sweet928

So I just picked up a used armrest in my cork leather color from Ebay. Got it cheap and it even has all the cassette things inside still.

My question is how do I install this, as it wasn't in option in 79. I don't want to just scew into the torque tube tunnel as I don't want to start a potential rust situation. Anyone do this before and can quide me though it.

Thanks,
David

rixter

look under the carpet, chances are the holes may have been predrilled

Chuck Schreiber

David,
Did you ever do this upgrade?
Thought about it a few years ago, then found out there were NO tabs welded in to the body for this.
The Armrest is held in by 4 large phillips head screws that go into 4 tabs that were welded on to the torque tube hump under it. They probably did not put these in unitl the early 80's. You could fab some up and JB weld them down after cutting holes in the carpet.

James Bailey

Correct the mounting tabs are not there....Wife's 79 I just drilled holes in the tunnel it is not going to rust....at least not in California in my lifetime. And it is not an arm rest but only a casette holder, much pressure and you break the lid plastic.

sweet928

I did what James said. I do rest my arm on it too.

hacker-pschorr

I cut the mounts off one of the donor chassis lying around Green Bay to be welded onto my 81.

I'm sure Tim will never notice........

karl ruiter

I just drilled and screwed, too. But I find that without the tabs it wobbles a bit or at least does not have the same solid feel. I'll try making some spacers next.

sweet928

Mine is very solid. H/ever I didn't do it myself...Capt Earl did it for me. See enclosed picture.

Side note, I had my seats re tightened too -- as you can see deflated before and inflated after. Very happy with the results for a few hundred bucks. Kept my original leather and foam. Just re glued. Has held up well for six or so months so far.

Personally I could not drive without the arm rest. It's not comfortable at all and looks like something's missing without it.

jwillman

Do you know how Capt Earl went about it?

sweet928

Not really. However there are strange looking bolts on the inside. I'll post a picture shortly. Good it helps.

sweet928

Oops. Typo on my start phone. Should be hope it helps.

sweet928

Seems to be regular philips screws and washers. I think Capt. Earl just screwed right into the tunnel. Not sure why the back ones are raised. The arm rest is on firmly.

Elmiko

Rivet nuts might work well here-drill hole, insert, and set.

Jerry Feather

If you haven't done this yet, here is what I would do.

Remove the carpet in the tunnel area. Locate the arm rest box in its proper position and then mark through the four mounting holes where they are on the foam/other material on the tunnel. Then remove the box and cut through the foam/material down to the steel tunnel in the four marked locations making holes about an inch or inch and a half square. Then fashion some square blocks of hardwood of your choice so that they are curved on the bottom to match the contour of the tunnel and flat on the top so they match the bottom of the box. Glue them in place with something like construction adhesive such as good as nails or hard as nails or whatever it is called. When the glue sets cut the carpet so it will fit around the blocks of wood and then with sime nice suitable screws and washers mount the box to the blocks. You might even pilot drill the blocks so they don't split when you install the screws.

No rust issues and no new holes in the car.

For what it is worth.

Jerry Feather