Restoration: The console

[Randy]

Nothing exciting, cold and snowy so nothings going on in the garage. I did dig out the floor console so see what’s left of it in the dust.

It was recovered at least just over 20 years ago. Then it was pulled out and an OEM was put in with a Honda Leather Boot with Red Stitching, how can you go wrong with that.

Well the aftermarket console did get overtaken by mould sitting in the shed all these years, I had to tear it down and throw out the bad bits, I think the top had a wood cover with padding on it. It was rotten when I got it.

Anyway a nasty day, my computer crashed and my GoPro is trashed all in a couple of days.

Anyway here are a few pics and there will be a video uploaded tonight, it’s a little yellowish, I am not sure if it’s because I used a 1stgen gopro.

[Randy]

Cut out the front corners of the console after removing the rivets and rust. Then cut some backing pieces and made the surface flush by spot welding it togeather. Used a air flange tool to put a small lip on the font to give it some extra strength and to take the bow out. Took the hammer and dolly to straighten it out in a good way.

Recorded a video on an original GoPro and a newer one used until tonight. Gopro9, the both ran for 41minutes, the original did a superior job as the 9, last years model froze, I could not turn it off and could cook eggs on it was ssssssoooo hot. Just like anther one I only used a couple of time cooked the battery and now the camera is trash. I am not impressed!

[Randy]

Fixing the rust hole in the middle and moving the splice to the inside and welding it up with a spot welder.
I found taking the old contact cement off and the fluff is a job leftover for a drill with a wire wheel. It did a great job and removed the surface rust too.

[Randy]

Took some measurements where the hand brake is to get an idea the width to make the end piece. I cut some cardboard and fit it in where the handbrake goes and transferred it to the back to get the proper width.
Strange, the left drivers side is narrowing more than the passenger side if I compared it down a centre line.
I cut and then bent the metal on the sheet metal brake out in the garage. It’s a lot warmer out there tonight. I even did a BBQ for my wife. I am vegan during the week now.
I drilled some 1/8” holes after I longed up the end and held it in place with the click things, my phone can’t spell it but you will see them in the picture below. I will be able to figure out the size of metal I need for under the arm wrest with those holding the bits to together.

[Randy]

I am not moving very quickly with another project on the go in the kitchen that I hope to have finished off by this weekend.
I used a paper pattern and then transferred it to cardboard then to the metal.

Then off to the garage to bend the tabs for spot welding it in.

[Randy]

Finally some assembly, I trimmed up the bottom of the compartment and spot welded it to the back to make it easier to spot weld to the sides.
I then remove more of the splice plates from the outside and put new ones on the inside to make the exterior nicer for putting wrap on.

[Randy]

A little bit of cleaning up and digging out the new old stock Sony MD disc player. The MD player came out in 92, kinda old, I also have the mounting bracket from my 92 Prelude to mod the inside the console to securely mount the stereo. There won’t be a flimsy bar on the back. I also have the shift boot from my Prelude to fit, but I do believe I have a leather red stitched Honda shift boot so where I would rather use.

I have mocked up a cardboard armrest to fit to the console. I may try and figure out a cup holder if possible to slide out or flip out like the 92 EG Civic’s have.

Also there is a bit of extra space that a coin tray could be put in above the stereo, about 1/2 high.

[Randy]

Well that went together very quick.
A little bit of spot welding and it will be stuck together ready for hinges and a latch. Then start working on the mounting for the stereo unit, I decided on some gauges to put in as I was going with a thought of blanking them off at one point and doing double din.

[Randy]

I didn’t get the armrest welded together as I spent time finishing off the kitchen and trouble shooting our old router and setting up the computer I just received to replace the broken one.

The new old reconditioned computer keeps crashing, it’s going back. I found one with double the disc space 2TB same memory a faster chip, older and 300.00 cheaper and 3year warranty. Still an HP.
Did you know how hard it is to find a reasonable desktop computer? An ex-business machine is a good choice.

I worked on making a slide in tray for the radio from parts from my old Honda Prelude.
Made a front plate to make it a single din which I am going to weld in permanently and attach the support tray to the back.

I won’t be using that dumb old holed flat bar to support it.
Non of this is welded in yesterday.

[Randy]

I started working on the stereo compartment. It took a lot of fidgeting to get the 3 pieces to fit together nicely. Oh and how can I weld it all in such a tightly packed compartment.
I welded the face to the stereo sleeve or whatever it’s called and then welded the Honda Prelude bracket to the face on the sides. Then I held it in place while I tacked it in four corners as that’s all I could reach, I tried to get into the middle but it was too close to the sides and I didn’t want to burn holes in the front. Good enough and it’s nice and solid.
I also filled some of the holes from spot welds I had to take out.