DIY: Floating Console Modification

[Six Speed Stephen]

Thank you @kitkat for the 3D printed shroud for the gear shifter!

I wasn’t able to remove the cage bc of my tool being too large but I’ll visit the Home Depot soon. The instructions were extremely clear even though I’m not very handy, but I was able to do it no problem. Felt awesome to be able to disassemble the car and reassemble it.

It’s a huge visual change for the car - I think I need to get rid of the green paint. I’ll see how I feel about it when I drive the car!

 

[Rapture]

Thank you @kitkat for the 3D printed shroud for the gear shifter!

I wasn’t able to remove the cage bc of my tool being too large but I’ll visit the Home Depot soon. The instructions were extremely clear even though I’m not very handy, but I was able to do it no problem. Felt awesome to be able to disassemble the car and reassemble it.

It’s a huge visual change for the car - I think I need to get rid of the green paint. I’ll see how I feel about it when I drive the car!

The paint comes off pretty easily with a bit of paint thinner. It's a very cool mod.

 

[B r I a n]

Thank you @kitkat and @Porter!

I love the look:

 

[Rapture]

Thank you @kitkat and @Porter!View attachment 55613
I love the look:
View attachment 55612

Where did you get the shift knob? That looks very nice.

 

[kitkat]

Thank you @kitkat and @Porter!View attachment 55613
I love the look:
View attachment 55612

Never thought I’d see this combo, and somehow it looks cool — like a classy mechanical artwork linkage you’d find in a pagani.

 

[B r I a n]

Where did you get the shift knob? That looks very nice.

Lotus of Silverstone (ordered on line) "Wooden Type 25". I believe it was part of the special edition Type 25 package on the Exige.

 

[ADC]

Wanted to chime in that this is great work, and thanks @kitkat for sharing the love. I'm holding off even considering disassembling the interior until summer returns, but the look is appealing for sure.

I think my favourite thing about this thread is that "mustache plate" is now part of our lexicon

 

[Six Speed Stephen]

Been enjoying the exposed linkage more and more. Got two compliments on it at a car show this weekend.

 

[Nova]

Okay I did it! Thanks to @kitkat for the shroud and thanks to @Porter for holding it for me. It took me several hours to do this mod because I am a slow worker. The results are definite well worth it. What follows below are some of the things I'd like to share from experience.

Removing the bezel covering center console, make sure you check that all of the metal clips on the back are still there. In my case, a couple of them, plus one silver screw for some reason, fell off during the prying. I had to pull these out of the center console and reinstall them on the bezel.

The knee panel and trim piece around the climate control has two clips in the middle thin portion. There are no metal clips here, just plastics tabs that kind of lock in place. They are tough to pull out. I kind of grabbed this thin part with curved fingers digging in to the bottom edge of this thin trim piece. It's easier if you unclip all of the other clips first.

All of the other connectors had little tabs that you squeeze to unlock the connector. The ODB port's tabs are two small tabs on either side. You can release the tabs by pressing on them with a plastic trim tool. It doesn't take a lot of force, just a press and it will release.

 

[Speedy Emira]

Never thought I’d see this combo, and somehow it looks cool — like a classy mechanical artwork linkage you’d find in a pagani.

I agree, I didn't think I would ever say that about a wooded gear knob but it does work with the interior colour. Pity Lotus don't sell a range of these including a carbon fibre version.

 

[Blackthought_]

Just wrapped this up and it looks crazy! Huge thanks to @kitkat. It’s mods like this that make the Emira stand out

 

[Blackthought_]

Okay I did it! Thanks to @kitkat for the shroud and thanks to @Porter for holding it for me. It took me several hours to do this mod because I am a slow worker. The results are definite well worth it. What follows below are some of the things I'd like to share from experience.

View attachment 55928

Removing the bezel covering center console, make sure you check that all of the metal clips on the back are still there. In my case, a couple of them, plus one silver screw for some reason, fell off during the prying. I had to pull these out of the center console and reinstall them on the bezel.

View attachment 55929

The knee panel and trim piece around the climate control has two clips in the middle thin portion. There are no metal clips here, just plastics tabs that kind of lock in place. They are tough to pull out. I kind of grabbed this thin part with curved fingers digging in to the bottom edge of this thin trim piece. It's easier if you unclip all of the other clips first.

View attachment 55930

All of the other connectors had little tabs that you squeeze to unlock the connector. The ODB port's tabs are two small tabs on either side. You can release the tabs by pressing on them with a plastic trim tool. It doesn't take a lot of force, just a press and it will release.

View attachment 55932

Good pointers! The one thing I struggled with the shifter knob going back on straight. One thing to note-
you don’t have to tighten the knob
all the way, if you do, it’ll end up like this

After you turn the knob back a few turns, you can use the little screw to hold it tightly in place like this