This is a spin-off of the custom/hard-to-find fiero parts topic: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/050371.html#lastpost

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quote Originally posted in original topic: Fieroturbo: ......Also, what do you guys think of a real cold air intake (import style) and a new "skeleton" for the center console? James Z: ........that center console frame would be a smashing hit tho I just JBwelded mine back together today! Damn weird plastic.. nothing seems to stick to it! pft_217: ......... hey i love the idea for the center console, repaired mine with fiberglass but i dunno how long it'll last...

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Now as far as that skeleton, I contacted fierostore.com awhile back, and they pretty much said that the process was "too hard" to manufacture.

I say "nay!"

If done in sections, like it should be so it can flex a bit and not break, it can be done with less difficulty and cost than a single piece, and if a section suffers a stripped thread in the future, then replacement is easy.

Here on the navy base, we've got all kinds of lathes, drills, and mills, but really I could do it with a dremel tool.

I was aiming for aluminum, but if anyone wants something totally custom, like bronze or stainless steel, something wild for that whole console, I'm sure I could do something.

I have to make an order with McMaster-Carr for some engine mount-grade steel, so while I'm at it, I'll get some aluminum and start grinding.

The big thing that people seem to keep breaking is the stereo and climate control mounts, so to start, I'll try to make one of those, separate from the rest of the console.

One thing, are all the skeletons the same between all years? I have an 88, so I don't want to make a square peg for a round hole here.

[This message has been edited by fieroturbo (edited 05-09-2004).]

Been thinking the same thing on new oem dashes/interiors built for specifically for our Fieros. The 1st things they asked, were:
"How large is the market?"
"Can we recoup investment in tool-up costs, then make a profit within a reasonable timeframe?"
"How much per component would the average owner be willing to spend on these ?"

There's always a ton of people who say "Yeah, I'd buy one", but when it comes down to it, few actually have the $$ to do it.
These are the people I'll be talking to. Local outfit, into several different things involving plastics molding/extrusion. I would like to see them market a full dash, rather than the dash covers they presently offer for other vehicles. Sent them an email yesterday, nothing yet. Hopefully, I can drive one of our Fieros out there and let them see what they look like.

Is there a market????

http://www.coverlaymfg.com/

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 05-09-2004).]

in my opinion, cost will be the deciding factor. I have repaired three skeletons on three different cars, so I definitely think there is a need. How much does the average Fiero owner want to spend replacing hte skeleton is another question. I, for one, would not spend more than 30 bucks on a part that I can sucessfully repair... especially since it is not seen. I use Plastic epoxy to fill and build up the lobes that crack, then redrill the holes. Mine has held up great so far.

If the skeleton was beyond repair, such as totally demolished as a result of a break in, or accident, that may be a different story... So the question is, how much?

Congrats for gettin' POd ......... good fortune to you ..... SIR

Please consider ... alternate placement of the items in the console, heater controls @ the bottom, vents and radio, ... flip 'em or don't.
Thnx Norm

Id be very interested in a new center console piece and the radio and climate control mounting piece. I just had to repair my center console skeleton with plastic epoxy and mine was broke in 6 different places So Id be definitely interested in both if you made them. I have the money in hand so whenever you make them ill buy them.

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fast and reckless

Thanks Norm. I found out today that I'm in the 99th percentile (99%) out of the whole US Navy for that promotion, meaning I scored somewhere in the top 20 or 30 people in my job/rate out of several thousand people. YEAH!!!
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Yes I will consider alternate placement of the radio and climate control. I realize that new radios today have flip-down faces that can smack into the console, so I'll take that into consideration.
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Ok, so who else want's an ALUMINUM skeleton? I gotta tell ya, it won't be $30 like you want, but then again, this isn't going to be cheap vacuum mold plastic. The materials alone will cost no less than $50, I'm sure, so expect total cost for the skeleton to be no less than $100...

But like I said, aluminum vs. plastic... which would you choose.

If a LIFETIME WARRANTY is what it's gonna take, then I'll do it.

So who is interested? I wan't a no BS list here.

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PETTY OFFICER (no more airman!) Michael C Casaceli
Patrol Squadron Ten, United States Navy
1988 Pontiac Fiero 2.5L, soon to be 2.2L Ecotec Turbo (THE PROJECT HAS STARTED!!!)
1988 Oldsmobile Firenza 2.0L non-turbo (R.I.P.my beloved J-body. KIA by a Ford)
1994 Chevy S-10 4.3, it's finally here, and it is gorgeous!

[This message has been edited by fieroturbo (edited 05-11-2004).]

Thats not where the term 'Close enough for government work...' came from is it? I am intersted... my center console is beyond hope...

Are you talking sub frame or are you talking the frames that the vinyl adheres to? The dip that owned my car last broke damn near everything in the interior (tabs, wrong screws, things installed wrong...)

If it were $75, I'd be in. Any more starts to push my limits towards something that I'll "never see again". At this point, I would consider a thicker ABS type material over my currently stock broken one

I may be very interested because my buddy just SMASHED mine in the car door.

Im very seriously interested. ill buy the first one you make cause the money is just waiting

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fast and reckless

I'd really be interested, it would look awesome.

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Cool!

I'm awaiting parts for the Ecotec project (MAJOR backorder on pistons), so for the next two months, I'll work on making some skeletons.

BTW, since we're on the topic of interior's for Fieros, one of my shipmates (that's the Navy term for co-worker) makes custom speaker boxes, so if anyone lives in New England, and is willing to drive to Southern New Hampshire (Friday-Sunday) or Eastern Maine (Monday-Thursday), he can make any kind of box you want.

Like me, he's an Aircraft Electronics Technician, so he knows his stuff when it comes to car stereos. He will be featured on my website shortly.

Also, another product I'm considering making/selling, is flip-out billet aluminum cupholders for Fiero's. Let's face it, sticking your biggie size coke from mickey D's between your gauge cluster, the center dash, and center air vents is a little old (photo of that to come soon).

I'm very interested in becoming a dealer for these things, and I'm also considering selling custom billet aluminum "Fiero" and "GT" badges for the rear deck, along with a billet aluminum Pontiac symbol for the front facia.

(It's a Chevy emblem. I know it's a Chevy emblem. Please don't write to me telling me it's a Chevy emblem.)

If anyone is interested, please, let yourself be heard!

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PETTY OFFICER (no more airman!) Michael C Casaceli
Patrol Squadron Ten, United States Navy
1988 Pontiac Fiero 2.5L, soon to be 2.2L Ecotec Turbo (THE PROJECT HAS STARTED!!!)
1988 Oldsmobile Firenza 2.0L non-turbo (R.I.P.my beloved J-body. KIA by a Ford)
1994 Chevy S-10 4.3, it's finally here, and it is gorgeous!

[This message has been edited by fieroturbo (edited 05-11-2004).]

WAY COOL! Build it, offer it, I know it will sell. By the way, any chance of offering it in different anotized metal? Perhaps balck? Or blue, or...?

Sincerly,
Kevin J. Sullivan

The manufacturer says it's available in brushed, polished, or anodized red, blue, gold, purple, black, teal, burgundy and orange.

Also, I was just informed about this......

Light up cupholders!!!

From the MFG, they're very pricey, BUT, being that I'm and electronics technician, I can customize those myself and drop the price.
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Also, front Pontiac emblems will be in the $45 area, rear decklid GT emblems in the $15 area, and rear decklid Fiero lettering in the $50 area.

Those cupholders, the single horizontal ones, are looking to be about $70-75, BUT, I'm going to try to work out a deal with the MFG, see if I can't drop the price a bit since I'm in the military (gotta love the perks of the job).

Dual horizontal cupholders look about $110. That's a hard one to negotiate. The singles are in large supply, I think, so that's an easy one to haggle.

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PETTY OFFICER (no more airman!) Michael C Casaceli
Patrol Squadron Ten, United States Navy
1988 Pontiac Fiero 2.5L, soon to be 2.2L Ecotec Turbo (THE PROJECT HAS STARTED!!!)
1988 Oldsmobile Firenza 2.0L non-turbo (R.I.P.my beloved J-body. KIA by a Ford)
1994 Chevy S-10 4.3, it's finally here, and it is gorgeous!

[This message has been edited by fieroturbo (edited 05-11-2004).]

WOW those billet alluminium flip out cup holders are serious kick A$$. I love the stored position and how low profile they are. I would definitely buy the center console skeleton and the cup holders immediately. Hurry up and get these made cause im first in Line!!!

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fast and reckless

Cool!

After I make one for myself (HA, I'm first in line :P ) I'll make more, as long as it goes smooth.

I would definatly purchase a cup holder if it were offered in anondized black!

I WANT THOSE CUPHOLDERS! I don't care what the heck color they are, I want them!

Ok, so I have bids for aluminum color, and anodized black.

Anyone want gold or orange for the tan interior folks???

Actually, put me down as an aluminum if you're taking orders that way. How much are these gonna run, any idea?

Also, I know I for one have always hated putting my drink in the "stock" cup holder location behind the gauge pod, cause I worry about hitting a bump and splashing my drink onto the the pod, through the vent holes, and into the instruments. The cheapo window hanger cup holder I snagged at Kragen ain't cuttin it either.

quote Originally posted by fieroturbo: Those cupholders, the single horizontal ones, are looking to be about $70-75, BUT, I'm going to try to work out a deal with the MFG, see if I can't drop the price a bit since I'm in the military (gotta love the perks of the job). Dual horizontal cupholders look about $110. That's a hard one to negotiate. The singles are in large supply, I think, so that's an easy one to haggle.

quote Originally posted by fieroturbo: Ok, so who else want's an ALUMINUM skeleton? I gotta tell ya, it won't be $30 like you want, but then again, this isn't going to be cheap vacuum mold plastic. The materials alone will cost no less than $50, I'm sure, so expect total cost for the skeleton to be no less than $100...

I'd love an aluminum one... but let's talk details here... What is your design going to be like? I guess you're going to make the absolute simplest part(s) that can replace the stock piece. I think it needs to be at least two sections, preferrably three. Each should be removable without removing the other two (so I can work on the wiring near the ECM, work on the shifter, or work on the climate controls/radio without taking the whole console apart.
You've only mentioned a dremel tool so far, but I don't see how you could make something that would pick up ALL the stock attachment points without a welder. And I don't see how you could do that for $100 without giving your time away.

Anyway, I'll buy one (and I recognize that it may cost a lot more than $100), but I'd also really like to hear more about it and how you intend to design it. If you have access to machine tools, maybe you could make some molds and make the console out of pressed/stamped aluminum.

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'87 Fiero GT: Low, Sleek, Fast, and Loud
'90 Pontiac 6000 SE AWD: None of the Above

Luck, Fate and Destiny are words used by those who lack the courage to define their own future

Actually, the design idea involves all the pieces being separate, almost every single one, but then all being scewed together.

It's kinda hard to explain, but it makes the construction process much simpler, and cheaper. And if a part ever cracks, strips, melts, (if you melt aluminum, you have more to worry about than the skeleton) that single strip of metal can be replaced, rather than the whole skeleton all over again.

Like I said. I'll get the materials, experiment with it, and post photos.

To start off, I'll tackle the parts that break most, which is the sections from the cig' lighter-forward.

Also, who here smokes in their Fiero? I certainly don't, and many other people don't, so for those who want a switch panel hidden in their trays, or just a better storage tray, I can customize that as well.

[This message has been edited by fieroturbo (edited 05-12-2004).]

If the skeleton is near $100 (not much more) you have my guarantee that I will buy one. Mine is horrible and I HATE putting that POS back in! I blow on it and it breaks- only a few days ago I was thinking about making one out of metal.

Awesome idea, and trust me, there's a good market. Face it, they all break in some place.

bump because I would be interested

I'm interested to see how an all aluminum skeleton would look. I'm imagining something like an erector set with a bunch of piece screwed together.

One way to elliminate the problems with the skeleton is to elliminate the skeleton...the firebird console doesn't use it

Oh, put me down for a set of the cup things....BUT only if they come in anodized Blue.......Thank you

Guys, I'm gonna have to put the interior parts on hold. It seems that I may be producing adaptor plates soon instead for Ecotec Fiero kits.

There's more demand for those, and it's something that I'm already putting alot of time into, with my own conversion that is.

I will sell the skeletons and cupholders in the near future, I promise, but not until the Ecotec Turbo project is done.

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PETTY OFFICER (no more airman!) Michael C Casaceli
Patrol Squadron Ten, United States Navy
1988 Pontiac Fiero 2.5L, soon to be 2.2L Ecotec Turbo (THE PROJECT HAS STARTED!!!)
1988 Oldsmobile Firenza 2.0L non-turbo (R.I.P.my beloved J-body. KIA by a Ford)
1994 Chevy S-10 4.3, it's finally here, and it is gorgeous!

bump for any updates

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bump...