What is this below the IP and forward of the center console?

[bluesmokennoise]

I'm putting some finishing touches on a 1991 Pontiac Sunbird. Since my wife has owned the car there was a cheap-ish plastic cabinet crammed underneath the temperature controls
on the center IP (forward of the center console in which the shift lever is located. In this monstrosity was located a SONY cassette/AM/FM rig that only NASA mission control could
figure out how to operate but one certainly couldn't use it while driving due to its annoying high tech complexity. The thing was an eye-sore and I decided to clean it up a bit and removed it today. Eventually I will just hang a simpler cassette or CD player which will open up all sort of space below the center IP.

My question is what the heck once was located in the areas I have photographed? There must have been something there. Unfortunately whoever installed that plastic radio cabinet discarded whatever was in there so I am on a quest now to find out what it was and look for the replacement pieces.

The side view was taken from the driver's side.

In the photo I've designated "A"---it sort of looks like it could be either a convenience storage tray. Possibly something fit inside of it?

The area I have marked "B" is about half the size as "A" but looks very unfinished and like something definitely was once covering the opening. There are metal screw holes. There are also tabs ("C") on the forward side of the shift lever center console that also suggests there was something fastened between the center console and the "A" storage tray.

Finally there was a light bulb that was mounted inside the useless bottom drawer of the plastic radio cabinet. ("D") I don't know if it was just left in there when they installed the plastic atrocity for the SONY aftermarket cassette deck but it originally belongs somewhere else. I don't understand what the purpose of that tiny drawer was because it could not be opened due to the proximity of the shift lever.

Can anyone tell me what goes in these two spots forward of the center console. (I bet Doug can ).

Thanks to anyone for help.

 

[melsg5]

I'm putting some finishing touches on a 1991 Pontiac Sunbird. Since my wife has owned the car there was a cheap-ish plastic cabinet crammed underneath the temperature controls
on the center IP (forward of the center console in which the shift lever is located. In this monstrosity was located a SONY cassette/AM/FM rig that only NASA mission control could
figure out how to operate but one certainly couldn't use it while driving due to its annoying high tech complexity. The thing was an eye-sore and I decided to clean it up a bit and removed it today. Eventually I will just hang a simpler cassette or CD player which will open up all sort of space below the center IP.

My question is what the heck once was located in the areas I have photographed? There must have been something there. Unfortunately whoever installed that plastic radio cabinet discarded whatever was in there so I am on a quest now to find out what it was and look for the replacement pieces.

The side view was taken from the driver's side.

In the photo I've designated "A"---it sort of looks like it could be either a convenience storage tray. Possibly something fit inside of it?

The area I have marked "B" is about half the size as "A" but looks very unfinished and like something definitely was once covering the opening. There are metal screw holes. There are also tabs ("C") on the forward side of the shift lever center console that also suggests there was something fastened between the center console and the "A" storage tray.

Finally there was a light bulb that was mounted inside the useless bottom drawer of the plastic radio cabinet. ("D") I don't know if it was just left in there when they installed the plastic atrocity for the SONY aftermarket cassette deck but it originally belongs somewhere else. I don't understand what the purpose of that tiny drawer was because it could not be opened due to the proximity of the shift lever.

Can anyone tell me what goes in these two spots forward of the center console. (I bet Doug can ).

Thanks to anyone for help.

Probably too obvious a question, do you have the owners manual?

 

[bluesmokennoise]

No, certainly not too obvious melsg5. I'm embarrassed to admit that I have got out my multimeter to check voltages on electrical equipment that I didn't plug in!
Anyway I have since found out that indeed there is a little door just forward of the center console with the lever. Its GM part number
is 240122 and I am on a search now. Evidently it s part of the original center console but the previous owner of this Sunbird removed it to make room for
that plastic CD/Cassette cabinet. I did locate the whole console at a salvage yard on eBay but it's beyond my budget. (I'm on the tail end of a major restoration
and I am really "tapped out" so I am watching the nickels and dimes.

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

Whole Consule is needed, www.car-part.com or www.row52.com

And the 10 thousand screws they used to install it....

Doug in P.R.

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[bluesmokennoise]

Ugh. I am afraid of that. After the restoration I have done on this car there are a lot of nuts, bolts and screws left over so I wonder what is going
to fall off first?

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

That is job you have to take apart by yourself instead of a wreaking yard so you know how to assemble it back together.... UPullit yard is your best bet.....
Www.row52.com.

Doug in P.R.

 

[bluesmokennoise]

I wish I could but I live 200 miles from nowhere so such places don't exist. No worries, however...My center console is actually in good condition so I will probably just fabricate a replacement for the little flip door forward of the gear shift lever and call it done.

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

This?

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[bluesmokennoise]

Doug, that's a nice looking one. The cabinet that was in my Sunbird was cheap-looking and of poor quality. I took it out as well as the silly
SONY AM/FM/Cassette that some electronics butchers hacked into the original radio and remote display. I got it all re-wired and the original radio
sounds much better than it ever did with that SONY arrangement. I have been able to lay my hands on the factory service manuals and if I can find a
model 16066752 cassette deck I'll gamble that whatever is wrong with it I might be able to fix. In my opinion the smaller cassette unit just hung below the heater
controls would look provide a cleaner look and open up the area between the driver and passenger to provide a bit more leg room. I'll probably just fabricate a cover to hide the opening the butchers left on the center floor console when they installed the so called "cabinet." Honestly, I've seen kids toys made by REMCO or Mattel that were of better quality. I finished the clear coating and she really looks good...now just need to rehang the mouldings and badges. I'll post photos when I'm done...I'll probably carry them in my wallet and button-hole everyone like a proud new papa.

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

I was asking if you may want it when I scrap the car in January... Registration is up by the end December and we won't be renewing it.. Finally getting my wife a SUV...

Doug in P.R.

 

[bluesmokennoise]

Doug, that's real neighborly of you but I'm not sure how this center console thing is going to play out. I've got the aftermarket "cabinet' removed and
my wife likes it out, But I've still got this unfinished spot that the aftermarket cabinet covered up. I'm also in the throes of hunting down a cassette
player and maybe by the time I find one that I can afford I'll be back in the mood to put the cabinet back in. In which case, your cabinet is
much nicer looking. How many nickels and dimes would a guy need to find in the sofa cushions to buy yours? Are you really going to scrap the Sunbird? Do you know if the
forward end of the center console had a covered ashtray like the one you sent me for the rearward part of the console? There's a plate in there
with two screw holes like something was once affixed into it.

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

I'll check in couple of days on the front of the shifter, ( too damn hot here still) yes I'm scraping or junkyarding it and if it's the same you only have to pay for shipping .......Doug in P.R.

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[92 Sunbird LE]

Checked this morning, it has the same console as yours with the cubby up front....let me know when you want it sent and I'll take it off...Its not perfect, has a 3/8 hole drilled for a switch for my interior
blower on the left side....

Doug in P.R.

 

[bluesmokennoise]

Doug, thanks a lot...sorry so long in replying. I've been devoting every free minute to trying to get this Sunbird done before I need to
roll out the snowblower. Took the masking paper and tape off today and am putting on the molding and badges tomorrow. I'll post some photos
here...before and after.

I am interested in your kind offer and wondering are you referring to just the cubby or the whole center console? The center console sounds like an awful job to remove from what you described a few weeks ago.

Vern
Above the Wisconsin Arctic Circle

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

No , just the cubby .....( It covers the very top of the consule when installed ....coin tray )

Doug in P.R.

 

[bluesmokennoise]

That would be terrific, Doug! When you commence to parting her out by all means I would like to buy that from you. Let me know when
the time comes and how much to mail you and it will head to PR trailing a plume of smoke.
Thank you, thank you.
Vern above the Wisconsin Arctic Circle

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[bluesmokennoise]

Here she is...before and after.

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

Great Job Vern!Congratulations !

Doug in P.R.

 

[bluesmokennoise]

Thanks Doug! I really enjoyed this project and there is more yet to do but I've discovered a new hobby and I've really learned
a lot. When I started it I just thought it was to satisfy my wife's wanting to drive it without feeling embarrassed by its awful rust. You might remember my
first posting was something like "how can I do a quick-and-dirty to cover up the worst of the rust?" But. once I
got into it I discovered it was almost hypnotic and evolved into more than just putting lipstick on a goat.. I can't say enough how much I
appreciated the patient, timely responses I got from experienced guys like you here on this forum.