Manntis

As I've removed the stock stereo from my GSL-SE I no longer had use of the balancer joystick in the centre consol. I got the bright idea to make a custom piece to a) move the switches back towards the armrest and b) add a 1 355ml can sized cupholder to the consol (one is better than none, after all)

Your intrepid narrator set out on his quest and bought a a fibreglass kit from Canadian Tire (a sort of automobile and hardware specific Wal-Mart) It had everything I needed except ability. My first attempt, while being the right size and layout, was warped, smelly, and not altogether unlike the ashtray I made in Grade 2 art class.

Then I had another idea: With the stock stereo gone I have room in the dash for DUAL cupholders. I am now measuring up the stereo retainer to fabricate a metal (with which I have vastly more talent than fibreglass, apparently) with a foam rubber insert to accept plastic and aluminium drink containers. The drawer will nestle in the bottom of the stereo retainer, with a CD holder taking up the space between cupholder and stereo.

According to my measurements there is ample room to have said drawer open and not interfere with the shifter, provided the beverage is non-alcoholic.

I'll post more as I progress and/or injure myself in the attempt.

mwpayne

Let me know what you come up with, I've just got a hole where the joystick was. A can of RC will sit in it, but not too securely. I was thnking of lining it with rubber or something, but you sound more industrious than I. I eagerly await your final product.

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

You got the same Sony as me. Replace the stock joystick with this one

Sony RM-X6S

Manntis

With the comprehensive **** controls and the remote control that came with the stereo I don't really need more stereo controls.

To fill in the consol, though, I've ordered a new switchplate that has a coin holder where the joystick went ($30 CDN, about $20 US from your friendly neighborhood Mazda dealer)

The stereo retainer is a measurement-friendly 7" wide by 4 1/2" high (internal dimensions only, add materials thickness) The drawer will be 3/8 inches high and use the foam rubber not only to hold the drinks (and catch condensation from the upper part of the drink container) but also to provide tension so the cupholder tray won't rattle in the dash nor attempt to slide back in on its own.

As an engineer I of course had drawn up plans for pivoting cupholders with spring tensioners, etc. but using the natural properties of the foam rubber seems elegant in its simplicity; of course only the prototype will tell.

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

Audi 1.8. Retractable Cupholder right over the stereo.

Manntis

Cool. Unfortunately I couldn't find any pics of the cupholder deployed to see how the Masters at Audi laid theirs out.

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

Volkswagen - Close Enough.

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

****, let me just input my cad files into the mold making program and fire up my injection press..............

good luck on a custom fiberglass replica of that. practice practice practice.

SuperPhly

Mold Press? Are you for real... you are sitting on a gold mine...

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

He's Kidding. byt they way, why not just use the one from the Volkswagen, and modify a frame rail for it?

Manntis

'cause I'm stubborn. I decided to go the dash-mount route, but to bend metal instead of trying to learn fibreglassing in 24 hours.

Here's what I've come up with so far: a new stereo bracket with slideouut cupholder drawer (shown here unpainted and with the foam that actually grips the can/bottle uncut)

It's riveted aluminum with brushed stainless steel for the drawer:





Painted it doesn't look nearly as good but the bare aluminum was actually scratched and discolored and would have looked crappy as bare riveted metal in an otherwise finished dash anywho.

Manntis

Okay, I'm almost done. Here it is installed in the dash: all I have left to do is make a trim plate to cover the gaps above the stereo and below the storage bin (cave is more like it - I now have a full DIN bin for singlasses, business cards, and all other kinds of stuff I'll let pile up in there)

So here it is with the cupholder closed:



...and with the cupholder open (the shifter is in first gear to ensure clearance)...



With the stereo open and cupholders in use it gets crowded, but with over 180 MP3 songs per disk this scenario is unlikely to happen while driving:

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

nice. what did you use for the drop in the holes and how did you get the shelf to slide and not flop when fully extended?

Manntis

The shelf is 6.5" deep and only slides out 4" - the remainder helps balance it. In addition there's foam rubber stripping between each tier so no squeaks, rattles, flopping etc.

The shelf is actually just a sheet of brushed stainless with a 1/2" lip bent down, and a piece of high density foam rubber (like that used for hiking matresses, not the softer stuff) glued from the bottom with 3M high temperature adhesive, giving the shelf its 1/2 inch thickness and acting as the lower sliding member of the shelf. Strip foam rubber epoxied to the shelf above presses down on the stainless, providing the other half of the tension

I cut the holes in the stainless to 3" and the foam to 2.5" si it can accomodate 355ml bottles and cans equally.

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

ah, i wondered how you dropped the holes like that. good design.

Manntis

Simple but effective. A bit pricey though as a one-off. Cost me $50 in supplies. However I'm left with lots of spray rubber, adhesive, strip foam, etc.

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

rivet gun etc discluded, eh?

Manntis

Already had the tools

diabolical1

iTrader: (3)

jeez ... you guys are maniacs!

but seriously, manntis, that's friggin' awesome! i mean, i'm not into cupholders and other creature comforts, (hell, if i had my way every car would have windup windows and no power steering) ... but i really admire the ingenuity! i know that sounds like a kiss-*** thing to say, but i mean it ... not being facetious.

Manntis

I appreciate your compliment - it's just been so friggin' hot here I had to have a cold beverage with me in the car

Manntis

hey, thanks for the 5 star rating, whoever added that.

smnc

That was me... I think it's an awsome mod. I've been looking into the idea of adding a cupholder myself.

Actually I had some insiration last night. The cupholder from a mid-90's Dodge Intrepid should be about the same size as the ashtray on the 84/85 RX-7. Seing as I don't smoke (in fact, no smoking allowed in my car) it would seems like an idea mod, If it'll fit.

Manntis

might have some problems as the 'ashtray'/coinholder in the '84-85 is a curved panel piece with that gorgeous light-up-at-night "push" button, but if you can make it work it'll look far better than my bashed metal solution

smnc

I know, I love the look of the stock ashtray, but have no need of it, and I do need a couple cupholders....

Manntis

I find it's a good place to store parking meter change