Another Katatak Fiero Adventure! (Page 21/72)
Rick 88 DEC 12, 08:17 PM
I don't recall a Pontiac wheel with that large cap but I will check some old factory brochures. Those wheels look like they are going fast already! Seems appropriate they are going on the V8 car.
fierocarparts DEC 13, 12:02 AM

quote
Originally posted by Sofa King:


Hi F,

Unfortunately there is no room under the console to fit a cup holder - I already looked. There is a DL connector on the right and a small notch in the console subframe for the lighter to point downward on the left - but other than that - ZERO room. That's why I had to build the armrest on top of the console I'm building to accomodate the cup holder. Have you started a custom build?




Haven't started a custom console build yet. I was thinking maybe the cup holders from the Soltice/Sky but I guess not. Keep up the good work Pat.

------------------
When life gives you lemons, thank them for the Fiero.

katatak DEC 13, 12:38 AM

quote
Originally posted by Rick 88:

I don't recall a Pontiac wheel with that large cap but I will check some old factory brochures. Those wheels look like they are going fast already! Seems appropriate they are going on the V8 car.



Well I searched the World Wide Web and could only find one center cap for the 96 Berreta Wheel. Maybe I wount use any caps. Get some nice chrome lug nuts and find a Pontiac center cap that will fit the center hole?



I could not find any that were approx 6"overall and 5-3/4" on the clips? Maybe I can find some through AC Delco? They will be spendy probably.

Any ideas?

Pat
Sofa King DEC 13, 02:56 PM

quote
Originally posted by katatak:

I wanted to try my hand at building a custom gauge pod face plate



Pat

WOW!!!! What can I say. That is really cool! Again... raising the bar! I love it! I wouldn't worry too much about the gaps between the PVC pipe and the trim panel - the space alows for extra play to reposition - nothing a little body filler and 10 hours of sanding can't cure, right? I'm really impressed.

I did have another idea - which you might hate me for... what do you think of this idea?

Why not create a second trim and plate piece similar to the one you're working for the gauge plate. This piece would mount directly behind the first trim piece but mounted to the dash? You could put anything in the trim piece - GPS, more gauges, clock, etc... I did a little measuring and it might work - it wouldn't interfere with the view out the windshield at all and should be level with the bottom of the windshield.

Just an idea...

Again the gauge panel is sweet! Beautiful work. OK, I gotta go back to the garage and start raising the bar!

[This message has been edited by Sofa King (edited 12-13-2009).]

Sofa King DEC 13, 03:02 PM

quote
Originally posted by katatak:

I'm not feeling the arm rest on the console but I think I wll try and figure out how to use the cup holder.



P,

Look on EBay for an Audi or WV armrest / cup holder. I think those are wide enough and definately meet the low profile you're looking for. I went through 4 or 5 armrest / ideas before making the decision to fabricate my own. The Audi would have been perfect but it was a little pricey.

But I do like your idea of the cup holder. One cannot have enough cup holders. OH! If you don't want to fabricate an armrest also look for a 91 door panel cup holder from a Firebird / Trans Am. That would also work - and look stock!

OK, back to work
katatak DEC 13, 06:02 PM

quote
Originally posted by Sofa King:


P,

Look on EBay for an Audi or WV armrest / cup holder. I think those are wide enough and definately meet the low profile you're looking for. I went through 4 or 5 armrest / ideas before making the decision to fabricate my own. The Audi would have been perfect but it was a little pricey.

But I do like your idea of the cup holder. One cannot have enough cup holders. OH! If you don't want to fabricate an armrest also look for a 91 door panel cup holder from a Firebird / Trans Am. That would also work - and look stock!

OK, back to work



I spent some time this morning looking at it the arm rest I picked up. I decided that the entire arm rest was too high and too narrow. I pulled the cup holder out and then sat ahd looked at it for an hour. I went out the the Fomula and set it in there and cam e to the conclusion that I did not like it. First I would have to mount it off center in a custom setup like yours becuase of the length of the cup holder extended. Even then it would still be close to the shifter in 4th gear - probably worse with a 6 spd. I can however, mount this cup holder on the passenger side under the dash for the passenger - I may adapt this one inot the XTC later on. So now I am back to the riginal plan. A smooth, clean, seamless console. I did some sadnind on the rear console and filled a few more small holes.

I also put the battery charger on the car today and fired it up for awhile. Found a huge vacuum leak - no wonder I could not get the timing and the carb adjusted right on it. The PO hag a Tee coming off the manifold and split to each valve cover/PVC. The hoses are covered with electrical sheathing. I found that the Tee was smaller than the hose and he had it taped up with electrical tape. Huge vac leak. Once I fixed that, she cleaned right up and was running great when I shut it off. I got called into work @ 1:00 so no more work on it today.

Pat
katatak DEC 13, 10:48 PM
I got off work about 5:30 so I rushed out to the shop and went to work. Lots of sanding and priming and sanding and filling and....well -lots of work.

I had some pits to fill on the AC surround:


Sanded with 80, 120, 220, and 400 grit till it was smooth!



Then I did some sanding and primng on the Gauge face and the Pod then gave them a coat of "color"!



After I primed the AC surround, I started putting things together to see what it was looking like:




Got to load some more pics!

[This message has been edited by katatak (edited 12-13-2009).]

katatak DEC 13, 10:55 PM
Then I sanded on the shifter cover and the rear console. Same thing - sanded with 80, 120, 220 and then 400 grit till it was smooth.

No matter how many times I do this, I always find spots that need filling:

Marked up again for repair:


After the filler was set, more sanding and then a coat of primer:


Still found some places for repair:


Coming together:



Found some spots in the shift cover:

[This message has been edited by katatak (edited 12-13-2009).]

katatak DEC 13, 11:15 PM
Then I put some "color" on the rear console. It amazes me how different colors show different flaws. After all I did this evening, I have a lot more to do. Lots of sanding still to go to get it the way I want it. My neighbor came over to see what I was doing and he was telling me that his brother does custom upholstery work. We got to talking and I think I will take the console to his brother tomorrow and see what he will charge me to cover it all in leather. All this work to make it smooth and now I'm thinking of covering it up....... I'm sick I tell ya...Fiero sick!

This is the color grey I want the console to be. It matches the lower half of the dash and the vinyl on the door panels.



And the console all together:




The console looks a lot darker than the gauge pod but I think it's due to the low light inthe shop. The gauge pod is refelcting the flash of the camera. Anyway, That's it till I decide whether or not to cover it with leather.

While I was "at work" this afternoon, between phone calls, I managed to get some work done on the gauge cluster. Installed all new 5w bulbs and cleaned it up. Starting this week, I will be reassembling the interior. Friday it gets a new windshield, Saturday the new tires and Barreta wheels and then I'll start driving it.

More to come!

Pat
Sofa King DEC 14, 08:50 AM
P,

MAN O MAN! Fantastic. I wish I had used my original console when I started my build. The edges are nice and clean and straight. Very impressive. I'm really digging the new gauge panel. Have you considered draping it in carbon fiber? That would be very interesting.

So what's next? I know you're looking at the armrest right now. Any custom ideas coming our way?