RE: Spider console assembly tricks?

[Ian Lomax <sfalfisto@domain.elided>]

Hey Brian,

You seem to recall correctly.  There is a little play
at the bottom of the console.  To keep reverse from
hitting, the DPO drilled extra holes in the dash tabs,
closer to the front.  But if you screw through them
the whol thing sits out about 1 cm.  Not pretty, but
functional.  I'll probably just keep doing this until
I get around to replacing the dash/console with
recovered units.

All the mounts are good, and I think the trans mount
is in correctly.  I put it in so that the bolt hole
was closer to the bottom, so with the weight of the
tranny I imagine it's close to centered.  I have
thought about moving it up a bit, but was more
concerned with driveshaft issues.

I wonder how the console was assembled by the factory?

Ian
--- Brian Shorey <bshorey@domain.elided> wrote:
> > When I first bought the car, the console was held
> to
> > the dash with M6 machine screws, with nuts behind
> it. 
> > You'd have to reach in behind the console to
> assemble
> > it.  Not easy.
> > 
> > I replaced those screws with trim screws and speed
> > nuts, but I could never get the console to line up
> > with the dash properly.  If the console is flush
> with
> > the dash, I can't get the shifter in reverse fully
> and
> > it will pop out of reverse on the slightest hill. 
> Not
> > fun in San Fran!
> > 
> > So, does anybody have a secret trick?  Or even
> know
> > how it's supposed to go together from the factory?
> 
> > You'll be my new personal hero.
> 
> IIRC, those two top screws are large sheet metal
> type screws, and there
> should be a trim clip on the dash part of each side
> where they screw in.
> 
> I now have a couple of those trim clips, plus bigger
> sheet metal screws
> with the wrng heads, and mine are holding up well.
> 
> As for the shfter hitting in reverse.
> 
> I can think of a couple of things that might help.
> 
> First, I'm assuming that all the engine and
> transmission mounts are in
> place, and that the rear transmission mount is
> oriented properly.  If
> you've got the rear transmission mount in upside
> down, then the rear of
> the transmission would sit a little lower, and could
> cause the shift
> lever to contact the console at the lower edge.
> 
> Assuming all the mounts are ok, you might try
> futzing around with the
> mounts at the lower edge of the console.  I seem to
> remember there being
> a tiny amount of leeway there, plus if you dink
> around with the screws
> at the bottom of the side pieces you might pick up
> something there (are
> the screws holding the sides in going into the
> original holes?).
> 
> For the shift lever itself, I only remember
> adjustment side to side.
> However, if it's popping out of reverse, and not
> second or fourth, then
> maybe it needs to be moved a little to the left?
> 
> HTH,
> 
> bs
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