Restore A '65-'66 Console

7 Merv Rego of Classic Creations of Central Florida makes the repairs and lays the paint. Classic Creations specializes in console restorations. After plastic-welding a small patch into the ashtray area, Merv lightly sands the console with 1,000-grit paper, then wipes it down. The console receives a coat of plastic prep spray while being warmed with a hair dryer.

8 The console paint is standard interior paint in a spray can. Merv uses a two-handed approach. He lays a light coat of paint with one hand and passes the hair dryer over the painted area with the other, constantly working back and forth.

9 Merv applies several light coats, making sure the grain doesn't fill up with paint while achieving complete color saturation. This is important on a color-change job like this.

10 After letting the console base dry overnight, we continue with the reassembly. The new console trim plate and shifter-opening plate available from NPD is designed for a full-length console, so you'll have to trim the metal for a short A/C console like they did in 1965-1966.

11 We have a console base already trimmed for A/C use, so we lay the trim plate and shifter-opening plate onto the console and mark where the console ends.

12 A cutoff wheel or a rotary tool works well for the trim job, but a hacksaw works too. Be careful starting the cut as the hacksaw blade jumps around because of the shape of the metal trim.

13 Since Project '66 features the Deluxe Interior option we have to dress up our fresh console with woodgrain trim to match the glovebox and gauge surround. NPD's woodgrain kit for '65-'66 consoles includes the required trim pieces for a long console. Make sure the trim plate is clean, then apply the first few inches of the woodgrain applique, slowly aligning and working your way down the console, pulling off the backing paper a few inches at a time.

14 Once the trim plate, shifter-opening plate, and ashtray have been covered in the woodgrain appliques, you're on the home stretch. A sharp hobby knife helps trim any edges of the applique.

15 While working on a padded surface, turn over the trim plate to expose the mounting studs, then carefully lower the plastic console base over the studs. The studs require self-cutting speed nuts. Several of ours were missing, but NPD had replacements. Use a socket with downward pressure to get the speed nuts to "bite" and work their way down the studs.