I decided to make a more detailed write up with better pics and more info.

The ever famous Cup holder arm rest lid !

What you need :

- Razor blade/scissors- Staples- Stapler- Heat gun or dryer - Spray Adhesive- 1/2 inch screws- Material of choice (vinyl preferably) - Foam/Rubber padding- Cup holder liner (from GM Malibu/sunfier/cavalier/other)- 3inch hole maker drill bit- Screw gun

In this one, ill show you what to do if you have a crack in the lid.And a more cheaper, easier route to go.

First the "El-cheapo" cup holder lid.

Step 1 - Start by placing the cup liners on the bottom of the lid, and tracing a circle where you want the cup to sit. Generally you want to be in the center, the one in the rear should sit right at the curve of the lid(as shown) and the one in the front should sit just before the screw hole in the center of the lid(not shown)

Step 2 - Then cut the hole you traced .After breaking through the first liner, start the next going counter clock wise, (loosen) because of the ribs in the lid, then switch to clock wise (tighten)

Step 3 - Now you cut the edge of the ribs off because they will interfere with the cup liner. Then clean the holes of shavings .

If your doing 2 cup holders, then finish off the second hole the same way.

Step 4 - Insert the cup liners - Done

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What to Do if you have a crack in the lid,Staple it .... yes it works.

Heat up the area (DONT MELT IT !) so that the staples go in easily, and just staple away, nice and tight is best.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now for the Baller look .

Pick up from step 3 .

Step 4 - place the lid down onto the pad, and trace, staying close to the very top of the lid.

Cut it out, and place it on top of the lid, see what need to be corrected, and cut accordingly .Here is generally where you want the lid to sit, nice and flush with the very top.

Step 5 - Now you need to cut away at the edges of the pad, so that it slopes to the edge, to get a better finished look.

This is how it should look when your done, Keep in mind, and wavy lines or bumps will show through in the final result.

Step 6 - Spray the lid with the adhesive spray, and lay the pad down on top, so that it sits flush all around the lid.

Like so :

Step 7 - Cut the pad out of the circle from the bottom.

Step 8 - lay the padded lid onto the vinyl, fold one side in and staple, the the opposite side, the the other side, and its opposing side. ( (careful not to go all the way through) )

Now work your way around, heating the material, and stapling as needed.Notice this take patients .Again, heat is the key to getting this to stretch into the lid flat.

I like to get the corners first to get them out of the way .

After the corners, the sides are much easier to stretch in.

Just keep working your way around until you get it all like this.

Step 9 - Cut the hole like a pizza with 8 even slices, dont bring the razor all the way to the edge of the hole.

Step 10 - Pull in and screw the slices down, nice and tight.

Step 11 - Reinstall the under liner of the lid .

And insert the cup liner.

Done


Modified by vroom-chirp at 10:09 AM 2/5/2008

very nice! I might have to try this on the miata, its got a similar arm rest, just longer.

thats badass. i am going to have to try that

anti_flag_army wrote:very nice! I might have to try this on the miata, its got a similar arm rest, just longer.

yeah the S14 is like that, only longer, its herder to do too because of the extrem bend at the front.

Man, I'm waaay too lazy for all this... I think my convenience is worth the $35 you charge. Imma just buy 2 sooner of later... Gonna be sooo pimp!

sweet write up

i gotta do this

I'd prefer to just buy one, I'm lazy.

I got a spare lid, I wouldn't mind a rear mounted padded cupholder armrest.

Only question is, can you do brown? I got a poopy-brown interior. I get paid this Thursday, let me know

I currently dont have any brown vinyl, Im sure the black wouldnt look too bad, considering the center council is also black ..

nice!!!!

Only $35 dollars you say?

pretty sweet, but i just take out the ash tray and my beverage fits perfect...

What happens when you put your ipod in your ash tray!?

vroom-chirp wrote:I currently dont have any brown vinyl, Im sure the black wouldnt look too bad, considering the center council is also black ..

Negative, console is brown :|

i always keep the ipod in between my legs and the cell phone under the stereo. thats just what i do... ehh

Clawhammer wrote:Only $35 dollars you say?

for a single holder, yeah.

i pods fit nicely in the shift boot and that will free up your ash tray for yo drank

Sold, get on AIM.

Hey Vroom... ever thought about putting the cup liner thing between the two pieces of the lid? Might look a little cleaner, and you wouldn't have to worry about it being uncomfortable.

Haha, want to take a pic of what it looks like for us ? :P

Great write up though, this will be what I end up doing, I think you have found the "final solution" for all cupholder problems in the 240.

i did actually, but it was too shallow to hold anything, so i just drilled it out.

Wouldn't that make it deeper?

Clawhammer wrote:I'd prefer to just buy one, I'm lazy.

*Sold*

Thanx Ryan

Enjoy, I have the same set up in my car .

No, thank YOU Ryan. Can't wait to rest my drink and my arm in comfort...probably the most practical thing I've purchased for the car yet.

post a pic once you get that installed Ryan .

Beautiful work! A useful thread in 240 gen chat!

I'm too lazy to make this too, wanna sell me one as well?

Let me know.

check sig

Nice job vroomy!

BUMP for an awesome solution!