Fiat Coupe Forum
- Founded by Kayjey & James Northam
- Funded by the Club for the benefit of all owners
Fiat Coupe Club UK
join the club
Fiat Coupe Forum
 
» Announced
    Posting images


» Related sites
    Main club site
    fiatcoupe.net


» External data
    owners listed
 
Who's Online Now
4 registered members (paulw, Icerazer, wink, ash_p), 315 guests, and 0 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums69
Topics113,543
Posts1,340,432
Members1,785
Most Online731
Jan 14th, 2020
Top Posters(All Time)
barnacle 33,521
stan 32,122
Theresa 23,294
PeteP 21,482
bockers 21,070
JimO 17,917
Nigel 17,366
Edinburgh 16,660
RSS Feeds
Club Events
Club Information
Track Events
Rolling Road/RWYB
Social Events
Non-UK Events
Coupé Related Chat
Coupé Spotting
Coupé News/Press
Buying/Selling Advice
Insuring a Coupé
Basic FAQ's
How to Guides
Forum Issues
Technical Problems
General Maintenance
Styling
Tuning
Handling
ICE and Alarm
Coupés for Sale
Coupés Wanted
Parts for Sale
Parts Wanted
Group Buys
Business Forum
Other Vehicles for Sale/Wanted
Other Items for Sale/Wanted
Haggling/Offers
Ebay links
Other Cars
Other Websites
General Chat
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 2 1 2
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: Cooperman] #1640406
04/04/2020 07:42
04/04/2020 07:42
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Originally Posted by Cooperman
I finally got round to removing the handbrake console before my coupe went in for her respray and it’s taken me a few days to strip the coating off using acetone in the main. Now the weather is warming up this weekend I can move on to painting it with some satin black plasticoat spray paint.
Will post some photos once it’s done.


I found the handbrake console I had didn't come up as well as the centre console, it looks like a different material? The shine certainly came up well on the latter but not this - even after extensive wet'n'dry treatment followed by machine polishing there are faint cloudy patches visible. Likewise, the matt black spray is looking likely next...


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: aust_powers] #1640408
04/04/2020 08:06
04/04/2020 08:06
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,385
Lightwater, Surrey
DaveG Offline
Club Treasurer Member 311
DaveG  Offline
Club Treasurer Member 311
Je suis un Coupé

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,385
Lightwater, Surrey
Has anybody tried removing the handbrake gaiter which is kind of riveted on? Some of the "rivets" could be drilled out but many are difficult / impossible to reach? Or is the only solution to work around the gaiter?


1996 Portofino 20vt & 2000 Pearl White Plus
1985½ & 2016 2017 Fiat 124 Spider + XF Sportbrake
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: DaveG] #1640409
04/04/2020 08:37
04/04/2020 08:37
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,306
Kent, South East
Cooperman Offline
Former Club Membership Secretary
Cooperman  Offline
Former Club Membership Secretary
My job on the forum

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,306
Kent, South East
I have just masked around it as can’t see a practical means of drilling out and re riveting it back together given the space constraints


[Linked Image]
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: aust_powers] #1640410
04/04/2020 08:50
04/04/2020 08:50
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 627
Bulgaria
french_coupe Offline
Club member 773
french_coupe  Offline
Club member 773
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 627
Bulgaria
I took the gaiter off. I drilled some of the rivets out and used the Dremmel for the hard to reach ones.
The problem I saw was that you cannot rivet it back due to lack of space.
I ended up using bolts with nyloc nuts to refit it.


lost in space
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: DaveG] #1640414
04/04/2020 12:06
04/04/2020 12:06
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Originally Posted by DaveG
Has anybody tried removing the handbrake gaiter which is kind of riveted on? Some of the "rivets" could be drilled out but many are difficult / impossible to reach? Or is the only solution to work around the gaiter?



I left mine in situ, it seemed like cutting off the head off one monster to have two grow in its place


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: Edinburgh] #1640430
05/04/2020 21:33
05/04/2020 21:33
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,162
Glos
Brilly1uk Offline
Club member 1034
Brilly1uk  Offline
Club member 1034
Competition Level

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,162
Glos
I remember doing mine and would say it is impossible to avoid some damage to the plastic, but this should be hidden as it will be covered over by the replacement handbrake lever gaiter?
It was fiddly as hell, but I was pleased with the result and worth doing.


Fiat Coupe 20VT
Alfa Romeo Spider
BMW X3
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: aust_powers] #1640433
06/04/2020 09:18
06/04/2020 09:18
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,385
Lightwater, Surrey
DaveG Offline
Club Treasurer Member 311
DaveG  Offline
Club Treasurer Member 311
Je suis un Coupé

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,385
Lightwater, Surrey
Since the rivets are not really rivets but more like a 4 pronged version of those old fashioned 2 pronged slit pin paper holders (you know the things, like this click to enlarge ) I wondered if simply straightening out the prongs might work? However as Simon suggests, another monster could be created (prongs might snap off, might end up making the "rivet" loose but still unable to extract, etc.)


1996 Portofino 20vt & 2000 Pearl White Plus
1985½ & 2016 2017 Fiat 124 Spider + XF Sportbrake
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: aust_powers] #1640436
06/04/2020 13:52
06/04/2020 13:52
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,306
Kent, South East
Cooperman Offline
Former Club Membership Secretary
Cooperman  Offline
Former Club Membership Secretary
My job on the forum

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,306
Kent, South East
The console came up quite well.

Attached Files

[Linked Image]
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: aust_powers] #1640438
06/04/2020 15:44
06/04/2020 15:44
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Good result Ashley, do you still have the two forward metal brackets that attach under the window rocker switches?


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: Edinburgh] #1640439
06/04/2020 17:25
06/04/2020 17:25
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,306
Kent, South East
Cooperman Offline
Former Club Membership Secretary
Cooperman  Offline
Former Club Membership Secretary
My job on the forum

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,306
Kent, South East
Thanks Simon, the strange thing is it had no brackets fitted when I went to remove it and no signs of where these may have been attached. crazy


[Linked Image]
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: aust_powers] #1640440
06/04/2020 17:49
06/04/2020 17:49

G
GrahamL
Unregistered
GrahamL
Unregistered
G



The brackets normally break clean off leaving little evidence of where they were once part of the handbrake console... they'll probably still be fixed inside the gear lever console part.

Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: ] #1640441
06/04/2020 17:58
06/04/2020 17:58
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Originally Posted by GrahamL
The brackets normally break clean off leaving little evidence of where they were once part of the handbrake console... they'll probably still be fixed inside the gear lever console part.


This. I replaced mine several years ago which came with the brackets intact - when I took my original off they were nowhere to be seen, and this is the one I've kept and recently refurbed. There's probably a way to fashion new brackets which I will naturally delegate to one of my partners-in-crime.. laugh


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: aust_powers] #1640443
06/04/2020 19:32
06/04/2020 19:32
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,385
Lightwater, Surrey
DaveG Offline
Club Treasurer Member 311
DaveG  Offline
Club Treasurer Member 311
Je suis un Coupé

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,385
Lightwater, Surrey
You can see the bracket in the pics below, plus the offending "rivets". The first time anyone tries to remove the handbrake console, they will likely snap off the bracket along with the plastic end piece which is very thin plastic. If you look closely you can see where this one is starting to break away...

Attached Files
20200406_183851.jpg (333 downloads)
20200406_183916.jpg (346 downloads)
20200406_183925.jpg (326 downloads)

1996 Portofino 20vt & 2000 Pearl White Plus
1985½ & 2016 2017 Fiat 124 Spider + XF Sportbrake
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: DaveG] #1640444
06/04/2020 22:03
06/04/2020 22:03
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,306
Kent, South East
Cooperman Offline
Former Club Membership Secretary
Cooperman  Offline
Former Club Membership Secretary
My job on the forum

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,306
Kent, South East
Thanks for the photos, I will need to check once I get the car back.


[Linked Image]
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: DaveG] #1640456
07/04/2020 11:41
07/04/2020 11:41
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609
S. Wales. Way beyond my means
Gripped Offline
Club member 1924
Gripped  Offline
Club member 1924
Forum is my job

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609
S. Wales. Way beyond my means
Originally Posted by DaveG
You can see the bracket in the pics below, plus the offending "rivets". The first time anyone tries to remove the handbrake console, they will likely snap off the bracket along with the plastic end piece which is very thin plastic. If you look closely you can see where this one is starting to break away...



I think those are actually rivets. I have 2 types of rivet at home. The usual ones which just bulge when you fit, and some others which split into 4 curled pronges when fitted. I can post a pic if I can.

Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: aust_powers] #1640457
07/04/2020 13:05
07/04/2020 13:05
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609
S. Wales. Way beyond my means
Gripped Offline
Club member 1924
Gripped  Offline
Club member 1924
Forum is my job

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609
S. Wales. Way beyond my means
Here we go. These are from my undertray where I repaired a section with thin plate steel and riveted on with the curly type. They look a close match to the console ones.

Attached Files
IMG_20200407_133526.jpg (255 downloads)
Last edited by Gripped; 07/04/2020 13:07.
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: Gripped] #1643328
10/08/2020 08:57
10/08/2020 08:57
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 611
France, Charente
paulw Online content
Club Member 1326
paulw  Online Content
Club Member 1326
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 611
France, Charente
Very late to this thread, but rather than start another .....

Along with the Cam Cover, the centre console seriously needed a refurb as the 'rubber' had turned to 'goo' like it does! The last time I cleaned one of these consoles up, was the handbrake one and I seem to remember that was a job I really didn't want to tackle again.

That time I think I used Meths to strip it, this time I used Isopropyl Alcohol. So, with vinyl gloves (essential) and plenty of kitchen roll I had a go at cleaning up. Very surprisingly it all came off quite easily - it does just dissolve a little of the plastic surface, but not a problem, it just makes the paper 'dirty'. The IPA evaporates very quickly and leaves a pretty good surface for painting. I didn't even have to rub any of it down.

A couple of coats of satin black paint and I''m pretty happy with the results -

click to enlarge


Paul W.

[Linked Image]


Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: paulw] #1643337
10/08/2020 10:45
10/08/2020 10:45
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Originally Posted by paulw
Very late to this thread, but rather than start another .....

Along with the Cam Cover, the centre console seriously needed a refurb as the 'rubber' had turned to 'goo' like it does! The last time I cleaned one of these consoles up, was the handbrake one and I seem to remember that was a job I really didn't want to tackle again.

That time I think I used Meths to strip it, this time I used Isopropyl Alcohol. So, with vinyl gloves (essential) and plenty of kitchen roll I had a go at cleaning up. Very surprisingly it all came off quite easily - it does just dissolve a little of the plastic surface, but not a problem, it just makes the paper 'dirty'. The IPA evaporates very quickly and leaves a pretty good surface for painting. I didn't even have to rub any of it down.

A couple of coats of satin black paint and I''m pretty happy with the results -

click to enlarge


That's a nice finish.

I've left the ones I've done unpainted, just polished, but some definitely don't come out as well as others.


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: Edinburgh] #1643341
10/08/2020 11:29
10/08/2020 11:29
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 611
France, Charente
paulw Online content
Club Member 1326
paulw  Online Content
Club Member 1326
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 611
France, Charente
Quote


That's a nice finish.

I've left the ones I've done unpainted, just polished, but some definitely don't come out as well as others.


I think I was lucky with the gunge coming off pretty cleanly and the surface being good enough. I knew the paint, having used it on other things before now, so just went for it!

Last edited by paulw; 10/08/2020 11:29.

Paul W.

[Linked Image]


Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: aust_powers] #1643344
10/08/2020 13:08
10/08/2020 13:08
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,385
Lightwater, Surrey
DaveG Offline
Club Treasurer Member 311
DaveG  Offline
Club Treasurer Member 311
Je suis un Coupé

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,385
Lightwater, Surrey
I agree that IPA is better than Meths, I used "antiseptic wipes" used for tattoos and injections which are impregnated with the IPA and the wipes just pick up all the black goo. Very effective on the upper centre console, but not so good on the lower part which is a more fiddly shape in places.


1996 Portofino 20vt & 2000 Pearl White Plus
1985½ & 2016 2017 Fiat 124 Spider + XF Sportbrake
Re: Centre Console refurb [Re: aust_powers] #1643485
14/08/2020 12:39
14/08/2020 12:39
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 37
waterford,ireland.
robertjock Offline
Discoverer
robertjock  Offline
Discoverer

Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 37
waterford,ireland.
Here is another way, just cut pronged rivets out, cut each of 4 prongs with tin snips, push through all rivets, then replace them with small neat nuts and bolts with washers, easier incase any future work needed.
Then with sticky coating remove with brake fluid, put on suitable gloves, remove the section to be cleaned from the car, dab on brake fluid with a cloth, leave for 30 minutes, scrape off the mess with a plastic applicator, rinse with water then degrease panel down.
Sand down with mini orbital sander with 240-grade mesh type discs
Degrease again, blow off, tacky rag then plastic prime and spray topcoat off choice.
Sounds a lot but I do handbrake consoles in about 2 hours, doing this method from start to finish.
Brake fluid won't damage plastic but will break down the sticky mess.

Last edited by robertjock; 14/08/2020 12:42. Reason: spelling
Page 2 of 2 1 2

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1
(Release build 20190129)
PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.016s Queries: 18 (0.007s) Memory: 0.8627 MB (Peak: 1.0454 MB) Data Comp: Off Server Time: 2024-03-28 20:52:18 UTC