3rd Gen Firebird console repair
02-12-2009, 07:30 AM
#1
3rd Gen Firebird console repair
General question for everyone. I notice on the firebird consoles the sides have a tendency to seperate or pull away near or along where the hand brake is. I don't know if it is a adhesive that fails or just a poor design that over time causes the plastic to deform.
Has anyone here done a repair and how difficult is it to do?
Has anyone here done a repair and how difficult is it to do?
02-12-2009, 08:32 AM
#2
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Car: 87 Firebird, 89 Trans Am
Engine: 406, LB9
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Re: 3rd Gen Firebird console repair
My Firebird had done this. I took out the center console although I don't think that was really necessary. You should at least remove the center plastic in the console though. Then I roughed up the plastic with sandpaper where the foam had pulled away and put some Gorilla Glue down in there and clamped it together. Nothing was hard but it does take most of the day for the Gorilla glue to set up where it can't pull back apart.
03-04-2009, 03:44 PM
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Car: 1988 Trans Am
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Re: 3rd Gen Firebird console repair
just remember gorilla glue expands so don't over do it 
03-05-2009, 06:04 AM
#6
Re: 3rd Gen Firebird console repair
Yes, you do have to watch the Gorilla glue. One of the reasons for clamping is to contain that expansion... and watch your amounts.
Contact cement is what originally separated... and it tends to not work well on old foam, which gets crumbly. Gorilla Glue seems to work better.
Contact cement is what originally separated... and it tends to not work well on old foam, which gets crumbly. Gorilla Glue seems to work better.
03-05-2009, 01:08 PM
#7
Re: 3rd Gen Firebird console repair
yeah i did this to mine when i did the interior of my car...i thought i was being smart and the only one who ever did this lol (the original owner just put screws through it and held it together that way) but unfortunately i forgot to sand it lightly and it all came undone again lol...go figure. i'll make a project of it again soon
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03-05-2009, 07:17 PM
#8
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Car: 87 Firebird, 89 Trans Am
Engine: 406, LB9
Transmission: T56, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Torsen, 2.73 Posi
Re: 3rd Gen Firebird console repair
I believe what helps the Gorilla Glue hold better is that it actually can expand into the old deteriorated foam and get a better hold.
03-09-2009, 05:29 PM
#9
Re: 3rd Gen Firebird console repair
OK, it took me a while, but here are the before and after pix of the console repair...
The vinyl had separated badly, and there was tons of old silicone or something like it in between the vinyl and the console shell. I cleaned it out, Gorilla Glued it, clamped, and then gave it a couple of coats of spray on truck bed liner (Dupli-Color) and then finished it with vinyl color spray. I suggest that you use the matte finish -- I used gloss, without realizing that there were different ones available. The gloss is a bit too shiny.
The vinyl had separated badly, and there was tons of old silicone or something like it in between the vinyl and the console shell. I cleaned it out, Gorilla Glued it, clamped, and then gave it a couple of coats of spray on truck bed liner (Dupli-Color) and then finished it with vinyl color spray. I suggest that you use the matte finish -- I used gloss, without realizing that there were different ones available. The gloss is a bit too shiny.
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