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Unleaded Designs custom shifter plate with cupholders
I bought this from Zack at Unleaded Designs. It went into my 1985 Camaro with T5.
https://www.unleaded-designs.com/
Summary: Fit is perfect and it is a well designed product. I am happy with it and recommend it to others. Here are a few more details:
There was a short delay between order and shipment due to making the item. No worries and no problem here, just dont expect same day shipping.
The plastic is a fairly close match to factory console but you CAN tell it is an aftermarket part, mostly because the plastic is new and bright shiny black. There is nothing a manufacturer can do about this, it's just a fact of life when you put a brand new plastic part next to old plastic that has aged 30+ years. This did not bother me. Pic #1
The shift plate fit perfectly. No overlap, no cuts too long or short. All bolt holes lined up with factory locations. Well done.
I reused my factory shift boot bracket but I think he offers new one for a little more $. This is the metal bracket that pinches the shift boot underneath to the plastic shift plate. The factory piece interfered with driver cupholder insert so i did have to cut some metal out. See picture. No issue for me, but I'm sure there is some purist out there who will insist this weakens the car structure and the whole thing could fold at any moment and ignite in flames if struck from behind just right. You know, the types who claim they peel carpet back and tear the car down to metal body to make sure nobody has changed what GM deemed perfect. Whatever, a little trimming and cupholder popped right in. Pic #2
I also had to use a dremel to trim some factory console plastic away in several places to insert cupholders. This was easy and is all hidden under the shift plate once install is complete. If purist, see note above and hopefully an asteroid never lands on my car now that I have done irreversible damage to what GM created. Pic #3 (before trimming)
Cupholders snapped in and were flush with top of shift plate. A nice touch. Only thing I noticed was when I dropped a 24 oz. styrofoam cup all the way in the friction from styrofoam caused the cupholder to lift out of the console with the cup when I first lifted the cup out. It did not repeat itself and I dont see this happening with other types of cups. If it happens again or bothers me I might use a small amount of silicone under the lip of the cupholder to gently glue it in place.
Lighted shift pattern was cool. I wired it to ignition wire at radio.
I have heated seats so I carefully drilled two round holes to add those switches.
Re: Unleaded Designs custom shifter plate with cupholders
Nice idea, but I would be very leery of having beverages that close to the radio head unit. Especially the way some of the drive through put the lids on the drinks.
04-25-2022, 07:37 AM
