A relatively simple but ultimately costly undertaking not for the faint of wallet. Lesson learned too late, once I was in, it was all or nothing :eek2: So the ol' ragtop finally went from original factory column to factory console shift, along the way inheriting a fully rebuilt floor shift tilt column, a reman intermediate steering shaft unit, new repro 3-spoke GS steering wheel, new Trim Parts plush pile carpet kit, new toe board, new repro kick panels with a separate pair of custom fit speaker enclosures mounting in the panel openings in place of the air vent chambers, new glove box liner and since the dash was somewhat apart and accessible from the back side, an HEI configured factory in-dash tach. The console was a great and relatively local score inclusive of a new repro shifter assembly and both floor mounting brackets. I still had to separately obtain a factory shifter cable and ultimately a good used factory shifter assembly because the repro handle parts didn't fit together well. The black repro shifter handle was finished in a lined woodgrain pattern, not pebbled and it didn't fit the handle assembly without forcing it down into place. The proper recessed screws for the handle and shifter pull-up bar apparently aren't reproduced and I couldn't find any hardware to fit that would clear the handle channels for the bar to slide up/down. The repro chrome handle top trim though it looked correct, wouldn't fit completely around either the repro or the factory shifter handles, thus it wouldn't lock down into place. I did also have to replace the console door trim plate and woodgrain decal - those repro parts were excellent quality and look great. I also installed a rear-mounted accessory power plug into the console body to supplement the cigarette lighter up front. I pulled it out of a '90s model VW Jetta because it had turned-down power terminals that minimized the plug body depth, allowing it to fit inside the console body and still leave clearance from the storage compartment wall. The carpet kit was a mixed bag - rear section was excellent, well molded and easily installed. The front section wasn't molded nearly as well - the center section was molded oversize in the bellhousing area, and even with the relief cuts I made to flatten it down, I still ended up having to pad it up to fill up the extra space it left underneath. Luckily, the black pile hides most of the residual issues visually, though I'm still wrestling with the area just under the gas pedal. Last thing I think I need to do is refurb the shifter linkage rod underneath the car which locks the shifter with the key off. It has a lot of play between park and reverse, though it does still lock the shifter with key off. I'm hoping the lock rod just needs its spring and bushing replaced. Now I get to clean up the garage and hit the road once the rain stops!
looks grt.. i just went thru it myself . nothing was easy .looks good , though i need to move m y shifter . its not exactly square .and interferes with the console when going thru the full travel . if it was easy everyone would do it !! the white seats look great with the black . i did all black , and they are deadly to sit on after parking in the sun , even on a day thats not very hot !!! . oh well , time for seat covers .
Doing the same thing right now with my 67 GS400 convertible and waiting for the car to finish at the paint shop then I start installing all the parts like you including new carpet. Also installed a tilt console column but will reuse my kick panels. Looking forward to having it all back together soon.
