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Topic: Looking into making some plastic interior parts! (Read 1148 times) previous topic - next topic

Looking into making some plastic interior parts!

I've been looking for a plastic shifter plate for my 84 5spd it has the little bump style finish. I have one but when I got my car the shifter was toast so there is a piece missing. Well I found a way to repair it. So when I was done I thought I could make a model and make some new ones. Anyone instrested in this? I also thought about make in some molds of other plastic parts anyone have somthing that is hard to find that would help us all out? Just some ideas I had thought I'd check and  see if there was any need for this or other plastic parts.
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

Looking into making some plastic interior parts!

Reply #1
Quote from: ipsd
anyone have somthing that is hard to find that would help us all out? .

5 lug TC Snowflakes
One 88

Looking into making some plastic interior parts!

Reply #2
While you're making a new shifter bezel, how 'bout fabbing some up with no shifter hole (or perhaps, dare I dream, cupholders)? They'd be popular for those doing console swaps but retaining their column shift. Ford made 'em, but they're rare for 85-88 cars...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Looking into making some plastic interior parts!

Reply #3
Well I can tell you tthat I just held the 84 piece up to the 85-up piece and they are a little different.  If you hold the rear edges at the same level the front right corner sticks out more on the 84 than on the newer one. Just a small difference I found.  I've also got a the cover for the auto floor shift. I'll have to look into the cup holders. I've also seen the column shift that have some sort of tray in the center.
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

Looking into making some plastic interior parts!

Reply #4
Quote
5 lug TC Snowflakes
those were available on the later mark viiis. different 5 lug pattern though.
:america: 1988 Thunderbird Sport, Former 4.6 DOHC T56 conversion project.

Rest of the country, Welcome to Massachusettes. Enjoy your stay.

 
Halfbreed... Mango Orange Y2K Mustang GT
FRPP complete 2000 Cobra engine swap, T56 n' junk...
~John~

Looking into making some plastic interior parts!

Reply #5
Yes, the 85-88 piece is shaped slightly different - when I installed the '83 Cougar console into my '88 I had to grind the tray down some on the right hand side to fit the dash. They also have a different grain patternn (the 83-84 is much rougher), and the color is different (83-84 = black, 85-88 = dark grey). I got tired of looking ast the not-quite-matching tray and tracked down the correct 85-88 piece. It was quite hard to find, which is why I suggested making them :D

Quote from: ipsd
Well I can tell you tthat I just held the 84 piece up to the 85-up piece and they are a little different.  If you hold the rear edges at the same level the front right corner sticks out more on the 84 than on the newer one. Just a small difference I found.  I've also got a the cover for the auto floor shift. I'll have to look into the cup holders. I've also seen the column shift that have some sort of tray in the center.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Looking into making some plastic interior parts!

Reply #6
What about a cupholder in place of the rear ashtray on the console? 
I can't even wedge my coffee between the seats and the console any more and juggling that and shifting is just not fun.  I've thought about a clamp-on thing to one of the roll bar tubes :p
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

Looking into making some plastic interior parts!

Reply #7
I'm actually thinking about pulling the center console out of my 93 cougar and using it as a mold for a new center console. I'm gonna cover it in either saran wrap or aluminum foil, make the new one out of fiberglass and cut out the ashtray section (from the fiberglass i'm not gonna cut original parts atleast until my custom works), then use a cheap truck floor cupholder that i will cut up for the mold for the new cupholder. Hopefully this works well and i'll be sure to keep you all posted. i hope this has helped give you ideas.
It's always fun until someone loses an eye. then it's fun ya can't see.

-James Hetfield back when metallica was still making good music.

Looking into making some plastic interior parts!

Reply #8
I know a part (parts) that need reproducing,the little door handle "cups" that fit around the interior door handles.I can't remember the last time I saw one intact.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Looking into making some plastic interior parts!

Reply #9
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;94115
While you're making a new shifter bezel, how 'bout fabbing some up with no shifter hole (or perhaps, dare I dream, cupholders)? They'd be popular for those doing console swaps but retaining their column shift. Ford made 'em, but they're rare for 85-88 cars...


I have one! It's minty fresh new too! I have a great stash :grinno: :shakeass:

Looking into making some plastic interior parts!

Reply #10
You do realize that molding actual plastic parts takes a GIGANTIC press-like thing that costs a LOT of $$$ and the molds weigh a couple of hundred/thousand pounds right? Sure you can make resin or fiberglass much easier, but actual plastic?

 

Looking into making some plastic interior parts!

Reply #11
Yes I do and I have actually decided to make them out of fiberglass.
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird