Trashed center console, any ideas to fix it?

[MikeMacCham]

Hey guys
I have a 68 dodge charger with a center console on its last leg. It looks like someone put to much weight on it and it cracked here and there and over the years peices have broken off. I was thinking of using gorrilla glue to glue the peices together, then maybe using some kind of interior shell to strengthen it, but I am not sure what to use. I was thinking like 3m on the inside of the console and then a flexible thin plastic on the inside so it would be stronger on the outside and less likly to fall apart. I just changed my interior over to black and am planning on painting the console black as well after I rebuild it.

[chargerman68]

any pics of it to see whats the damage

[MikeMacCham]

Yeah, I was looking for some online, since i am at work, but couldn't find any. I will put some one tommorow.

[Ghoste]

I tired an epoxy on mine but it didn't hold up.  It held for a few years but the crack did come back.  I only applied the goop on the inside so it wasn't a good job to begin with.  I think my solution will be to get one of the repro ones.

[bull]

I'd probably just buy a new one.

[bill440rt]

I'd probably just buy a new one.

For all the time, money, & effort you'll put assembling your broken puzzle, you'd be better off putting it towards a new repro console. They're relatively inexpensive (price will far outweigh the money, effort, & time repairing the old), & the end results will be much better, stronger, & last longer, too. AND look better!! 

[HITMAN 149]

I AGREEEEEE they are like $200-$250 for a repo OR search on ebay..they tend to go kinda high sometimes.. but you may get a original oem one if that matters?!?!?!
WHO CARES!!!!!!!! hehehehe
buy a repo!!! less hastle.. and it'll be brand new!!!!!!!!

[MikeMacCham]

HAHA I was thinking today if I was at work as many hours as I spent on these projects i could buy another car...not that the wife would let me...haha...(sigh) .  Sorry I didn't get a picture of it yet my oldschool camera is way to ghetto I need a new one.
what I ended up doing was using garilla glue like a shattered lamp shade to fit it back together. then I bought hilti insulation foam  and flipped it upside down and filled it up around the brittle sides. Then I am painting it black like the rest of the interior.
We will see, the main thing is  I am having fun... Like today I talked to a appulstry guy for 20 minutes and buddied it up. he told me the secrects of using a adhesive under the paint as a primer on the plastics, osrry if i sound like a dumba_ _ but I  was working with paints today.  but i was thinking of using a little bondo on the top of the console where a piece is missing and pushing another piece in to mimic the texture. we shall see....i'll get pics asap.
No i'm not trying to have a perfect car, I always wanted a ratpack ride anyway. 

[Ghoste]

Well, if you change your mind, the repro pieces are pretty tough to beat and after seeing swap meet sellers trying to get hundreds of dollars for old used ones, I'm happy they brought them out.
I can see your point though, if you can fix it for next to nothing, it's money you can spend elsewhere on the project.  Like I said, I repaired the crack in mine and it was nearly invisible for a couple of years but it did come back.

[HITMAN 149]

last year i picked up a realllllly nice NOS black center console!! and i was thinking of how to.. or what to fill in that back piece that ALWAYS gets cracked with... to make it stronger??? i was thinking maybe shape out a piece of wood to fit into the back piece for more strength/ support?? maybe a lil fiberglass or epoxy to fill in the gaps??? 

[Ghoste]

Good question!  I plan to buy one of the repops for my car but I'd hate to see it crack in the same place.  A little reinforcment would be an excellent idea.

[HITMAN 149]

yea ghoste...
that's exactley what i was thinkin!!!! hahahah spend decent coin on a new one to replace the beat up broken one... and BAM!!!!!!! same shit!!! LOL!!! maybe fill it up with some cement!!!!!! hahahaha oh it's strong now.... oh don't worry the console weighs 26 lbs!!! LOL  it's all good!!

[694spdRT]

I am very pleased with the repo I bought. I fixed my original 3 times only to have is crack again and again.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,14720.0.html

[Ghoste]

Are the repro's a different plastic or reinforced in that crack zone at all?

[694spdRT]

I don't think they are any better in that respect. One idea I kicked around to strengthen it was to use "Great Stuff" expandable foam and fill the void under the rear section to make it solid. The problem with that is the foam will make it very difficult if you ever need to take it apart again.

[bull]

I would think you'd need something more rigid than that foam stuff. If any give is allowed it's still going to crack if enough pressure is applied.

[mikes68charger]

There are easy ways and right ways.  I did a combo of both.   All you need is a wood burning iron/soldering iron. Hold the 2 peaces togeather and melt them togetather on the back side not going all the way throw. Take your time and you can use a broken peace of the same plastic and melt it in as a filler. Its called plastic welding. Then renforce with metal and expoy.

[MikeMacCham]

Well for now I am just haveing fun, eventually i'll just work a overtime day and buy a new one. for now i am using the hilti foam and gorrialla glue + paintin it black. i'll get more pics as i get finished. how much was the repo console? Looks NICE.

[MikeMacCham]

apparently I have to write something here to add a pics so....

"SOMEBODY GO BACK AND GET A SH_T LOAD OF NICKLES!!!"

[Ghoste]

What's that strange looking white thing in the background? 

[HITMAN 149]

What's that strange looking white thing in the background? 

CHEATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MikeMacCham]

One of the Father in law'ss Camaro I think it runs 9's...

[Ghoste]

Camaro huh?  I think I've heard of them.   

[694spdRT]

Camaro huh?  I think I've heard of them.   

Me too....in Vanishing Point. 

[MikeMacCham]

haha 

[JimShine]

Are the repro's a different plastic or reinforced in that crack zone at all?

They feel a bit more stout than the originals to me.

[440charger68]

I would just cover the whole thing in vinyl. It looks good, and it last along time. I would prefer it if your not looking for the stock look.

[MikeMacCham]

HM vinyl that sounds sweet, got a pic?