The following is a guide for disassembly, re-painted, refurbishing and re assembly of a mini console. Tools/supplies needed: -1/4 inch nut driver or 1/4 inch socket w/ ratchet -small short phillips screwdriver -vinly paint (approx. $6.99) -nice stiff bristle brush -good cleaner i.e. tuff stuff, simple green, fantastic, etc. -lint free rags First there are four-1/4 inch hex head screws holding the bottom of the mini console to the rest of the console. After removing those four screws the bottom should come right out. This exposes the six-1/4 inch hex head screws holding the top onto the case. (case is the container that has sides and bottom that actually holds anything in the mini console) Undo those six screws and that will seperate the top from the case. Now you should have a top, bottom and the case. You can further disassemble the top by loosening the nut counter-clockwise that holds the lock cylinder in place. The top is electroplated on the inside but painted and textured like vinyl on the outside. Moving onto the case there is still some parts to be removed. You will need a small, short phillips screwdriver that can fit inside the case. There are a total of eight screws that are along the walls of the case, two are harder to access than the other because the door is still in the way. Unscrew those and don't be afraid if the screws just push the tracks out, they shouldn't crack. The screws on mine pushed it out without cracking. Finally there are two small screws along the bottom of the case, if you follow the bottom towards the door. Remove those and the two tracks should seperate from the case and the door should also be seperate. The case and tracks for the door Top and bottom, the only pieces that need to be painted. I will clean them tomorrow and mask the appropriate areas off. The case, not sure how I can take care of this right now but im researching to figure out how. I will try to either find a new lock cylinder for the console or see if I can have a key cut for lock. Buying a new cylinder is likely the cheapest way. More progress tomorrow. :bglasses:
All I got to today was cleaning the parts I was going to paint, then masking. Took awhile to mask, the inside is tricky so I used a razor to push the tape in the small groove. More pics tomorrow. :Brow:
lock key You may want to check with an old time locksmith,they have listings to cross reference the numbers on the cylinders and cut you a new key for it.
Rob, Got it finished today and snapped some pics for you and the other guys. A BIG thanks goes to Carl (72Rivguy) for giving me the console for free. What an awesome guy. I really appreciate it, I owe you a few. :TU: I can't wait to put it in. :grin:
Lookin very nice Rob , do you have to worry about the paint to "slide" on the angle corners since it's very liquid ? I'm about to do (dye) my backseat with vinyl/plastique paint and I'm nervous about doing it bad p My dash cluster in black turn out very nice though , but never tried with lighter color .
Thanks Adam! :TU: Donald, If you spray lightly you will build the paint up in those areas. Although, this paint does not seem to run as easily as other paints. I used Dupli-color interior vinyl paint. Goodluck :TU:
Looks good Rob...like new.... :TU: ... Searched the internet for quite some time to find a good paint for that job (like: http://www.rangerpowersports.com/tech/?p=119 )... in the right color (green)... hard to get over here in Europe... Think I'll have to try to find some cans on my visit to MO. next month.
What, you're selling it??? 135$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/70-7...ewItemQQcategoryZ33695QQitemZ8066515255QQrdZ1 <img src="http://i13.ebayimg.com/02/i/07/21/87/36_12.JPG" />
Thanks for the compltments guys. Donald is right, I'm not selling it Kimson, even If I didnt like it I would either donate it to another person or save for a future project. I like it too much. :bglasses:
Hi Nice job. :TU: I am going to restore mine to and i wonder if you did anything with the chrome molding.Mine doesn't look to good.
Here's a mini console in a 73 wagon, located on the San Francisco craigslist for 1800$ <img src="http://d.im.craigslist.org/2T/xg/iOgXMUX6INm7eoHl0y29Txf2mE5D.jpg" >
marjac, I believe the mini consoles can be found in any full-size buick from 1970-1976. PontChief, My "chrome" isnt doing well either, its just plastic that was either painted nicely or had been electroplated. I didnt do anything to it. Maybe a future project would be trying to electroplat the top part and then paint the part of the top that isnt supposed to be chromed. Kimson, You kill me..................all those cheap big buicks lying on every street corner waiting to be scooped up. :laugh: Im so jealous, possibly jealous enough to rent an 18-wheeler and bring back a dozen buicks to the midwest. :bglasses:
The top part of the console was vacuum plated at the factory then painted, when the paint wears out, you can see the chrome plating under it. There are shops that do vacuum plating on plastic parts. Maybe it's possible to use mylar tape on the chrome strip for those whop don't want to send their console to a plastic plating shop. I tried that on a small part of my dashboard and it doesn't look bad.
