I am really proud of my Roadmaster's interior.
The Dark Jadestone Metallic exterior goes
great with the Medium Gray leather interior.
I think the Roadmaster Sedan has
one of the nicest B-Body interiors.
Especially the Standard (STD) Roadmaster.
I'm not knocking the Limited Roadmasters.
I personally prefer the Standard Roadmaster seats.
The Limited has a flatter plainer looking seat IMO.
I like the "cushy" pillow look of my seats.
These seats look great with a center console conversion.
My wife's Denali has seats like the Limited seats,
and they are GREAT,
but not for my taste on this particular project.
Burak Ergin made my custom aluminum door pulls.
See the stock on the LEFT....Burak's on the RIGHT.
These door pulls are pieces of aluminum artwork!
They fit exactly, and add a beautiful touch.
Greg Suski made these Billet Seat Belt Mount Covers.
These have the Buick Tri-Shield Logo engraved in them.
To complete the Gran Sport theme, the only thing lacking in the interior,
IMO, was a center console with a floor shifter.
That oversight has been corrected.
In fact, I think this console is one of the nicest looking and
user friendly consoles that GM ever made.
I like the cup holders and the huge storage compartment.
The replaceable liners in the cup holders and clutter tray are a nice touch.
Part of the center console conversion included modifying the drivers seat.
The front seats were originally a 60/40 arrangement, with the drivers seat having a build in armrest console. The factory made the drivers seat wider
by simply welding on an additional frame piece. Other than the extra part,
the frame looks identical ot the passenger seat. We removed this tube, modified and rebuilt the seat cushion and then the cover was sewn to
match the passenger seat.
This modification looks absolutely stock.
The part circled in yellow was removed and the seat modified.
Here is the same seat installed next to the new console.
I dyed the shift handle with SEM Medium Gray.
The vinyl, carpet, and faux wood trim were already a perfect match
to the stock interior.
An EXACT match!
I had a custom leather shifter boot made by the same shop
that modified my drivers seat.
The final touch was to delete the column shifter handle and all evidence
that it ever existed. This was accomplished by cutting off the little knob
on the column, and then filing it flat, filling the hole, and finally finishing
it off with medium gray paint. A neat feature is the the shift indicator
in the dash still functions. It works in tandem with the floor shifter.
This conversion looks and functions like it was a factory installed option.
Want to install a center console in your B-Body?
Here is what you'll need:
Center console w/ shifter from a 1997-2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
or Chevrolet Blazer.
Want the wood trim? Get a Bravada console.
Console mounting brackets:
I got my console and shifter on eBay and it did not come with any
mounting brackets, so I made my own. Everybody does things differently,
and this is not the only way to do it, but it is how I chose to do mine ;)
First, I bought some metal stud material at Lowes.
This is sold in the lumber and drywall section.
I chose this material because it's readily available,
easy to cut with tin snips, it's strong, and it's galvanized.
Also, I used self-tapping screws with rubber gaskets / washers.
This makes for an easy, leak free, install.
I didn't want to weld anything into the car, or rivet it in.
This material is the perfect width for making the two brackets you need.
You need two brackets.
A rear bracket and a front or shifter bracket.
Here is the rear bracket that I made.
As you can see, the rear bracket is simple,
and all it has to do is provide a mounting platform
for the rear of the console.
The rear of the console will bolt to the rear bracket,
with access to the bolts inside the storage compartment,
after removing the storage bin.
The shifter bracket seen below was made by cutting off
a length of the metal stud material.
I cut it out so the bottom could be flattened out to be fastened
to the trans tunnel. The sides were cut down,
as the trans tunnel gets wider as you go forward.
Here you can see how the front of the bracket was bent
and fastened to the trans tunnel.
Note the "T" brackets added to each side for strength.
I used expandable foam in the space between the shifter bracket
and trans tunnel. This was also for strength and sound deadening.
I did not want any rattles or sounds from this.
This mount is ROCK SOLID and quiet.
Once the expandable foam was dry, I shaved off the excess
and used fiberglass insulation in varied thicknesses,
so that once the carpeting was installed,
there were no gaps between the console and trans tunnel.
Add fiberglass insulation if you have any gaps between console and carpet.
Shifter cable and shift cable brackets
Try to get the shifter cable with your console. If you didn't, don't worry.
GM still carries them.
Part #15730543.
The two trans cable brackets
The first is a trans pan bracket that holds the shift cable to the trans pan.
The second bracket will need to be fabricated.
It attaches like the stock B-Body bracket, but has an added piece
that allows the cable to attach to it.
Here are the brackets that I got from Kevin Giltner.
He is on the ISSCA Forum aka ISSF, and goes by the name 96greengrey.
The modified bracket allows the stock B-Body shift interlock to function.
Also, it allows the gear indicator in the gauge cluster to still function.
The doors will still unlock and lock with the shifter just like stock too.
Kevin also makes a wiring harness kit that makes the wiring a simple installation and allows the Blazer/Bravada shifter interlock to still function.
If you don't do this, you won't be able to get the shifter out of park.
The shifter cable routes out of the front of the console, under the pedals,
and exits the floor near the driver's door sill.
The rubber grommet comes with the shifter cable.
The cable runs under the car to the transmission.
Sound complicated? It really isn't.
If you buy Kevin's bracket kit, he also includes written instructions.
Pic below is of the Bravada shifter interlock.
More console install pics...
Modification to the steering column.
Cut off the metal stump that the lever attaches to.
Grind away all high spots.
Fill hole (I used JB Weld),
and finish it like body work.
Gray SEM or DupliColor in
medium gray is a perfect match.
Placement of the console
is up to you.
It can be moved
forward or backward,
to your preference.
The seats automatically
center it, so you don't
have to worry about centering it.
Height adjustment
is also up to you.
Some guys cut a notch
out or cut the rear
of the console
to match the lines
of the trans tunnel.
I did not do that.
I found it most comfortable
at the stock height.
I simply added
some fiberglass insulation,
and the console meets
the trans tunnel with
a factory look.
Also, note the
spray foam used to
deaden sound
and to strengthen the
shifter bracket that I made.
It's rock solid.
Misc part numbers you may want or need:
-Shift handle GM Part #12376739
-#12377275 clutter tray liner
-#12388409 cup holder liner
Kevin's kit & instructions also cover how to
synchronize the new shifter,
with the shifter in the dash gauge cluster.
It's pretty easy.
If you need any help with this modification,
feel free to leave me a message in my guestbook.
Kevin's contact info:
kevin62910@yahoo.com
Kevin Giltner's CarDomain Page:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/629700/1
Kevin's CarDomain Page
Here is my new steering wheel, new air bag, and re-dyed shift handle.
I didn't really need a new air bag,
but I wanted one for the new wheel.
My upholstery shop made the gray leather shifter boot.
Made it from surplus seat leather to match my gray leather handle.
Here it is.
What do you think?
200 MPH Speedometer.
Made to match my AutoMeter gauges.
See page 9 for details.
When I got the console,
I held it up to the dash and door panel to check for a color match...
Perfect Match!
You may notice that I added
"GS" logos to the headrests,
a "Gran Sport" emblem and
an "LT1 Engine Specification Plate"
to the dash.
Other mods include a
Triple A Pillar Gauge Pod
filled with Auto Meter Artic
White Electronic Gauges.
and a new steering wheel / air bag combo.
wrapped in a red and gray leather
sewn-on Wheelskins cover.
The "GS" headrest logos are from SLP.
They are old surplus GSX logos used for the supercharged GSX Regals
that SLP made for Buick. I just didn't use the "X".
These logos are iron on, and they have a suede leather texture.
I think they are a nice touch.
Another influence from the 1994-1996 Impala SS.
Take a look at that sanitary and unworn door panel armrest and switch panel.
Absolutely MINT!!!
They should be, as they are brand new NOS GM parts.
Completing the interior is a set of billet aluminum pedals
manufactured by Mallory Billet Accessories.
MBA made some of the nicest and highest quality B-Body items.
These pedals are a work of art .
The Roadmaster is equipped with an automatic climate control system
which includes an interior and exterior temperature sensor.
It's a nice feature. Just set the temp, and it does the rest.
In addition, I added a rear-view compass mirror. The exterior mirrors are power and heated. Both front seats are power.
All windows, locks, antenna, etc. are power.
The stock AM / FM Delco Stereo w/ Cassette and Concert Sound
amplified speaker system. I added a Pioneer 6 disc CD changer.
I did not want to add an aftermarket stereo,
as I want to keep this car looking like it was
built this way at the factory.
I think completely upgrading the entire suspension warrants deleting the old Dynaride emblem and upgrading to this NOS Gran Touring Suspension emblem.
Newly added is a jewelry grade silver plaque that reads RoadMonster.
I bought this from a jeweler in Athens, Greece.
Modified Stock Radio w/ MP3 Input.
Just installed an upgraded stock stereo
that has an input for an MP3 player.
It's a nicer stock radio than my car had,
with an equalizer, and digital
display for all radio functions.
The best part is that the radio
was modified with an MP3 jack.
I do not want to use an
aftermarket radio on this car,
to keep with the
"factory could have built it" theme.
Just installed it today
(December 15, 2006)
and I'm very happy with it.
Custom Trunk Kit
My trunk has a custom made trunk kit
This kit gives the trunk a sanitary look,
while providing useful storage compartments.
This is something the factory should have done.
On these cars, it is possible for shifting cargo
in the trunk to dent the rear fenders.
This kit eliminates that possibility.
I keep tools, Mechanix Gloves,
back up Meziere water pump,
serpintine belt,
and other extra parts in
the storage compartments.
It is made of 7-ply birch plywood,
and covered in matching carpet.
The hardware is top notch.
The fit and finish are exceptional.
This kit was made by AudioFX.
Update 12-18-07: 2.5# Halon Extinguisher.
I received my Halon Fire Extinguisher
that I will be mounting in the trunk.
Installed Pics to follow....
Brushed Aluminum Flashlight. 2/6/08.
Have you ever tried to find a
brushed aluminum D-Cell flashlight?
Let me tell you, it's pretty hard to do.
I wanted it to match the brushed
finish on the Extinguisher.
The extinguisher is also getting
a brushed aluminum mount,
that will also match the brushed finish.
The flashlight mount is red powdercoated.
What do you think?
This flashlight is made by Tow-Rax,
and is really a nice piece of work.
Brushed Billet Extinguisher Bracket. 2-10-08.
I just ordered the billet clamp
and mount for the extinguisher.
Now I can finish the trunk by
installing the extinguisher
and flashlight...
Finished!
2/15/2008
What do you think?
Embroidered Trunk Bags. 12-28-07.
Trunk Bags arrived today.
Nicely embroidered with RoadMonster
and the Buick Tri-Shield logos.
See page 8 for contact information for Suzi,
who embroidered and provided these bags.
She does GREAT work!!!!
Embroidered Spare Tire Cover
By Cesar @ New Imperial Embroidery.
Doesn't it look great!
Cesar did the Buick Motorsports Hat too.
See page 8 for his contact info...
January 24, 2009
Tool Kit & Tool Bags:
My buddy Cesar embroidered
my Craftsman tool bags.
I just purchased a set of
Craftsman Professional Pliers,
Screwdrivers, & Combination Wrenches.
I really like the Craftsman Professional
series of hand tools.
The grips are really comfortable.
The tools are nice quality,
clear powdercoated,
and the colors match
the RoadMonster theme perfectly!
A metric Allen Wrench set,
metric Craftsman Socket Set,
& a couple of red / black
Craftsman tool wraps
complete the new tool kit.
I try to keep everything clean and detailed,
which is easy on a trailer queen,
and not so easy on a driver....
page 1....................Introduction
page 2....................Gran Sport Theme
page 3....................Interior & Trunk You Are Here
page 4....................Under The Hood
page 5....................Transmission
page 6....................Wheels, Tires & Suspension
page 7....................Headers & Exhaust
page 8....................Recommended Vendors
page 9....................Modifications
page 10..................History
page 11..................Restoration & Help
page 12..................Part Numbers
page 13..................Art & 1:25 Scale Model
page 14..................Future Plans
page 15..................200 MPH Speedometer
page 16..................Shows 2006
page 17..................Shows 2007
page 18..................Shows 2008
page 19..................Shows 2009
page 20..................4th Annual Salem Roadster Show
page 21..................Upcoming Shows 2010
page 22..................Attended Shows 2010
page 23..................roadmonster.org
page 24..................page under construction
