Ford thunderbird console swap/build

[tasker]

ADAM....you are crushing it!! looks awesome!!

 

[amfw]

If you clamp the J-shifter in a vise right below where you want to heat/bend, warm it up and bend it the color shouldn't travel very far up the chrome and looks like it will be well under the boot height.
Speakers in the front console sides?

Cool, cool. That's what I figured, but wasnt totally sure. Thanks for the reassurance! Haven't totally decided what's gonna go in the cubby space, but likely will skip speakers. I have a pair in my roadster inserts that do fine, and putting them in the middle will kill any sort of stereo imaging that I do have. Im thinking that I will just make a couple front facing shelves with a bezel. If I had more stuff to run, I would make a switch panel.

 

[amfw]

ADAM....you are crushing it!! looks awesome!!

Thanks Randy! Once I get fixated on something its hard to stop! Also, if you want a pair of Roadster Treads, let me know, I have 2 blanks set aside for you.

 

[m_m70]

What I want to do with mine (once found) is making the center top out of a .060" brushed stainless sheet maybe clear-coated for durability. I have a stainless windshield frame and dash is painted in a stainless appliance paint so may fit the theme . I have a t shifter so thinking cutting the gate for it with the t-case gear indicators engraved on the sheet.

 

[amfw]

I have a t shifter so thinking cutting the gate for it with the t-case gear indicators engraved on the sheet.

That will look swe eet! I was thinking of engraving the indicator as well, but the cutout is very cool idea. With regards to finding one... I'm not sure you need to exactly. They are big and weird shaped to shipping is super expensive, and it can be painful to wait for one to pop up locally. It is nice to have as a starting point, and its cool how easily it DOES fit, but you really don't need it, you could really just build the box from the top down. Im not even convinced the guy in the inspiration photo used the original thunderbird frame. All the trim parts are small enough to ship for reasonable prices and are pretty available on eBay. I just bought a new front ashtray and side moulding.

 

[m_m70]

yeah I thought about building one from scratch.....actually thought about building just the lower part and connecting it to my tuffy console but there is something about the cool factor of the lid, trim, ashtrays and being a Ford part that makes me want to go with the t-bird unit. honestly, haven't looked to hard but your post got me back into finding one!

 

[amfw]

yeah I thought about building one from scratch.....actually thought about building just the lower part and connecting it to my tuffy console but there is something about the cool factor of the lid, trim, ashtrays and being a Ford part that makes me want to go with the t-bird unit. honestly, haven't looked to hard but your post got me back into finding one!

I totally get that. Definitely a big part of what drew me to it also. I hope you have luck finding one!

 

[56f100bbw]

very nice job

 

[amfw]

Anyone have any opinions about color for the front two side panels? I was toying with painting them hot ginger, but currently think just staying with black is the way to go

 

[m_m70]

really a personal choice especially with interiors.

I like keeping all the leather/vinyl the same color. seats, arm rest and door/quarter panel covers the same or matching color combos.
While some Broncos have the dash the same color as the doors/body, looks like yours is Wimbledon/parchment
In this case, because the console flows into the dash I would go with your dash color.

either way, it's going to look great!

 

[frenchy]

amfw what is your steering wheel from? Looks like a 50"s Ford truck.
frenchy

 

[amfw]

amfw what is your steering wheel from? Looks like a 50"s Ford truck.
frenchy

My steering wheel is (I think) an old Toms Bronco Parts wheel. But if you are referring to the pic at the very top of the thread, its not my Bronco, just my inspiration for this swap. Photo was taken in Florida by a member here, but I don't know any more than that, sorry.

-Adam

 

[amfw]

Just scored a matching cylinder and key for the console!

 

[56f100bbw]

The steering wheel looks like it’s off of 40 Ford which I bought a reproduction shrunk down to a 15 inch for my 1956 f100

 

[amfw]

Working on the front pieces right now. Decided to use the original Ford pieces rather than make my own. Did some templates to get a good idea of fit and where to cut and bend. Had to trim a little but left extra to bend rather than cut to size. That left me a little latitude for any mistakes. Fortunately the templating got me pretty much where I need to be! In addition to leaving room for error, the fold gives me a nice rounded edge at the joint to the floor, and I will use the folded in tabs to attach the console to the tunnel cover sheet metal.

 

[amfw]

Alright everyone, this has been going MOSTLY smoothly, but I have to confess... When I wrapped the console in vinyl, I came up a little short atvtye cutout for the rear ashtray. I was able to clean it up a little with contact adhesive, sharpie, and stretching, but the rest is so nice it seemed a shame to leave it there. So I 3d printed a little trim flange, and covered it in some vinyl. Its a good quiet evening project, and it helped clean up the funk.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

That's pretty impressive! I sometimes struggle with just getting a document to print....

 

[amfw]

That's pretty impressive! I sometimes struggle with just getting a document to print....

Rest assured, all of my printers (2d and 3d) have an extensive vocabulary of swear words...

 

[.94 OR]

Rest assured, all of my printers (2d and 3d) have an extensive vocabulary of swear words...

A guy can't print a big enough swear jar at times...

 

[stupidboy]

me too that is very nice!!