one of the things that i am doing this weekend, is repairing the center console of the GT.

having removed all of the console, i decided to pull the black support piece and give it a good look. there are many cracks, and broken attachment points.

is there a good way to repair this? i was thinking that it would be possible to use some sort of acrylic (like what is used to make fishing lures) to "manufacture" new nuts and firm up the weaker areas. any thoughts? where is a good place to look for these things, a craft store maybe?

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hoop
Red '86 GT
KYB's, Eibach's,
Poly Bushings

You can use epoxy to "glue" the thing back together. Nothing else seems to hold properly. I just got one from a wrecker for $10 and replaced it - it was less hassle.

I just got done doing this on mine. Most of the screw bosses were almost all chewed out, and most of it had cracks all over. I super glued all the cracks back together, and glue back in pieces that were broken, along with a little big of J-B Weld on the inside, to give the screw something to bite into and make threads into when I put it back together. I also added some J-B Weld to places where I thought it would be stressed the most, to prevent it from getting any worse.

I wish I could have found a good used one, but Fiero's in junkyards around here are few and far between, I dont know whether I should be happy or not about that!

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FieroJoe
c311t@yahoo.com
AIM: Fiero87311, Snowboarder0311

There is an epoxy based "plastic welder" available at most stores. It comes in the binary tube syringe things. This stuff is likely the best for this application. It can be used to fill a hole for redrilling as well as glue parts back together.

work a small area at a time. the eposy sets really quick. Play with a couple mixes to get used to it before actually repairing something. Work outside. Sniffing this won't make you high. It will make you sick or dead.

>There is an epoxy based "plastic welder" available at most stores. It comes in the binary tube syringe things.

I've used this stuff to repair plastic on the Fiero & it's great stuff! You can get it at Wal Mart, amoung other stores.

>Work outside. Sniffing this won't make you high. It will make you sick or dead.

The 1st time I opened the tube the smell gave me a massive headache. He's right. Work outside.

i've used that stuff to repair the speedo surround's main support... it does work great! however, i don't kow if it would work well with the smaller cracks in the console. also, i will have to figure out how i'm gonna build it up in the broken off areas.

I would recommend Plastex plastic repair, I have used it with very good results for repairing many plastic parts made of the same type of plastic as the console. I have only tried the black which would be the best for the repair you want to do but it also comes in white and clear. It comes with a molding bar that can be molded to a part when warmed and used to produce the missing parts. I have not had a lot of success with the molding bar but I have not needed it for most of the repairs I have done. It comes as two parts powder and liquid, when you use the liquid on the powder, it turns into liquid plastic that hardens within minutes and cures in hours. Once properly repaired, it will be as strong as new. It can also be used to repair the stripped or broken threads. It really does work well.
barhttp://plastex.home.att.net/

Kevin

what a cheesy web site! but that is exactly what i'm looking for. whick size kit have you used, or how small is small?

thanks!

hoop

On cracked parts it usually best to just break it the rest of the way off, clean it if need be and glue it back on. You'll get a much stronger bond that way.

If pieces are missing one of the epoxy puddy type products that will stick to palstic should work well.

Hooper, There is a product "Devcon" They make a plastic steel putty, plastic steel liquid and a plactic steel 5 min. epoxy.

The plastic steel putty can be drilled, machined, tapped. This is the stuff to get they have a whole line of putty, epoxy, glue
Aluminum repair liquid, titanium putty,,underwater repair putty,ceramic putty, fast cure rubber repair, flexane.
They have all and any kind of repair putty/glue that you would ever need.

Check with your local home improvement place
ask for "DEVCON"

DXR_DAD

thanks Dad! that sounds very similar to the wood and concrete putty/filler's that i found.

i also need to find a local source for the Loctite 416 that you sent me. i have been using it to mend the console, and ran out with peices to go (door and gt gauge pod)... go figure.

that stuff is great. thanks!

hoop

Hoop,
Yes not much of a web site, I have seen other web sites that sell it but I don't remember what they were. I got the 2002 Kit 30g of powder and 50ml of liquid it has gone a long way, it does not take much to do a typical repair. I have had it for several months and I use it once or twice a week on various things. A couple of tabs broke off of my Fiero sill inserts, I made new tabs and strengthened all the other ones earlier today. Other notable repairs that I have done: repair Keyless entry remote where the key ring attached, Interior trim on a minivan that was rattling like crazy until I fixed it.
I have used about half of my kit so far. If your just looking to do a few repairs the small kit should do just fine.

Sorry about the type-o on my previous post, the web site is http://plastex.home.att.net

Kevin

I've used the 5 minute Plastic Epoxy that comes in the double syringe with great results.

I've repaired the ashtray door hinges, seatbelt guides (the things on side of the seat) and just last night I fixed a broken trunk release switch. On the underside of the grey part of the trunk release switch is a plastic arm that stabs into a hole in the actual electrical switch. This arm had broken off. I used the plastic epoxy and a small stick from a Q-tip to work the goop around tha broken part. As the epoxy started to set I molded it around the break.

Just build up a bit of the epoxy around the repair in an area that won't show.

Good luck,

Carroll