67 GS 400 Convertible OEM console installation

Discussion in 'Interior City' started by chucknixon, Apr 25, 2018.

  1. chucknixon

    chucknixon Founders Club Member

    I am well on my way to finish installing the OEM console and shifter I bought from GS Fred into the red \GS400 automatic convertible I bought last September. The car is highly optioned including bucket seats but was not equipped with a console from the factory. I decided to add that option and have been assembling parts, repairing and painting parts, shift lever re-chromed, etc. The Parts Place/OPGI have the rear console mounting bracket that came welded to the hump from the factory. You can weld it to the hump or use the slotted holes on either side of the bracket to mount it which is what I did. The rubber boot is an adaptation from a boot I bought from Summit Racing after several hours on the internet checking parts houses for something I thought would work. We cut this one down and it seems to do the job just fine. I also installed a tilt console steering column.

    I am going to do a step by step history of the console parts and installation and what I did for the Forum to be filed for others to use if it helps. These photos are just a glimpse of where we are as of the end of the day today. Dynamat goes down tomorrow to replace the factory sound deadening material that had dried out, cracked and coming loose. Wire brushed and cleaned the floor, then spraying with red lead primer before the Dynamat goes down. Carpet goes in Friday over the Dynamat then full console with rebuilt tach is installed. Will update the Forum as we finish.

    I wanted to say the thing that has made this error free and a piece of cake is having a floor cut out section of another 67 auto console car that we could use as a pattern and make accurate measurements for correct hole cutting, screw and bolt holes. Much thanks to Stacey, 'PrairieCanary' on the Forum for having the foresight to make and save this cut out from a parts car. He sold it to me, I had it sand blasted, painted it light gray with a rattle can, taped the sharp edges where it was cut out of the car, and it has become the pattern for installing my console. I will make this pattern available to any other Forum member for the cost of shipping to and from me as I would like to keep it for the foreseeable future.

    Will do this in two posts, start with taking the seats and carpet out of the car.

    DSC_4554 - Copy.JPG DSC_4530 - Copy.JPG DSC_4532 - Copy.JPG DSC_4534 - Copy.JPG DSC_4537 - Copy.JPG
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2018
  2. chucknixon

    chucknixon Founders Club Member

    More photos:

    DSC_4542 - Copy.JPG DSC_4571 - Copy.JPG DSC_4577 - Copy.JPG DSC_4586 - Copy.JPG
     
  3. DauntlessSB92

    DauntlessSB92 Addicted to Buick

    Looks great! Would you happen to have the part number for the shift boot you used?
     
  4. chucknixon

    chucknixon Founders Club Member

    I do have it but it will take a while to dig it out. Swamped this week for an old retired guy
     
  5. Grandpas67

    Grandpas67 Well-Known Member

    Great job! That info will be useful to someone else down the line!!!
     
  6. NZ GS 400

    NZ GS 400 Gold Level Contributor

    Nice work Chuck.
     
  7. Chi-Town67

    Chi-Town67 Gold Level Contributor

    Nice job Chuck! I wish I had this info 10 years ago when I did mine. I had to wing it but, it did turn out well. Having this documented will make life easier for anyone making this conversion in the future. Thanks for taking the time to post this. If I may make a suggestion, I would replace the spring in the shifter button if you haven't done so already. It would be much easier now before you get too far along with the install. I had the spring in my shifter button break a couple months after I installed my console. It all had to come out in order to replace the spring. Not a big deal but, I figured I'd at least give you a heads up and maybe save you from potential down time in the future.

    P.S. How did the flocking job turn out?
     
  8. wkillgs

    wkillgs Gold Level Contributor

    Nice Chuck. That floor section looks like it belongs in a museum!
    What is the story on the console bracket.... is it a repo or fabricated?
     
  9. chucknixon

    chucknixon Founders Club Member

    Nick, just got the flocking material yesterday so will try it over the weekend. Seems easy enough from the directions but I will manage to screw up somehowo_O Good suggestion on the spring, does it come straight up the shifter rod by pulling the chrome button out? I don't have the car here at the house so I can look at it tomorrow. I have slowed down on final console installation as the car is going to the body/paint shop to fix some issues from 50 years of easy life. It looks line the car has been repainted in the last 10 years and while the actual paint is nice, they did not take the stainless off around the convert top opening, windshield etc. and some not-so-good masking so we are going to make it right:D
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2018
  10. chucknixon

    chucknixon Founders Club Member

    Walt, thanks for the complement on my resto work. I bought the OEM console from GSFred along with an original shifter he had taken out of a 67 parts car, See photos below. I took lots of photos during the taking it apart process so I could get it back together correctly and it worked. I have a small Eastwood glass blaster so I took it apart, blasted to bare metal, replaced some of the plastic bushings with bronze ones I found that fit perfectly, I then put it back together and sprayed it with Eastwood master cylinder or cast iron silver paint to make it look good although it is not seen except at the top of the shifter. I have this fetish that I want everything to look good whether hidden or exposed. Hope that helps, IMG_0354 - Copy.JPG IMG_0355 - Copy.JPG IMG_0357 - Copy.JPG IMG_0364 - Copy.JPG IMG_0370 - Copy.JPG IMG_0371 - Copy.JPG IMG_0388 - Copy.JPG IMG_0398 - Copy.JPG IMG_0392.JPG
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2018
  11. Chi-Town67

    Chi-Town67 Gold Level Contributor

    Well Chuck, after studying the pics of the shifter in your post I can honestly say I can't remember how I did it. I'm pretty sure the shifter had to be disassembled and I think a roll pin had to be removed. It was a little over 10 years ago and I just can't recall how the hell I did it. I'm sure if you take a good look at how the shifter is made you will be able to figure out how it gets taken apart. I wish I had the forethought of taking pics when I repair things but, when I'm on a mission to fix something I usually just dive right in and do it. And then I think, damn, I should have taken pics of this. Sorry I can't be of much help without having the shifter physically in my hands. Maybe someone else reading this with recent experience will chime in.
    Edit:
    That's it! The detent pin at the bottom of the stalk has to be removed to get the button and spring out.
    I wish you had posted those later photos earlier. It would have saved me a lot of typing.lol :D
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2018
  12. chucknixon

    chucknixon Founders Club Member

    Thanks again Nick. My shifter is in place and hooked up to the trans and everything works great as I took it for a short drive today. Since the shifter is installed and hooked up I think I will gamble and not replace the spring now but will keep a copy of this thread in my 3 ring binder on the car so I can refer back to it if the spring breaks.
     

Share This Page