'72 new console install alignment difficulty

[Douglas M.]

Checking to see what is normal.

Background: PO has removed and reinstalled original console and instrument cluster surround. The top part of the cast cluster housing where the wiper control assembly goes was broken off and missing. Installationw as loose and sloppy with screws missing, or not in holes, etc.

Having finished the instrument resto and rebuilding the A/C control unit,a nd installing new cast cluster housing, main console and parking brake console, I find that the forward mounting holes in the main console are significantly lower than the metal tabs attached to the trans hump where they are supposed to align to. Now, I can get a screw driver in there and pry up the console to where the holes align, but with the screwdriver in the hole, you can't get a screw in.... The cast gauge housing is screwed to the dash pad with the single top center screw, no other attachments of the cast housing have been performed.

Questions:

Were these screws installed into the metal mounting tabs when the car was built, or was everything just kind of screwed to each other piece and the mounting tabs ignored.

It is generally difficult to get this stuff lined up?

If the tabs were used, and I would like to use them, any suggestion or techniques on how to raise the main console enough to get some screws in to hold it in place?

I have installed a new top dash pad,a nd it looks to be correctly positioned. The dash pad does make it hard to raise the cast gauge cluster housing enough to get the two front main console screws in. I can always remove that center screw and pull the cluster housing forward away from the top dash pad, but then I have to force the cluster housing into position,and maybe that is why the old one was broken.

I can take and post pics if needed.

Thanks,
Doug

[Alan S.]

Re: '72 new console install alignment difficulty

Hi Doug
The shifter console and center gauge bezel can be quite a tricky install. I think that's why the tops of so many bezels are broken .... from pushing too much.
Here's a picture, (71 -speed), that shows the side of the shifter console installed. You can see it's position by looking at the under-body recess and riveted plate.
Is yours in this position?
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

[Douglas M.]

Re: '72 new console install alignment difficulty

Well, it looks like yours sits down a bit also, and the holes in the mounting tab seem to have been redrilled to a lower location.

FWIW, the pilot holes in the trim tabs that sit forward of the console on the Corvette America trim tabs are higher than they should seem to be, which would make the console sit lower compared to if everything lined up right, if that made sense.

I am able to get the console raised up to pretty close to correct, by using an awl as a pry through the holes, and using a blocking board underneath the lower edge of the console to hold it high enough to get the screws in. I also loosened the dash pad screw that connects to the firewall bracket.

I have always disliked interior and body work due to the vagaries of fitment, as compared to machined parts on motors.

I was hoping to avoid having to take out the seats to fasten down the new parking brake console, but i don't think I can avoid that.

Are there any tricks to seat removal? Just undo four bolts and lift it out?

On the positive side, the new console and dash and windshield trim pads sure finished cleaning up the interior, and go much better with the new carpet and seats the PO installed.

Thanks,
Doug

[Larry M.]

Re: '72 new console install alignment difficulty

The only trick I experienced with seat removal was that I didn't remove the shoulder harness from the slot at the top of the seat backs, and therefore had to keep the seats in close quarters to the side of the car as I worked on the interior.
At the time, shoulder harness removal seemed to difficult to engage in. It wasn't until a subsequent interior project that I went to the effort to remove them (which at this point, I don't even recall how I accomplished).

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: '72 new console install alignment difficulty

You don't need to remove the seats to install the parking brake console. If the seat is a s far back as possible, you can still put in the screws on the side by pushing down the seat cushion (at least on my '69 I can and I don't think yours is any different).