New Console Piece...Opinions wanted!!!

cougar_68 · Apr 20, 2005

Thanks for checking out my thread.

I'm working on some custom stainless steel pieces for my cougar. I just want your opinions. I made a stainless steel automatic console shifter plate out of stainless steel. I have actually sold a couple of them on ebay.

My question is about my newest Idea. I made a gauge pod to replace my console door (see picture). I decided that I would try to make some more of the console door replacement pieces and see if anyone would be interested in them. I made three different designs: pony, snake, and cougar. They can be lighted, the pictures don't really do them justice. Let me know what you all think of this idea. Constructive criticism is appreciated. Flaming isn't really necessary.

Thanks!!!

bnickel · Apr 20, 2005

dude those rock and roll, baby. almost makes me wish i had a 67-68 instead of my 69, well not really, but they are damn cool. i think you could probably sell quite a few of them, but i think the ones with the guages will sell better, i could be wrong though

1320stang · Apr 20, 2005

Well, I like 'em... and I don't.

I think they're great and I always like options, the thing I don't like is that they look unfinished to me. Like the trim on the console center piece needs to go up and over. And I'd think you'd need another to divide the rough console center from the smooth upper center. I'm not trying to be critical, but I like things to look like they were made to be integrated, not just added on. I don't know what process your using, I'm assuming laser, and I don't know what you could do to cover the things I wrote about, but the rest of it looks damn good.

It wouldn't be stainless, but if you could make a pice that matched the lower part, and then did guages or the custom "logo", that my friend, would sell.

dan68 · Apr 20, 2005

hey, these are great. they add a bit of modern stuff to it but still doesnt look like a japanese street car modification. u should sell these im sure they will sell. they also look good and not outstanding and looking like a modern modification so people even those who want it to look original still could hav it as just a little touch up of class. good work.

Edbert · Apr 20, 2005

Those look pretty good to me, very nice craftsmanship (the pony is not centered though) and I am SURE you can sell some of them too. I think they'd look better on a 67 console than a 68 since the aluminum would match the dash and look more integrated. Maybe you could do a woodgrain veneer on some stock and see what it looks like with the 68 dash? Do you have any pictures of it installed in a car where you can see more of the dash?

1320, I know what you are saying, if the "pebble" pattern could somehow be continued it would look more like a factory job, but I think it is the padded vinyl of the 68 console that is throwing you off. The door that he's replacing doesn't have any of that "pebble" pattern on it, the surrounding plate does, but it is covered up by they vinyl.

Personally I like the little trap door myself and although I don't have enough room in the dash for a fuel gauge I'm pursuing an A-pillar pod instead of giving up the sliding door. But if I were doing this it would be for the gauges.

cougar_68 · Apr 20, 2005

Hey Guys! Thanks for the responses!

bnickel-
I haven't looked at doing anything for the 69-70's yet. I originally did mine just for a gauge pod, then I decided to add the cut outs. My last name is Thrush, that's why those cut outs are on there.

1320stang-
I think I know what you mean...kind of. I really want to make a SS piece for the "bottom" part of the console to, but I'm not sure how I will make that radius. I think that would help the design.

What else may help is if it was polished. That way it might "blend" with the chrome.

Yes they are cut with a laser and I can do just about any design.

dan68-
Hey thanks for the compliments. I actually have one of these on ebay right now and a shifter plate.

Edbert-
Thanks! I just noticed that the pony wasn't centered either. I will have to check that out tonight. I was putting them together really fast last night just to take pictures and I didn't screw them down so I will have to see if that was a drawing problem or if I just didn't have it in there right.

I wonder if I could put would veneer on there like you said and then use the ss piece as a template to cut it from the backside? hmmmm...

I like the trap door too, but that was really the only place I could "stuff" the gauges without them being to gaudy. Plus my door was broke and all I did was put junk in there and forget it was there. lol.

Thanks for the comments everyone. Keep them coming!!!

1320stang · Apr 20, 2005

Now the radius is no big deal. A welding tank with a towel wrapped around it would probably give you the desired bend you need. You just have to find something that is close to the radius of the part, but a bit smaller.

cougar_68 · Apr 25, 2005

I drew up this die. I've never really drawn a die before so I don't know if it would work. What do you "die"-guys think??

The stainless peice is shown, drawn at an angle...it would be bolted down to the left side (angled side) of the die. Let me know if this all makes any sense?

1320stang · Apr 25, 2005

Since it's bolted down, I think it would work. You could make it out of hardwood I'd think. Since you have the same slant on the male part of the die, I'm not sure you need the slider part, you should be able to make most of it by hand, then clamp it or put it into a press. But have you taken into consideration the springback abilities of the Stainless? You'll have to over bend it to a point, so that it'll spring back to your desired amount.

If you had acces to a slip roll former, it'd be easier.

Edbert · Apr 25, 2005

You'd better plan on lining your die with felt or something too, brushed stainless is pretty sensitive to marring in my experience.

cougar_68 · Apr 25, 2005

I didn't even think of making it out of wood. I did think about the spring back, but I'm not sure how to calculate it yet. Actually the die is just a concept it's not even to scale yet. That is a good idea to make it out of wood!

The stainless I use isn't actually brushed. I sand it in one direction to give it a "brushed" look. But you are right, it might get marred to the point where I won't be able to sand it out. Felt would probably work.

One other thing I didn't really think about. I sanded those door pieces in a horizontal direction. It's going to be a PITA to sand that long console piece that same way. I might sand it "long ways" or vertical, then sand the door pieces the same way.

Thanks for the thoughts guys!

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