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General Information => Upgrades (non engine related ) => Topic started by: trav1856 on February 19, 2011, 02:19:59 am

Title: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: trav1856 on February 19, 2011, 02:19:59 am
I've looked all over for aftermarket interior parts and I've been coming up with nothing. For my Fairlane Dearborn and a few other places had complete replacement parts, I was hoping I could find something like that. A company that catered to us VW people.
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: GEE-BEE on February 19, 2011, 07:56:16 am
have a rabbit GTI console on ebay
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: macka on February 19, 2011, 01:25:43 pm
I've looked all over for aftermarket interior parts and I've been coming up with nothing. For my Fairlane Dearborn and a few other places had complete replacement parts, I was hoping I could find something like that. A company that catered to us VW people.

Usually we hunt down stuff on ebay or in the scrap yard. If we can't find it, we get a vinyl paint match and paint over the piece we need in the colour we need.
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: trav1856 on February 19, 2011, 06:38:57 pm
Has anyone ever tried to fit a newer rabbit console (Mark V'ish) to an older Rabbit? Do the dimensions even compare?
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: Quantum TD on February 19, 2011, 09:51:14 pm
Has anyone ever tried to fit a newer rabbit console (Mark V'ish) to an older Rabbit? Do the dimensions even compare?

I'm sure SOMEONE has tried it. But I think they're not even close.
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: mystery3 on February 19, 2011, 10:34:10 pm
GTIs in the junkyard, or alter a cabby one, they're readily available in the junkyard. I believe zender or some other period aftermarket company made them as well, you may find one in the vortex classifieds. like this: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?4674997-FS-NOS-Kamei-center-console-!-golf-rabbit.&highlight=center+console
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: madrogers on February 21, 2011, 09:28:38 pm
I modified a 84 nissan pickup console to fit it worked out pretty good .
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on February 22, 2011, 07:19:07 am
I modified a 84 nissan pickup console to fit it worked out pretty good .

yes, but the kreason piece is fairly close in dimensions to the VW console..

if you need a rabbit console, find a cabby and yank it..
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: VWCaddy on February 22, 2011, 07:56:30 am
Got mine from someone on one of the old VW mailing lists many years ago, not exactly sure what is was out of):

(http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTricks/Images/CC_04.jpg)

(http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTricks/Images/Cockpit.jpg)

Still need to re-install the ashtray and lighter socket to hide the wiring and terminal block I added.  
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on February 22, 2011, 08:00:20 am
how you gonna re-install the ash tray when you cut away the mounts for it?
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: VWCaddy on February 22, 2011, 08:05:30 am
I plan to replace the back part with some threaded inserts to make it easier to remove if needed in the future.  The ash tray part will attach back to that and cover the gap. 
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: GEE-BEE on February 22, 2011, 08:28:22 am
That's a hack job.....

just buy either a cabby or rabbit gti console and your done...
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on February 22, 2011, 08:33:12 am
That's a hack job.....

just buy either a cabby or rabbit gti console and your done...

i agree..

GTI/Cabby consoles are common, and bolt right in..
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: mystery3 on February 22, 2011, 06:17:15 pm
The cabby ones don't fit quite right either at least in my 81 truck. I'll have to make a little bracket to bolt it up. It'll fit in nicely with my interior which is completely void of everything I don't find necessary like doorcards, headliners, carpets etc.
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on February 23, 2011, 08:33:54 am
the early 80s cabby console i had, fit in my 81 rabbit perfectly.. mounted up to all the stock brackets..
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: GEE-BEE on February 23, 2011, 08:56:43 am
CABBY, three holes, two tab's on the dash, one on the floor console


GTI , three holes on the floor, no holes to mount against the dash

I have one on ebay , very clean

GB
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on February 23, 2011, 09:08:00 am
CABBY, three holes, two tab's on the dash, one on the fllor console


GTI , three holes on the floor, no holes to mount against the  dash
I have one on ebay , very clean

GB

good piece of info to share with us GB.. im gonna remember this one for sure.
Title: center console boot & ebrake cover?
Post by: GEE-BEE on February 23, 2011, 09:20:31 am
I also found a made to order leather ebrake cover and shift boot
ebay item 230423240335

perfect , they did black with grey stitch for me

I used a late caddy ebrake plastic cover and it's covers up the ebrake handle perfect, dropped off the plastic bracket with the new leather boot to the local upol shop for attachment

GB
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on February 23, 2011, 09:23:50 am
lmfao @ your location GB

"Mexifornia"
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: GEE-BEE on February 23, 2011, 09:43:06 am
I dont have to show you now stinking badges !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsdZKCh6RsU&feature=related
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: rabbitman on February 23, 2011, 07:44:38 pm
From an '86 cabriolet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-CABRIOLET-CONSOL-W-GAUGES-BOOT-/270341999195?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3ef1a38a5b
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: Quantum TD on February 23, 2011, 08:25:04 pm
From an '86 cabriolet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-CABRIOLET-CONSOL-W-GAUGES-BOOT-/270341999195?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3ef1a38a5b

I got one of these in Brown that's yours for $10 plus shipping. No gauges. Fits MK1 Jetta/Cabriolet. You can fit it to your MK1 USA Rabbit or truck too as noted in this thread.
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: GEE-BEE on February 23, 2011, 09:39:10 pm
It wont fit a truck with a/c , only the GTI will have enough room

Jetta mk1 yes, they did make a long console non a/c type also..

been there , tried that..

GB
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: mystery3 on February 23, 2011, 10:16:17 pm
It wont fit a truck with a/c , only the GTI will have enough room

This is why mine doesn't fit properly. I used to have a/c and still have the a/c heater box, I should switch it out with one of the non-a/c boxes I have in the garage but taking those things out is such a b*tch.
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: Quantum TD on February 24, 2011, 08:39:58 am
It wont fit a truck with a/c , only the GTI will have enough room

Jetta mk1 yes, they did make a long console non a/c type also..

been there , tried that..

GB

If you're referring to the console in that ebay link, ummm, yeah. It will fit. That's out of an AC car. Jetta and Cabriolet have the exact same heater boxes (for AC cars or non-AC cars) as USA Rabbits. They also have the exact same unibody. They fit just fine. You will have to figure out a way to mount the top edge to the insides of the USA Rabbit dash, but they fit under the dash no problem.
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: GEE-BEE on February 24, 2011, 09:35:26 am
rabbit's have two different hvac systems

a/c non a/c, there are 3 different console's : GTI , A/C type, long non a/c

I have had all three

GB
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: Quantum TD on February 24, 2011, 10:01:53 am
rabbit's have two different hvac systems

a/c non a/c, there are 3 different console's : GTI , A/C type, long non a/c

I have had all three

GB

Yeah. GTI and AC will fit any. Long non-AC will only fit non-AC, unless you want to do some cutting. Those long, non-AC ones are hard to find anyways. More than 3/4 of what I find are for AC.
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: cervelorod on March 07, 2011, 09:54:30 am
have a rabbit GTI console on ebay

ebay item number?

Rod
90 Jetta IDI NA
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on March 07, 2011, 11:10:37 am
have a rabbit GTI console on ebay

ebay item number?

Rod
90 Jetta IDI NA

its not gonna fit in your car dude.. not without a whole bunch of work, and its still gonna look hacked together..

mk1 trim pieces do not easily fit on mk2 cars..
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: Rabbit79 on April 04, 2011, 10:21:24 am
Here's what I did on mine..... I had some mahogany laying around from some old projects and came up with this. This is an early MK 1 but a guy could do something similar on just about anything. I got the wood for free and a couple bucks for the screws.
(http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab151/08Hes_dead_Jim/Rabbit%20engine%20rebuild/04040002.jpg)
(http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab151/08Hes_dead_Jim/Rabbit%20engine%20rebuild/04040003.jpg)
Title: Re: So where does one find a center console?
Post by: trav1856 on April 05, 2011, 07:23:22 pm
I notice there's a lot of dash variation in the same model year as well. For example, the one i bought as a driver, has tabs in the bezel to mount the temperature control (which has the usual vacuum manifold one would expect of any car if you weren't used to VW's)....the donor car I bought has two metal ears and mounts the earlier cylinder vacuum manifold temperature control that we're used to (I'm assuming its earlier). Also the daily driver has a plastic defrost vent manifold, and the donor car's is some kind of pressed fiberboard.