Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and YZ250Rider23
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2007
- Messages
- 97
- Reaction score
- 0
- Vehicle Year
- 1998
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 2.5
- Transmission
- Manual
... and I need to do something about it.
I've got the 60/40 bench with the little flip down console/armrest, and it is just falling apart. When I bought the truck 4 years ago it was pretty broken, and I wrapped a long strip of velcro around it to close it and never meant for it to be permanent.... until I found out what a new one from the dealer would cost me. It still has that velcro on it, but it's just falling apart, and I need to do something with it.
So here's my plan... carefully take apart the old one, removing the fabric to reuse later. Throw away the foam... er dust is really all that's left of it. Then I'll try and superglue the base back together as best I can... no I don't plan on using it like that, I want to take down all the specs of it, so I can reverse engineer it.
I plan on constructing a new base out of aluminum plate, with a piece of angle or square tube stock to hold the hinge, and a piece of solid stock formed into the latch catch. I'll either weld it or tap and screw it all together, then attach something to the underside to staple into, like 1/4" MDF, Luan, or plastic of some kind, to hold the fabric. The foam I'll have to get from an upholstery store, since the fabric store doesn't have firm enough foam. The foam will be held in place with spray adhesive. I was originally thinking of laminating luan and thin sheet steel for the base, but ultimately decided that an aluminum construction will be sturdier. I hope to make this appear stock on the outside.
Has anyone done anything like this? If so any pointers for me? What about other solutions, what have others done to fix their disintegrating console lids? Also, am I crazy? Haha.
Lastly, if I go ahead with this, I plan on taking lots of photos and notes along the way, so I can post up an informative how-to, to benefit my fellow Ranger drivers.
I've got the 60/40 bench with the little flip down console/armrest, and it is just falling apart. When I bought the truck 4 years ago it was pretty broken, and I wrapped a long strip of velcro around it to close it and never meant for it to be permanent.... until I found out what a new one from the dealer would cost me. It still has that velcro on it, but it's just falling apart, and I need to do something with it.
So here's my plan... carefully take apart the old one, removing the fabric to reuse later. Throw away the foam... er dust is really all that's left of it. Then I'll try and superglue the base back together as best I can... no I don't plan on using it like that, I want to take down all the specs of it, so I can reverse engineer it.
I plan on constructing a new base out of aluminum plate, with a piece of angle or square tube stock to hold the hinge, and a piece of solid stock formed into the latch catch. I'll either weld it or tap and screw it all together, then attach something to the underside to staple into, like 1/4" MDF, Luan, or plastic of some kind, to hold the fabric. The foam I'll have to get from an upholstery store, since the fabric store doesn't have firm enough foam. The foam will be held in place with spray adhesive. I was originally thinking of laminating luan and thin sheet steel for the base, but ultimately decided that an aluminum construction will be sturdier. I hope to make this appear stock on the outside.
Has anyone done anything like this? If so any pointers for me? What about other solutions, what have others done to fix their disintegrating console lids? Also, am I crazy? Haha.
Lastly, if I go ahead with this, I plan on taking lots of photos and notes along the way, so I can post up an informative how-to, to benefit my fellow Ranger drivers.
