[tclaemont]

I dont have any intentions of keeping these colors. I just knew that with the fabrication I was going to scuff and scratch stuff up, so there was no point in painting while I still had drilling to do! The wood is that color because that is the color I had, and the thickness is perfect.

The console will be the interior color if I can find it, and the wood will be covered in black textured vinyl, similar to the dash face.

The big challenge in this project is the fact that the factory chrome insert tray that the wood now sits in has slight curves and also a beveled edge all the way around. Woodworking is far from my strong suit so I was taking TINY amounts of wood off with a grinder and test fitting about fourteen billion times before it fit the way I wanted it to. A good woodworker probably would have finished in minutes but it took me seemingly forever.

The next issue was one of how to attach the wood to the console without exposed fasteners. That was easy once I thought it through. I just ran screws from the bottom of the console tray up though the wood and into the factory holes in the base of the tachometer. The console tray then just attaches to the console like it always did.

I still have to drill the Pergo for the vacuum gauge, and I need a glovebox lock, too. The console hinge is in the rock tumbler right now. When I am done it will look as close to correct as possible, even though Olds guys will know the real truth.

I am a big fan of "stock looking", even though I can't resist the urge to modify.