Hey there everybody,

I just got a black 88 GT a couple weeks ago, and I am starting to repair all the "little things" that fit under the "needs TLC" part of a sale All of the center console sections are warped on the edges that wrap under the cover plates. On another list a couple people recommend gluing/epoxying it back. I was just wondering what you guys/gals out there have done in this situation. Apparently this is very common, so hopefully there are some different recommendations out there as to the "best way," since we know there are at least 25 best ways . Thanks!

Bryce
88 GT

Just saw a blurb in HIGH PERFOMANC PONTIAC magazing covering this repair. Written by SJ Wynman. It was a little involved. Remove the center console (lots of torxx screws to remove) Use some RTV between the plastic curling part and base frame. Clamp the parts back together (cloths pins) let dry. Find the latest copy of the magazine and check out the Q&A section in the front.

OMG!!!! you mean there are Fieros in Oxford Alabama? Small world. . .

the way we repair those pieces here at the shop is to use a 3m glue, paint stir sticks and clamps - apply a small amount of the glue to the inside of the vinyl covering the outside of the piece, place a paint stick on each side of the piece and clamp.......glue sets in about 5 minutes - then glue the edge and the inner side of the piece, use the paint stick/clamp method again and in about 15 minutes you have completed the repair....

(the paint sticks are to assure a flat outer appearance - clamping with clamps of any type, even clothes pins (sorry Larry) without clamping flat will result in a wavy or "lumpy" repair (believe me, I learned this one from experience.......

Here is the glue I use........

Haven't done any Fiero pieces yet, but I had to fix the console on my 88 Firebird. I used clear GE silicone to bond the vinyl to the frame. I also removed some of the foam from the back of the vinyl. It was trying to push the vinyl away from the plastic frame, and was starting to decompose, anyway. I also used the paint paddle method to get a straight bond.

Good point Terry. Experience is the best teacher. When mine started going, the car was at Twin Lakes and Bob replaced the console with one that was in much better shape. I have trouble with the map box in the console and its edges curling. Then I repaced the box cover.

I repaired the center consol (around the shifter) in my dads 87 coupe. I used some kind of epoxy that was resistant to heat. I was concerned about it melting in direct sunlight! Mixed it up and spread it around on the underside of the curled pieces, and then clamped each side between a couple pieces of wood to keep it all flat! Turned out great! Its also holding up without a problem. Good luck!

I recently repaired the padding on the shifter and radio consoles in my '88 cpe. I would recommend that before you actually glue
anything together you clamp the consoles
in position without glue, and put them aside for several days. By doing this the padding develops shape "memory". This makes the part easier to glue, which in turn helps to achieve a better result.

FYI.....If ya look at the pic of the 3m glue you will see (cyanoacrylate). Know what that is? It's just superglue. you can go to your local R/C hobbyshop and buy it in big bottles, (don't buy the "thin" mixture"). They also have cyano accelerator, (Zip Kicker), in little spray bottles. It will cure the glue in 3 seconds and form a better bond. Tgowens is correct about the cyano, it works very well. Be sure to remove any foam at the joint and I do a very quick wipe of both gluing surfaces with accetone. If don't use the wood, it will be wavy.. :-(