Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Ok, I've started my winter restoration and am slowly chipping away at the interior. I had 2 center consoles (ash try thingy) and will be using the best parts from both to make one. However, neither of them had a arm rest release button/lock in them. Finding one used isn't going so well, so is there a place I haven't found that sells this piece? Also, if/when I do find one, has anyone been able to get it re-keyed?

What I'm working with (only one of them had the chrome bezel for the lock):



Refinished the Ash Tray Door (still needs a little more work) beside the best ash tray trim piece I had:



Thanks in advance guys!

What was the process on the ash tray door? Looks great!

Mark

datsunrides wrote:What was the process on the ash tray door? Looks great!

Mark

Well I was kinda dissapointed with the condition of each of those doors. Neither seemed good enough to rechrome, so after some research here I found a few people who had goodluck with painting them. It turned out really nice imo. I sanded it for about 2 hours though.. haha Started with 120 (because the rust was quite bubbling) then used 220, added a little filler in the really rough spots, then 400, and finally 600. I am going to wetsand it and spray it one more time I think.

Here it is after being sanded and primed:



I forget the paint I used, I'll post it up tomorrow.

The paint color looks really good. That's some nice work!

The thing that gets me is that you were able to maintain the detail in the lines. When I was going to have mine chromed, the guy said I would lose those details when he was done. Ended up doing what I could with some 000 steel wool.

Mark

Neither of them had a arm rest release button/lock in them. Finding one used isn't going so well, so is there a place I haven't found that sells this piece? Also, if/when I do find one, has anyone been able to get it re-keyed?

?

Did you recall (or find) the brand and color paint you used?
I've tried 5 different rattle can silvers, so far I haven't been able to match the factory color and gloss to my satisfaction.
Dan

s15to311 wrote:Neither of them had a arm rest release button/lock in them. Finding one used isn't going so well, so is there a place I haven't found that sells this piece? Also, if/when I do find one, has anyone been able to get it re-keyed?

?

A competent locksmith can re-key these pretty easily. Finding one is a different matter all together!

Nice job on the cover. On the console, have you looked at glove box latches. Like on the older 50s-60s cars. Find the ones that have key locks. Depends how stock you want.
May have to rework the latch its self.

Richard

greydog wrote:Did you recall (or find) the brand and color paint you used?
I've tried 5 different rattle can silvers, so far I haven't been able to match the factory color and gloss to my satisfaction.
Dan

I'll get a picture of the can for you tomorrow. I sprayed the trim piece today, but wasn't happy with the result, so I think i'll be wetsanding and adding a little filler and respraying.

K1200 GT wrote:Nice job on the cover. On the console, have you looked at glove box latches. Like on the older 50s-60s cars. Find the ones that have key locks. Depends how stock you want.
May have to rework the latch its self.

Richard

Thanks for the tip, I'll look into this.

s15to311 wrote:Neither of them had a arm rest release button/lock in them. Finding one used isn't going so well, so is there a place I haven't found that sells this piece? Also, if/when I do find one, has anyone been able to get it re-keyed?

?

Ask Craig to mail you the ones that were in there? I am sure he has them....

datsun1500 wrote:

s15to311 wrote:Neither of them had a arm rest release button/lock in them. Finding one used isn't going so well, so is there a place I haven't found that sells this piece? Also, if/when I do find one, has anyone been able to get it re-keyed?

?

Ask Craig to mail you the ones that were in there? I am sure he has them....

Good idea, I'll see what he says.

In the meantime. More pics of the console resto:

Filled in the pitted rust areas, primed, sanded, sanded some more.. primed and then sanded one more time:


Both the Trim and Ash Tray Door finished:


Ash Tray itself, and Chrome diffuser (cleaned up nicely):


Here is the Spray Paint I used:

It really does look great! Nice job and the paint is a nice match up.

Looks great, thanks for sharing.
Ash tray looks great. No more cigarettes in there!
Dan

I stayed up late last night and decided to finish the center console. I think it turned out reallllllly nice! I still have to mount the latch (still don't have this yet!) and the trim on the bottom side of the lid, but I want to clean it up and paint it before mounting it.

Everything taken apart:


Here is the lid, that foam was not fun to get off:


Recovered!


Trim Installed, still needs the slider knob:


Again no latch yet:







It's not 100% perfect, but I'm happy with it.