66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

[R N.]

Hello everyone,

Awhile back there was a post detailing the differences between original 4-sp shifter plates and reproduction pieces. I've searched the archives and not been able to find the post - if someone has the link saved, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could post the link for me. Thanks in advance.

[Richard M.]

Re: 66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

Kurt,

I tried a Advanced Search for you.......This is what I used....

( 196* OR C2 ) AND ( shift* AND ( plate OR console ) ) I selected "Titles Only" in the search query.

I found this one.....

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?97063-C2-Shift-Pattern-Plate-Restoration&p=639084#post639084

And this one may be what you're looking for...

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?80382-1967-Trim-Plate-ASM-(shifter-console)-forks-are-warped-still-okay-to-restore&p=504493#post504493

Below are pics of a repro(bagged) from a supplier 2 years ago, and to it's right (I believe) a original in a '67. Font is clearly thicker on the original.

Rich

P3180008.jpg P3180009.jpg P3180006.jpg P3180007.jpg

[R N.]

Re: 66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

Richard, your the best and thanks for the lesson on doing an advance search.

[Richard M.]

Re: 66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

Kurt, Glad it helped. When I restored that console a few years ago I was quite disappointed with the reproduction shift plate. Happily the original was still usable and I put the repro on the shelf, probably never to see the roof of a Corvette ever again.

The search stuff can certainly be a bit confusing. I did some experiments when the new forum vBulletin software version came out last year as it has Boolean search functionality. Very helpful to find stuff but the software maker had no helpful examples of it's use. There's a writeup in the Help section I put together. Kindof took me back to my past career in the micro-electronics industry using C++ s/w programming, PERL scripting, software simulators and such. However, I'd rather be restoring Corvettes.

Note that the parentheses are a big help when doing searches, and it's sensitive about using spaces between the parens and the search string characters. Spaces are important and without them the Boolean search function must get confused and typically yields no results.

Rich

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[Patrick B.]

Re: 66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

Is there a good way to remove a good original shift plate to use it on a new console?

[Joe R.]

Re: 66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

Patrick,

Keep it soaked in lacquer thinner for a few hours and that will soften the glue on the back side. You'll have to keep adding thinner as it will evaporate rather quickly.
Use a Scotch Brite pad on the aluminum and repaint the letters and pattern with Krylon Black Enamel.
Like new and like original.

JR

[Richard M.]

Re: 66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

Patrick,

Keep it soaked in lacquer thinner for a few hours and that will soften the glue on the back side. You'll have to keep adding thinner as it will evaporate rather quickly.
Use a Scotch Brite pad on the aluminum and repaint the letters and pattern with Krylon Black Enamel.
Like new and like original.

JR

Joe, Won't that mean that the painted console will need refinishing too? You'd have to soak the whole thing right?

I'm thinking a heat gun on the backside of the console to loosen the glue might work.

Rich

[Patrick B.]

Re: 66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

Thanks Joe and Richard. I bought a console restoration kit last year that came from LIC via another reseller and was really disappointed with the shift plate. It seems that no one makes a decent repro.

[Bill H.]

Re: 66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

Kurt, Glad it helped. When I restored that console a few years ago I was quite disappointed with the reproduction shift plate. Happily the original was still usable and I put the repro on the shelf, probably never to see the roof of a Corvette ever again.


Rich

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Nice, Richard. Did you replace the aluminum around the shifter and the ashtray door ? I need to do mine, same color,BTW.

[Richard M.]

Re: 66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

Nice, Richard. Did you replace the aluminum around the shifter and the ashtray door ? I need to do mine, same color,BTW.

Hi Bill,

Yes the kit included the plate around the shifter and the ashtray door. Those were nice pieces. Below you can see the crumpled up old plate and old door. I just cleaned the console with solvent for good adhesion and it was a breeze. You have ONE shot at the plate though so aim good.

P3180003.jpg P3180001.jpg

This one was Dark Teal Blue under Elkhart Blue with the Lyndale Blue stinger..... made a nice combo.

P4030013.jpg P4030042.jpg

Rich

[Bill H.]

Re: 66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

Thanks Richard, who's kit is that? On the links you posted, Scott mentioned that the LIC door wasn't quite right. That is a pretty car, mine's Teal/Lyndale.

[Richard M.]

Re: 66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

I get all my bits from Zip Corvette........ST-207

I discussed the font on the plate with them then but that's all they could get from their supplier then, which also likely supplies most vendors. You may want to give them a call to see if it's still the older repro plate. The one below does in fact look a little bigger/darker. Try JT Stafford at x247 and tell him I sent you.

Rich

[Bill H.]

Re: 66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

Thanks again, Richard, my restomod builder buddy gets dealer pricing from Zip and I order most of my parts thru them.

[Alan D.]

Re: 66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

Here is an example of those. Note, nobody seems to make a correct repo including GM's NOS

[Steve B.]

Re: 66/67 4-speed console shifter plate help

I think the paragon one looks much better than the NOS one.