The National Lightning Owners Club Inc - View Single Post

Skritch · 11-19-2007, 06:40 AM

From Saturday night a little more work. Yet again the console sides were screwed on to the skeleton to correct the gap at the front of the console between the bottom of the side panels and the carpet.

Used 3M painters tape to mark the start of the gap on both sides and the high and low points of the gap. Passenger side shown.

The carpet pieces that were cut out for the floor mount plates can be used to "bulk up" the carpeting to eliminate the gap. Just take the piece of carpet cut out and cut it in two and slide it under the exisitng carpet in the area marked by the painters tape. It did take two thicknesses of carpet to push it up enough to eliminate the gap on both sides. To get the carpet remnants in I found it necessary to remove the front mount plate to push the carpet pieces forward and outward enough to resolve the gap. Here's a pic of the drivers side after getting the carpet remnants in position.

Compare that to the gap before...

As the carpet remnants are inserted under the existing carpet you'll need to secure the front of the console skeleton to the front mount plate to check for your gap elimination. There are 2 bolts at the front portion of the skeleton that pick up the front mount plate and they are WAY down in the skeleton. A pic or two of their location. This also means the console will be installed and then the top piece will be fitted. Probably the last piece to be snapped/screwed into place when it's installed for the final time.

The handy little tool to help with getting the bolts down in to get them started in the floor mount plate. Magnetic socket inserts. These from Sears (Craftsman) but have seen them elsewhere as well. They come in both metric and standard sizes and just press in to the socket.

And, yeah they work well.

In addition to the front bolts to attach the skeleton to the floor mount the rear of the console has the same. The only difference, these 2 bolts attach from the side. Here's a pic and a closeup pic of the rear.

One other thing done was to paint the storage compartment lid black. The upholstry is not in good shape but at least it'll be black instead of tan until I decide on what material and design to get it covered in.

11-19-2007, 06:40 AM	#35 (permalink)
Skritch Moderator Paid Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The socialist kingdom of Washington State Posts: 4,507 NLOC member #: 1461 View this user's gallery iTrader: 6 / 100%	From Saturday night a little more work. Yet again the console sides were screwed on to the skeleton to correct the gap at the front of the console between the bottom of the side panels and the carpet. Used 3M painters tape to mark the start of the gap on both sides and the high and low points of the gap. Passenger side shown. The carpet pieces that were cut out for the floor mount plates can be used to "bulk up" the carpeting to eliminate the gap. Just take the piece of carpet cut out and cut it in two and slide it under the exisitng carpet in the area marked by the painters tape. It did take two thicknesses of carpet to push it up enough to eliminate the gap on both sides. To get the carpet remnants in I found it necessary to remove the front mount plate to push the carpet pieces forward and outward enough to resolve the gap. Here's a pic of the drivers side after getting the carpet remnants in position. Compare that to the gap before... As the carpet remnants are inserted under the existing carpet you'll need to secure the front of the console skeleton to the front mount plate to check for your gap elimination. There are 2 bolts at the front portion of the skeleton that pick up the front mount plate and they are WAY down in the skeleton. A pic or two of their location. This also means the console will be installed and then the top piece will be fitted. Probably the last piece to be snapped/screwed into place when it's installed for the final time. The handy little tool to help with getting the bolts down in to get them started in the floor mount plate. Magnetic socket inserts. These from Sears (Craftsman) but have seen them elsewhere as well. They come in both metric and standard sizes and just press in to the socket. And, yeah they work well. In addition to the front bolts to attach the skeleton to the floor mount the rear of the console has the same. The only difference, these 2 bolts attach from the side. Here's a pic and a closeup pic of the rear. One other thing done was to paint the storage compartment lid black. The upholstry is not in good shape but at least it'll be black instead of tan until I decide on what material and design to get it covered in.