[Captainofiron]

So pretty much the consoles for the manual transmission equipped 68s and 69s are pretty hard to find and when I have seen them on ebay, even in rough shape they go for a pretty penny.

This brings me to my thought.

I have an automatic console that I traded for a Camaro console back before I knew better.
I was wondering if anyone had ever modified the top plate on the auto console to be a manual trans console?

I figure it couldnt be too bad. I could remove all teh fake wood grain cut the metal and weld in a piece of sheetmetal, cut a whole using the new fake wood grain sticker as a template.

anybody?

[spb350]

I just bought a 4 spd console that someone had put the stickers on. I'm not very impressed at all. The wood grain looks OK for a driver but doesn't look or feel anything like the original. The guy that did it also did a terrible job around the corners, its very noticeable. I'm going to pull off the stickers when I get a chance to see what the original woodgrain looks like. The rest of the console is in great shape.

[Captainofiron]

Originally Posted by spb350

I just bought a 4 spd console that someone had put the stickers on. I'm not very impressed at all. The wood grain looks OK for a driver but doesn't look or feel anything like the original. The guy that did it also did a terrible job around the corners, its very noticeable. I'm going to pull off the stickers when I get a chance to see what the original woodgrain looks like. The rest of the console is in great shape.

when you take it off can you snap some pictures of the bottom of that plate, I know it has 3 screws underneath to hold that shift plate.

also could you take measurements?

Thanks man

[Captainofiron]

Nobody else has ever thought of this?

[rohrt]

I'm interested in how this turns out.

[boater bill]

I have 2 Auto console with one of them being pretty hacked up by me putting in a shifter that wasn't correct for a console. In my research, the burlwood overlays are the biggest issue. Cammer-6 has something that best matches the original, but is EXTREMELY expensive. Someone here just used real burlwood walnut and veneered it to the console pieces with fantastic results.

I have thought about making a new top plate with the opening for the shifter cup and then using the console overlays for while, but haven't gotten around to it. Right now I have my Hurst competition Plus and T-handle sticking through an Auto console with an oversize boot. Less than ideal, but I have other projects I am working on that are more imporatant.

[Captainofiron]

Originally Posted by boater bill

I have 2 Auto console with one of them being pretty hacked up by me putting in a shifter that wasn't correct for a console. In my research, the burlwood overlays are the biggest issue. Cammer-6 has something that best matches the original, but is EXTREMELY expensive. Someone here just used real burlwood walnut and veneered it to the console pieces with fantastic results.

I have thought about making a new top plate with the opening for the shifter cup and then using the console overlays for while, but haven't gotten around to it. Right now I have my Hurst competition Plus and T-handle sticking through an Auto console with an oversize boot. Less than ideal, but I have other projects I am working on that are more imporatant.

the overlay isnt going to be an issue for me, I am just going to paint the top plate, and the compartment door, gloss black to match the exterior, never been a big fan of the wood inside the Bird.

I have been looking at pictures of a manual console, but its not too clear since the picture size is small







it looks like that shifter plate sits inside the original square

[kmz68bird]

Here is a link to a few photos of the console differences. I may be tackling the same project soon. Hope it helps out.

https://picasaweb.google.com/283falc...We2fy5xIq2ngE#

[kmz68bird]

If you are going to be painting the fake wood grain you might want to even consider buying the 67 manual shifter plate and 67 shifter boot. It will look like a 67 manual console then. If you are not concerned with having it look year specific?

This is the route that I might go with. Just another idea.

[ponchopower69]

I read some where that the 68-69 manual console are nothing other then a 67 console with the 8-9 style top bolted to it. They also all share the same demensions. I too am looking at doing this. But plan to make my own top since I do not want the burlwood. I will see if I can find where I saw this at and post up a link.

[Cammer-6]

read the many posts on consoles and youll see this mentioned time and again.
It can be done to make the 4 speed hole out of a auto one with a little metal work.
Had a local metal stamp place check into making 4 speed tops.They wanted $75K to tool up.

[Captainofiron]

Originally Posted by kmz68bird

Here is a link to a few photos of the console differences. I may be tackling the same project soon. Hope it helps out.

https://picasaweb.google.com/283falc...We2fy5xIq2ngE#

Thanks that is awesome

Originally Posted by kmz68bird

If you are going to be painting the fake wood grain you might want to even consider buying the 67 manual shifter plate and 67 shifter boot. It will look like a 67 manual console then. If you are not concerned with having it look year specific?

This is the route that I might go with. Just another idea.

I already have the 68 AT console, and I already extended the hole to fit my shifter. Then after lots of research i found out that it was an AT console. But I like the look of the top plate on the 68, not the 67

Originally Posted by ponchopower69

I read some where that the 68-69 manual console are nothing other then a 67 console with the 8-9 style top bolted to it. They also all share the same demensions. I too am looking at doing this. But plan to make my own top since I do not want the burlwood. I will see if I can find where I saw this at and post up a link.

what is a 8-9 style?

Originally Posted by Cammer-6

read the many posts on consoles and youll see this mentioned time and again.
It can be done to make the 4 speed hole out of a auto one with a little metal work.
Had a local metal stamp place check into making 4 speed tops.They wanted $75K to tool up.

wow 75K

[kmz68bird]

The 68-69 style is the top with the offset oval for the manual shifter. The 67 style was a console with the large square opening for the manual shifter to go through.

[Captainofiron]

Originally Posted by kmz68bird

The 68-69 style is the top with the offset oval for the manual shifter. The 67 style was a console with the large square opening for the manual shifter to go through.

yea I know, but as i already said, I have the 68 console with the AT top plate, so why not just modify it

[Captainofiron]

Well I finally got my hands on a manual top plate, but I am gonna take some exact measurements and make a template for anybody interested.