I think I've posted on plans for my C4 center console lid before. Its been sitting in the garage for a couple of months while I've been screwing around with other projects.

I had gone to the Carlisle swap meet and looked for some replacements as my vinyl is separating on the hinge edge from the body of the lid. Nothing really within my price range though. Corvette parts and even the Corvette swap meet were very expensive on the parts.

I guess I can put a "pillow" on top of it that some of the vendors sell, but with all due respect to those that have bought these, I'm not a big fan. They just don't look right to me for my car.

So, at the swap meet, I got some closed cell foam, big sheets of it for several projects. I cut a piece to size for the console top tonight and I cut a piece of tan leather to size that I got a while back at Tandy Leather. We normally get our leather on the internet for work we do, but this time I just wanted to get some hands on feel of what's available. Scored a nice piece of pigskin. Suede side or smooth side could be used.

I glued the foam to the lid so far. I took off the plastic piece on the inside of the lid and the hinge panel as well. Then secured one side of the leather under the hinges after marking and making the appropriate holes for the screws to go through. That secures the leather on one end for stretching around to the other side and securing with cement and the screws under the plastic liner under the lid.

I'm going to wait until morning for my spouse to cut the corners so I can secure it around the edges without folds.

Another interesting idea would be to get an embroiderer to stitch a design of your choosing into the leather prior to installation.

I know that there are high dollar guys out there doing this for the C5's. I've got a total of about $20 or so right now into the project in materials and I'm almost done.

Pictures to follow...

Ralf

Looking forward to seeing the pics.

Matthew

My lid was in great shape other than separating at the hinge side. I took it off and then took the hinge off of it. I then scraped all of the old glue out and reglued it with Gorilla glue. Then wrapped it very tightly with shrink wrap and set it on the workbench with a weight on top of it. Two years later and it is still like new.

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Ditto!

My lid is in good shape, but I installed one of the "pillow" cushions on it last year. Other than not being able to fully open the lid now, I like it a lot - not so much the looks, but the comfort.

So far so good on mine.

I've seen them for older C4's but not the newer ones.

Look forward to seeing what you do.

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Which Gorilla glue,Andy ?

The vinyl was separating on mine around the button. I glued it with trim adhesive, Clamped it and it's held up for 2 years. I'm really supprised th the trim adhesive is holding up.

I have some of the 2 tube Gorilla epoxy, good stuff. but haven't used the others. I think there's 2 different types of the single tube GG.

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Didn't you mention that you knew the Redline guys? I thought that they had made a few lid covers but I don't go "over there" anymore.
I do want one of their shift boots if I ever get around to it.

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95Vert wrote:
... I've got a total of about $20 or so right now into the project in materials and I'm almost done. ...

I did a similar project last winter with my sunvisors. The idea of paying $100 each for another unit that would eventually fail in the same fashion didn't work for me. I carefully took one apart so I could use the material as a patern, salvaged all the hardware, lights and mirror. I remade the internal structure with a similar grade carboard, covered that with black vinyl and contact cement, installed the mirrors and then stitched around the edges to give it a better look and more strengrh. They look OE and function as well or better than new. In fact the visors are the same for some of the early model C5's and I have been asked a couple times where I bought them. Total cost was about $25...Canadian...LOL

When I got my new switch panel while pursuing the repair of my sport seats, I talked to the guy who sold me those switches. He also advocated the use of the Gorilla glue for the lid top repair.

My intent was to recover the lid with leather to match the interior and to make it more comfortable for my elbow. This is the same idea as the "pillow" tops.

We used to be in a competition with the Redline guy. He's in Poland...one thing that put me off to buying. There's not much recourse if he defaults or if there's a problem. He's been honest and does a good job so I've never heard of an issue. His business base is just too large now to engage in dishonesty. Its just me.

My wife will do the shift boot for the vette in the same leather as the lid top. I'll post pictures. We can usually do those for about $35.50 which includes the shipping in the US based on the RX7 stuff she did. Don't know if Maciek (Redline) does them cheaper, but he has a tremendous variety.

Ralf

i have the pillow
ugly as hell but great until my car is no longer a daily driver

I replaced the pillow foam with a piece of 1/2" thick carpet 'hair' pad. The lid now opens fully and has a more 'lived in' look.

The center console - Has anyone replaces the wiring to the light? Is there anything I should know before trying to take it all apart?

And what is the best way or glue to attach the separation on the hinge side that seems to be a problem on these cars?

Gorilla epoxy and then wrap the whole thing in tape to hold it tight until it dries?

the real problem? they used the foam as part of the structure... figure that one out...

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U sure it's the wiring, checked it with a test light? Just askin'.

Gorilla MAY work, might be a bit runny (but it is a good product), don't know how it will work with foam though. I did mine with the yellow weatherstrip adhesive. Had it off the car, used 2, 1 inch pieces of wood on the long edges with 2 bar clamps just tight enough to hold the vinyl in position, not squeezing it. Taped it first with masking tape. Hasn't come back apart in 5 years.

all dis talk bout lids n glus i hafta say strange group a rednecks , well mabee nawt,,i shmokked many a lids but nevar got inta de glue..mabee tulene as a kid ,,ok ill shut up n go stand ovar thar heyhuh...