any tips on mounting a console in 66?

[66forfun]

no holes in floorpan yet. i dont want to booger this up this console is too expensive.

im worried about drill bit catching and running the drill into the plastic, scratching it all up putting it in & out, ending up with holes in wrong locations. I was thinking about installing without carpet, using shims, then take it all back out to put the wool and rug in then find the holes thru the rug with an awl. that front mount looks like a pita.

any directions from experience out there???thx.

 

[mr-fixit]

I bought a tool from the Snap-On man to solve this very problem. The tool is basically a heavy duty ice pick that is made to be hit with a hammer. The shaft is hardened and slightly tapered, so the further it is hammered into the sheet metal, the larger the hole. You basically position the console on the carpet, put the tool in a mounting hole of the console, and whack it with a hammer, then put in the console screw.

 

[gjz30075]

I also suggest heating an icepick and poking it through the console to burn a hole in the carpet so the screw has an easier time going through. Fully nylon carpeting makes this easier. The edges won't get frayed and you'll have an easier time screwing down the screw. I suggest burning the carpet after you've marked the holes from Mr. Fixit's suggestion. Remove console, then find the punch marks and burn the hole.

 

[66forfun]

thx for the quick replys. The front bracket looks like it should land right across a seam in the floorpan from some quick measurements, how can locate this thing? Heat like that is not really what i want near the plastic console but the punch thing may be on the right path for me.

Anyone have dimensions for the location of the bracket off of the shifter base or something?

I assume the bracket is screwed to the floor b4 the carpet is installed or was the bracket installed after the shag was laid as an option on the assy line?

sometimes i think too much and should just get to screwing things tofether....lol

 

[BarnStang]

Can't wait for the Snappy guy to come by. My coworker showed me that punch. Very cool. Gotta get me one of those. He said they come in different sizes too.
gjz, great idea for the carpet. So simple. I hate console screws. That would make it EASY to install and reinstall.
The bracket bolts to the trans tunel and goes under the carpet. But could go on top. Positioning in a non-console car s simply a best fit. You wil need to get the console where it fits best. Centered over the shifter hole? SOmething like that. Or see if someone can measure the holes location for you on a car with a console. Once you drill the holes, thenyou could put the carpet down and install the bracket on top the carpet. THat bracket will make centering the carpet more difficult. Once you cut for it, yo will not have much overlap that the console will cover if you cut left or right oo far and need to pull the carpet to one side.

 

[dennis112]

I bought a tool from the Snap-On man to solve this very problem. The tool is basically a heavy duty ice pick that is made to be hit with a hammer. The shaft is hardened and slightly tapered, so the further it is hammered into the sheet metal, the larger the hole. You basically position the console on the carpet, put the tool in a mounting hole of the console, and whack it with a hammer, then put in the console screw.

This method is much better than drilling holes. Punching retains the original metal which gives the screw more contact area for attachment.