Idea's and thoughts wanted water fall console

I made some more progress but i dont know if I like it or how it should end towards the front of the car.

I dont want to end up with some thing that takes up too much room.

let me know what you think or any ideas you may have.

 

I like it a lot! Looks like it doesn't take any usable space. Nice work.

 

Looks good! I like the side view with the red lines, I think that would look nice. One suggestion would be to round the edges as you approach the dash. I always think it looks kinda funny when a square cornered console meets a curved surface of a dash.

 

the edge of the console has a 1/2 inch radius to match the middle line in the dash.

 

I like it, if you leave it bare metal. Don't cover it ........

 

Thoughts on consoles I've lived with.
#1 My MGB GT has a plastic console that is an afterthought to the original design.
It's shaped sort of like the one you're building cept not near as nice.
I really like the arm rest becasue it "fits" perfect and the gear shift just falls in my hand with my elbow comfortably on the rest.
If it wasn't for that I'd take the son of a ***** out.
The problem is, if I skide the seat back to a comfortable foot to pedal distance, my knee gets caught square in the tiny gap between the steering wheel and the hard edge of the console.
There flat isn't enough room for my knee there, at all.
So I have to move the seat up a couple of clicks so my knee is higher and above and wrapped aroud the wheel above the console, but I still have to rest the side of my leg on the console and that extra 1" of space between it and the actual floor hump is all the room in the world.
I'm pretty sure I'd be running the waterfall straight up instead of flaring it out at the top, at least on the driver's side, for that little bit of needed leg room.
The dash is asymetrical, the console can be too.

#2 Wife just bought an '06 Civic coupe.
It's *****in for the little **** box they all are, and the interior looks like something out of Darth Vader's space craft, and the parking brake is really conveniently located just to the left of the gear shift... Right where the end of it stabs me in the knee joint if I don't drive with the seat BACK a notch farter than I'd like to...

POINT?
Just a tiny little adjustment can make all the difference in the world.

Sit in it now with the accelerator pedal installed and the steering wheel on and let your legs sag down to where gravity is going to find them after 50 miles of road and see if anything is poking you where it shouldn't and if it is, nows the time to move, shorten, raise, or recontour that one spot where your leg hits it , before it's all done done.

 

I'm not sure you want it to meet the dash at all. Also, it's really hard to imagine what it will look like just from the pics. Are you planning to use it for switches, sterio, or speakers? Take into consideration just rounding it off at floor level in front of the shifter (no upturn). To determine the best design, make cardboard mockups in each configuration & sit in it in your driving position, with the gas pedal installed, like DrJ said.
Looking good whatever way you go.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

America - made in China! :-(

 

It's gona take a bit of thought...may be worth poking around some 50/60s sedans for some dash trim or somat and base the shape on that, may be even a bit of race turned ally or dimpled ally/stainless. I the look so far with the bit between the seats but you gona have to be carefull it don't end up lookin sort a billetBoydish. cover it in dimpled ally for the 50/60s look. maybe (again) you should try to take it right under the dash and swanneck it back out keeping it quite thin and not increasing the width as it meets the dash.
There is a web site the GM have with loads of pics of the concept cars they did (have lost the link)that may be a good place to start.
Like what I can see so far with the rest of the rod!

 

I think it'll look a lot better if ya just run it into the firewall, and don't even try to go to the dash.

Or, go up and behind it...pretty much how the tubing is now.

Just my opinion...do what works for you.

Olson

 

I second that!

 

Looks great. I particularly like the space between the seats. To flow into the dash I think it needs to have a little radius where the sides of the console meet the lower face of the dash. Maybe a little shape to the front edge of the console as viewed from the side as well. Everything else is rounded and contoured, the front edge of the console should be the same.

It doesn't look like you're planning any sort of arm rest, but I'm going to throw out a thought on them anyway. For driving comfort I like the arm rest on the door and in the center to be the same height. Not because I lay both arms on the armrest at the same time necessarily, but because as I move around in the seat it feels more natural. Armrests should be at a height where they're a comfortable "slouch" below elbow height. Too high, they get in the way when driving. Too low, what's the point?

 

Maybe instead of having it come down flush from the dash, have it so it comes down from behind the dash? I'm just thinking it wouldn't take up as much room, but you could still mount gauges/stereo etc......

 

Love the console. I agree with DrJ on the slightest adjustments. This is giving me ideas for my wrap around and my interior!

 

It needs to be ribbed.
r

 

.....for her pleasure?

 

How about running a line to match the curve of the instrument cluster to bi-sect the console. It wouldn't have to be continuous, just have a tyied in look. Also it could end under dash. Another thought would be a (and I know it's sorta been done) mini grille shape that doesn't tie into dash but ends console just in front of lower dash. Make great space for speaker or a/c if you put grill bars/mesh.
I think the waterfall is great and might be cooler if you added same shape on body side of seats, sorta like a pocket for seats.
Great work so far and hope you keep posting updates.
Jim

 

No, no, no.
So that it gives the visual impression of a waterfall.
Dope, get your mind out of the gutter...

r

 

3 hours sitting looking and I am no farther along then yesterday. I did find that there is plenty of room for my legs and where i may put the upright to the dash makes for a nice place to rest my leg.

I also had my brother sit in the car to see how he fit because he is much bigger (6'1" 230lbs) then me. He was surprised at how much room there was and how well every thing felt except he did not like how his arm felt out the window.

 

after months of not working on the car or even looking at it. I got back to work on the interior. Im at the point i hate myself for coming up with the design that has so many lines and compound curves in it. I should have made it out of fibergl*** but gl*** makes me sick.

sitting in the seat with added padding playing with the pedals and steering wheel it feels great. my leg rests really nice against it (now i have to move the power window crank)

right under where it meets the dash will get a 59 caddy center ac vent. It looks like it was made to be there.

I am also thinking of a mid year 63-67 corvette radio or just a 58 caddy fender scallop to break up the panel.

still need to finish the foot well area.

 

You're doing a jam-up job. Don't abandon the ****in' thing for the NEXT six months!

 

I hope i dont have to move shops again. it was killing me to not be able to work on the car.

 

Wow. I just stared at the pics of the work you've done for about 20 minutes. That interior is going to be impressive to say the least. Beautiful work man, really. Keep us updated for sure.

 

Thank you. I hope it ends up worth the effort when im done. it kind of gets lost in a closed car.

 

Is that like a liquer luge' ? Hahahaha, dont know how to spell that! Where is the beer holder Slag?

 

That's some high quality work Slag......
I think it'd be cool to have an armrest that retracted back into the 'waterfall' between the seats. Kinda like in dash cupholders on new cars that 'pop out'. (Although it would be a shame to start cutting into it after all that work....)

This is going to be a KNOCKOUT when completed!

 

mel there will be some kind of "cup" holder going in but not sure where yet. nothing like trying to drive with a drink smoking a ciggarette and trying to shift.

 

that looks really nice!!!!

I can't wait to see finished and painted pics of it, GREAT JOB

 

dude, from what I see, it was most DEFINITELY worth the work put into it! And, even though it will be in a closed car, YOU'LL know its there and that what matters. It really does look bad ***, and now I'm inspired to do something to liven up the ****pit of my ride. Keep the progress photos coming.

 

looks like it will be getting a mid year corvette radio. i lucked out and found one in a friends parts stash. good news is it was pulled in 67 from a brand new vette that was cut up to be drag raced.

 

Looks good to me