I have a top chrome boot retainer but need the lower boot retainer for a 4-speed consolette. Please let me know what you have available. Troy
Troy... I have been buying PARTS CONSOLETTES over the years, an extra top or two, (one is hacked up for aftermarket shifter... UGH) and they are bottomless, plus a few other odds ends to make ONE complete consolette... I dont rember having an extra steel lower boot ring but I'll take a look. If I DO have an extra, I MAY consider having my 'metalologist guy' make a few... justa thot. Wheelz, Tampa Bay
Hi Wheelz, I would buy one if you did.......... Hopefully there will be some more interest. I need both rings!! Are the rings the same except for the chrome finish?
Dennis, I was going to do the same thing. I have a buddy in a stamping manufacturing shop that has tooling available for prototype work. Or, I was going to see if I could have one produced along with the top ring. I have a NX CAD model of the upper ring and another board member offered a SolidEdge CAD model of the lower ring. We should do some crowd source funding for tooling projects to see what we could fund and build with our day job knowledge. I have been in Manufacturing/Engineering since 85 and have lots of shop contacts. Just no funding for tooling. Troy
Pat, thanks for the response. Great question and does help clear up my WTB need. Sorry, no, this picture you show is the boot ring that mounts the lower boot to the floor. I am looking for the consolette boot, lower retainer ring. The consolette boot gets pinched between the chrome ring and this needed steel ring. Troy
ok... I know the one. I may have to look in box 3 of 4 speed parts I had one from a consolette. I think the one I showed was to hold the lower boot to the hump
Troy, I have been toying with a few items over the years and YES... DIES AND TOOLING are ALWAYS the issue. I have a 3d Cadd of the 70-72 auto console center acrylic BUICK INSERT on my desk for years. JUST the tooling and Mold Die costs are $35k. :eek2: NOT including actual production pieces or any finishing! :shock: I talked to an overseas Rep (friend if my brother) who does this sort of thing, however, the REP is HUGE INTO Buick Industry in China and because of the Tri shield logo, they wont touch it, so I have redisgned it without the logo...(first pix below) Now the only problem is figuring out how to a Manufacture & REASONABLY Market a few thousand of these things to even begin to recoup that kind of investment. :ball: Here ya go guys: Consolette boot rings, upper 'chrome plated diecast' and lower 'stamped steel': Wheelz, Tampa Bay
We machined some of the upper rings out of aluminum, and 3d printed the lower. If you can find a source to chrome a 3d printed part that would be the best bet for a small qty run. The upper ring needs to be machined, lower one could be stamped. You could chrome the upper one or just polish the aluminum.
Kerry... I've got a buddy who does some OUTSTANDING CHROME POWDER COATED finishes.. another option!!! Wheelz, Tampa Bay
Ask him how much thickness his process adds to the part so we can compensate, would it be possible to do a sample part? James posted this need years ago, so he needs to get a chance for some of the first parts.
Kerry, IIRC from previous items he has coated for me, Heavy Chrome POWDER COATING adds about 8-10%... However, I wouldnt think the tolerances would be an issue since there is really nothing to these parts that would require tight clearances. :TU: If we can move forward and ask your buddy to print one or TWO, send me one and I will pay to have it coated and post the results. INTERESTED??? Wheelz, Tampa Bay
I will be printing them, it will be in Jan when we return from break. May want to ask if he can do this process with 3d printed ABS plastic.
Well..one problem that COULD arise is... ABS plastic may not be strong enuf to withstand the rubber boot tugg'n on a PLASTIC trim ring during shifting... Dunno for sure but is it possible, constant back'n forth and side to side shifter motion may tend to break ABS plastic at the three small mounting tabs??? Thots?? Wheelz, Tampa Bay
Wow Kerry, you have a great memory! I don't currently have a 4 speed car (I sold the one I had back then), I just have a few consolettes that need them. If you make another set, please take care of Troy first.
The ABS plastic should be robust enough, but if anyone has a consolette and drives their car we can put one in it to test. My car does not have the consolette
Here is an image of some of the layout views of the top ring I created. The part is difficult to determine exactly where the tabs / mounting holes are located so a printed part would be beneficial to confirm the locations. Troy
WHY are location tabs/holes an issue??? Otherwise, I like it Troy! Ok so, enuf chat. . . How can we move forward to produce a few pieces? If you send two of them to me, I will cover POWDER COATING COSTS as prototype reference examples... Wheelz, Tampa Bay
