Jerry Feather

That's a good point, Frank, and it probably brings me full circle on that idea. What it will take is simply removing the clock recess form and installing in its place a forming bar that will press the concavity into that area of the lower trim piece. Doing that is probably one of the optional ways to offer something like this flush conversion, if it becomes viable for the rest of you.

In addition, I have no idea just how practical the Infiniti clock, either one of them, will be because the supply of used ones is very limited and I haven't found out what the dealer might want for either one of them.

In fact, doing what you suggest may still be the best way to accomodate the Auto shifter in this conversion since this trim piece I have made here will not work in the auto shifter cars without moving the shifter up and back, which I suspect may not be very desirable for most, if practical or possible at all.

There is a whole lot to be done and/or decided with this next project, and input like yours is going to play a big part in how it develops.

Thanks, Jerry

tlsmith1999

I would be interested in one without the clock. Just the flat surface to mount power ports and the rear AC *****.

Bill Ball

I agree making the recessed oval clock hole restricts the application. I'd rather have a blank panel that I can cut to fit a clock or gauges or power outlets of my choice.

I'm not sure I understand the problem with the AT shifter. I'd be happy to take what you have made and mod it to provide a shifter opening and attach already existing aftermarket leather boots. Yeah it would be nice if you could think this out and do that for us, but I'm happy to just get a simple flush panel system to work into my own component configuration.

zoltan944

agree with Bill on both points.
I would like to have it flush and drill out for a gauge or two plus a possible 12v outlet or something. Also (i have a 5 speed tho) im sure its all but a small fix for most of us to work out a fix with the piece for our shifters I think

Jerry Feather

Bump. I'm going to bring you up to date on this project, but don't have time right now. This saves me looking for this thread again when I am ready. Jerry

Jerry Feather

While I was on vacation in the Northwest (Sea/Tac) I was able to get the measurements off of a five speed that I needed to make some further progress with the next phase of what this project is turning out to be.

Tom M. of Olympia WA was kind enough to bring his 89 GT to Tacoma while I was there and let me take the measurements I needed. Thanks, Tom!!

What I found in taking the measurements is that the trim piece that I have been developing in this thread might just barely work with a five speed car. However, if I were to develop it further I would make the shifter opening a little longer front to back to allow the extra room that I think it would need.

If you look back at the title of this thread, I think I have accomplished just what I set out to do, but with the modification in the machine I made to accomodate some further development of the flush center console system that was earlier suggested. With the pictures I have for today which show the next phase of this trim piece, that being the cut-out for the shifter and the little ring I made that would hold the form for the bottom of the shifter boot, if I were to try to develop this trim piece further, I am going to end this thread.

What I am going to do then is start a new thread about the development of a different style of trim piece, or actually two of them--one for the five speed and one for the auto shifter--and both with more emphasis on flushness. And, I will be developing the trim piece for the upper console area that will allow changing around the whole console and including the Double din navigation unit and moving the other original stuff around.

The first two pictures show me holding the nearly finished trim piece in place since there is still a certain amoung of springiness to it. You can see that it fits pretty well and the foreward curvature is a pretty good match to the console.

The last three pictures show the shifter opening cut out and the ring I made that I would use to hold the form of the shifter boot which would snap into place or could be screwed into place from underneath befoer the trim piece is snapped into place.

Now, I am going to end this HOW TO project with a saying something like the old man in the TV commercial says after playing the fiddle pretty wildly with the horse hairs flying off of the bow, when he hands the violin back to the young guy it apparently belongs to. THERE SON, THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT!!!

Frank Castle

It has turned out very nicely Jerry. A question regarding Materials - I think I missed the discussion but are you able to use a range of materials for different surface finishes and appearances? It would be the bees knees if you were able to use some/all of your forms in conjunction with the oven (and possibly vacuum bagging) to offer these pieces in carbon fiber. Nice job - I anxiously await the continuation of your projects. On a side note, I promise not to tell Charlie Daniels that you called him an old man.

Jerry Feather

Hi Frank. I will be posting more about the future of the flush console project in the next thread, including the considerations on materials. I haven't given much thought to anything other that ABS with the pebble finish except I am still going to design around the use of leather to cover what I am going to make and still try to retain the bare pebble finish as an option. If carbon fiber-like material is available perhaps something like that can be incorporated.

Vacuum forming is not part of this process.

Charlie Daniels. I knew that I shoud probably know him by name, but I am not a music officiando and hadn't bothered to learn who he was. If he is anything like me he will be happy to be an old man, because the alternative is not pleasant to think about.

Thanks for your thoughts on this and the next effort.

Jerry

Jerry Feather

bump

SMTCapeCod

Bump...or if I missed the new thread, a link would be a great close out..

whiteNSXs

Wow! Just wow! Did I say wow? Wow!
Steve

Jerry Feather

The other follow-up thread is about the Flush Center Console Conversion Project. Search Flush and you will find it. Jerry Feather

Jerry Feather

Bump for Matt.

Here is the thread that I developed some time ago from which you might find some ideas about how to put the VDO Clock into your 928 after you have eliminated the original clock location. Look through this thread and then locate and look through the follow-up thread about the flush center console conversion and see if there is something in either that will help you out.

Jerry Feather

I am bumping this thread because of the comments in the description thread about the less than factory appearance of the lower insert as installed in Rob's GTS. The thoughts there seem to be that the original flush conversion by Kieth Widom looks better. With that in mind, and a couple of other thoughts I'll expand upon in one of the other threads, it has occurred to me that I had already made a lower trim piece that emulates Kieth's more closely. See in this thread starting at about post #85. That trim piece, with or without the clock provision may be the best answer.