn’t just a big molded vinyl panel. We will probably add some billet inserts or something to match the theme of the car.

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Keep watching our new blog for updates every day or so.

We are doing a basic, well not so basic but a basic system in the Camaro. The source side of the system consists of the Sony CDX-F50 Marine deck, a 10 disc changer, iPod module and the Sony Marine controller. Everything but the iPod and the controller will be mounted in the trunk. We will be also using Morel speakers and Zapco amplifiers in it. The only undetermined product will be which subwoofers to use. We were going to use the Focal 5″ (4) because of the space between the rear seats but not that we modded the **** out of the seat we actually gain about another 4 inches in the center, so we might squeeze a single 10″ or 2 8″ in there. It has to be loud (convertible) and play all kinds of music.

Anyways, here is the trunk rack we welded up to hold the deck, changer, multichanger module and have a place to strap up the excess cables.

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Before

The stupid little 8 Balls on the panel were actually Valve Stem covers, the guy cut some valve stems apart and used them to mount the 8 balls where the old lock plungers went................very gay..............

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The beginning

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NICE! Thanks for taking the time to post all the photos!

Darren

looks like the beginings to a cool car keep us updated for sure :thumbsup:

Is the front of the new center consloe all fiberglass?

No, it's all plastic....ABS to be exact.....fiberglass would not stick long term to the rest of the plastic on the console and would crack.

We make A LOT of stuff out of ABS and various composites......

Really nice work guys !

I was amazed at how the console came out - sweet !

Thanks !

I love the work, what exactly do you use to bond the ABS? Does it dry so it can be sanded and painted? Really nice work.

Darren

We use a bunch of different adhesives and fillers for ABS, it depends on what we are doing with it.

It sands and paints just like a car body would.

Can you be more specific for molding platic console and dash parts?

The problem is, each different type of plastic needs different product.....

Plastics like ABS, PPO, PPE, TPO and any number of combinations out there react different with each other and with each filler and adhesives......there is no standard from the OEM, they all use different.........

The latest is this new corn oil mix that Toyota/Honda created.........nothing sticks to it.....

Thanks Tim, not trying to steal secrets, just was curious about how to work with plastics. One last question, do you buy ABS sheets and then cut and mold them?

Darren

I noticed a foam base to get the basic shape that you used in the gto console. What type of foam and what type of fillers did you use to shape that. I have the same.

So you used a foam mold and ABS? How do you work with the ABS? Do you use a epoxy or sheets?

No worries, I just don't want to tell you a particular product and it be wrong for the plastic your working with and it cracks or splits or doesn't stick at all................

We buy it by the 4x8 sheet, we use ABS and a product called Cintra (I think that is the spelling) and they both come in many thickness's. ABS only goes as thick as 1/4 (that I have ever heard of) but Cintra you can get really thick. Boat manufacturers use it alot in places where they used to use plywood because it's just as strong but way lighter.

The really nice thing about composites like ABS and Cintra is that you can sand it just as easy as wood and stuff but you can heat it and mold it. The fillers sand just like body filler (some harder then others) as well as the adhesives.

It's really strong, we use it for almost everything, you can drill it and tap it etc. Not to mention it's light and waterproof.

Oh, and it comes in black and white, the Cintra comes in tons of colors......

There is no foam, it's ABS sheets.

If you look at the one picture, the white half round section with the black seam on it is actually a piece of ABS heated and curved, it was then riveted to the console and then we built it up from there with ABS pieces and fillers.

Check out this Suburban we built last year, the entire dash panel was modified using ABS and fillers. The console was hand built over a MDF frame and is all ABS and fillers. I will see if I can dig up some of the actual construction pictures of the console and dash bezel.

http://www.hzemall.com/our_gallery/i...an/install.htm

Brand name "Sintra" http://www.sintrapvc.com/

That's it...........there are also some other companies that sell the same product but I can't remember their names and what they call it but it's all the same, Sintra was the one that created it so it is what everyone calls it.

Have you every worked with balsa foam? I do not believe it has the heat forming capabiltiy as Sintra, but may be better for shaping?

I have not, most foams are porous and you then have to seal it which makes more work. With ABS and Sintra, you can sand it smooth and paint right on it to get a finished product.

Tim thanks a ton for the rest of the info. I appreciate it very much. I have some crazy ideas to monkey around with that stuff now!

Darren

Anytime, what are working on ?

I am going to fab up a console for a work van of mine, it needs to hold a lap top and other work junk. It should be good practice!

Darren

out standing work, wish you were closer

We were slammed the last week with a bunch of other projects at the shop so we didn’t get a ton done on the car but here is the progress.

Got the console almost finished, just have to modify the mounts for the console then Flock the storage compartment in it.

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We got the wiring in the trunk all completed. We had to replace all the sockets, housings and everything in between.

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We had to install a pin switch for the trunk but we didn’t want anything visible to detract away from the clean look we are going after. We took a small “micro” switch and built a ABS mounting plate for it so that when the trunk hinge is closed all the way it makes contact, if the trunk opens as little as 1/8″ it will trigger the alarm.

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We also started to layup the fiberglass for the subwoofer enclosure/console for between the rear bucket seats.

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Really Nice Work, Keep me informed. I wonder how hard it it to get a car across the border:unibrow:

Easy to sell, easier to have it worked on :)

1969 camaro console
 

What type of glue did you use on the modified GTO console? Sweet job!!

Console looks good,I have an idea of what it takes to make look good,lot of work!:thumbsup:

Flock
 

Tim,

What kind of material will you use to 'flock' the inside of the console or the rear door panels?

Darren

Flocking is where you apply a glue to a surface, then "dust" fibers over it till they all stick.

It's the same thing that most older glove boxes were lined with.

Thank you, that means alot coming from you.

We got the Modo Innovations Electric Trunk Release kit installed (see our review of this product)

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Got the stereo rack wired and mounted. As we always do, we used molex plugs on the power wires for easy servicing.

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where do we see the review? Do you have a different web sight other then you Blog?