* How to - Cup holder arm rest

[happy240]

I've been selling these in the classifieds, and alot of people are wanting to know how i did it. I figured, Zilvia has helped me to make alittle money, so ill help Zilvia.
So without further adieu .... The ever famous Cup holder arm rest lid !


http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/5583/stuff002xl5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


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)
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2310/cupholderwriteup009fi4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/4725/cupholderwriteup010mx6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Step 2 - Then cut the hole you traced .
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/7046/cupholderwriteup011mz5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/3339/cupholderwriteup012ml4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/6905/cupholderwriteup013ib7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
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)
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/6375/cupholderwriteup015sh3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

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 .
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9707/cupholderwriteup016cj8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

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

Step 4 - Insert the cup liners - Done
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/1822/ryansproject008tj8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/3441/ryansproject009ej4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


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What to Do if you have a crack in the lid,
Staple it .... yes it works.
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/3641/cupholderwriteup003bt0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Heat up the area (DONT MELT IT !) so that the staples go in easily, and just staple away, nice and tight is best.
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/8206/cupholderwriteup004bd5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

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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.
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/3057/cupholderwriteup019uc6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

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.
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3064/cupholderwriteup021qa9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


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.
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9626/cupholderwriteup022sp2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This is how it should look when your done, Keep in mind, and wavy lines or bumps will show through in the final result.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/1662/cupholderwriteup023ek6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

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.
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/1732/cupholderwriteup024io0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Like so :
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/7128/cupholderwriteup025hu8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Step 7 - Cut the pad out of the circle from the bottom.
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/5681/cupholderwriteup026ij9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

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) )
http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/6439/cupholderwriteup028td1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Now work your way around, heating the material, and stapling as needed.
Notice this take patients .
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/3354/cupholderwriteup029er6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Again, heat is the key to getting this to stretch into the lid flat.
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/1193/cupholderwriteup030iy1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I like to get the corners first to get them out of the way .
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/6835/cupholderwriteup031kz5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

After the corners, the sides are much easier to stretch in.
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/4980/cupholderwriteup032wf1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Just keep working your way around until you get it all like this.
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7576/cupholderwriteup033sz0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


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.
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/7/cupholderwriteup037ti5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Step 10 - Pull in and screw the slices down, nice and tight.
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/7982/cupholderwriteup038kt7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Step 11 - Reinstall the under liner of the lid .
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/6835/cupholderwriteup039cf2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


And insert the cup liner.
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/5937/cupholderwriteup040uc8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/3043/cupholderwriteup041sy1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Done
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5315/cupholderwriteup006ju0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[racepar1]

Awesome write-up man! +1 for you!

[kdashy]

Nice, looks super clean.

[M4Rl0N]

W0W
these look fucking great!

how much for an s13 one?

[farazshah]

Snazzy! A commonsense, in a good way, write up. Much appreciated!

[yarou]

Wow, great job and ingenuity!

[midnightouge]

im tired of using my ash tray for a cup holder lol nice write up +rep for you

[happy240]

Im selling them for $40.+shipping or ship me yours and ill cover shipping on the way there.


http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2378/paddedduallid007vh5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6356/paddedduallid008zq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[codunc]

where can you buy that padding?
this looks awesome

[s13drob]

quite possibly the best upgrade 2 do on a s13! well if your a drunk like me ahhahahaha:bowdown: :bowdown: good job. i couldnt of done it better

[2iv0 sx]

This is neat!

Too bad I already have the JDM cup holder/arm rest already.

Ima try this on my spare for fun...

Post it in the DIY thread in TECH
http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=173773

[happy240]

where can you buy that padding?
this looks awesome

I got that from a company that was throwing them out, its like a rubber sort of material, try your local fabric stores, they sometimes have similar stuff to use.

Thanx for all the good words guys

[5t341tH]

nice writeup. where do u get the cupholder at? dealer?

[happy240]

I got the cup holders from the junk yard, i got like 7 of them free, most places wont charge you for such a petty item lol .
The ones from a sunfire/cavalier are soft, but shallow, so i use them for the front holder, and the ones from a malibu are hard but deep, so i use those for the rear holder . they work great

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/1986/paddedduallid001rw4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[HyperTek]

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6356/paddedduallid008zq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

hahah great promotion pic right there.. can imagine this on ebay "Great for holding your beer while you drive!"


hahah freaking awesome write up! :hsdance:

[2iv0 sx]

You guys can also try using those poker table cup holders, which can be easily found.

Or small pringles packages lol
http://www.bwmaonline.com/Pringles%20shrinking%20can.jpg

[TravisSW]

That's badd ass +rep, too bad I need stuff in the center arm rest. It looks like the cup holders go down into it. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

[DriftinAndy]

Yo thats fukin dope!!...I use my little open area in front of of my arm rest but shht id rather have a cup holder so my beers dont spill!!...great write up!!

[adrians_s13]

Great write-up.

+1

[Addicted2Kouki]

very nice. ill posi rep you for it.

a lot cleaner than my cup holder.
I put mine inside the actual console on an s14
so that it would be more concealed and oem ish.

but yours definitely has more time taken into it and definitely cleaner.
ill post pics of mine later on.

[Nachtmensch]

great DIY! +rep for you :)

PS. join chicagoarea240sx.editboard.com if you havent already. good to see some local guys around :)

[ByeByeSti]

ohh god i love cup holders hahah, good job man def an easy DIY that is very helpfull! once again posi rep for you!

[alindeman1989]

Awesome write up man. +1 for you my friend.

[240sx_sr20det]

No more putting the drink putting the drink between your legs, haha. +1 for you my friend.

[unicoladron]

lol..that's an awesome idea...i can just picture myself forgetting there are drinks in there and popping the armrest open to look for change or a pen or something and spewing liquid all over the back seat

[exitspeed]

Great write up man.

One question for you, do you use anything to keep the cup holder itself in place. Adhesive or anything? Maybe using a small bead of clear caulk around the cupholder on the inside would be a good idea. It'll also help liquid from getting into the inside of the armrest if say you spill your beer...er...drink.

Just a thought.

Looks great though. Thanks for helping out the community.

[bigOdom1]

surely mel you would not commit a foul like that in your car.

[exitspeed]

surely mel you would not commit a foul like that in your car.

The caulk or the whole armrest thing?

[s13pignose]

Thats is good work..funny how I knew where you got the cup holders from...since my parents have a malibu. However I think they'd like to keep their cup holder lol

[WagDatto]

+1!! I'm figuring out how to install a center console into my 510, and none of the ones I find have cup holders, so this is going to definitely come in handy soon! Great write-up!

[happy240]

That's badd ass +rep, too bad I need stuff in the center arm rest. It looks like the cup holders go down into it. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

they do, but not by much, i cut a hole in the forward cup, but left the rear, it only actually goes into the pocket a 1/4 inch.
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2077/stuff003vh1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)





as for glue, I currently dont use glue, but they fit so tight that you really dont have to

[JRas]

they do, but not by much, i cut a hole in the forward cup, but left the rear, it only actually goes into the pocket a 1/4 inch.
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2077/stuff003vh1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)





as for glue, I currently dont use glue, but they fit so tight that you really dont have to

What did you make that shifter boot out of?

[happy240]

a similar material, only more flexible, you can get both at your local fabric store.
i did the same with the glove box and E-brake boot

[jackjack]

that ROCKS. i need this in my car.

[Xandy Boosts]

hahaha that's awesome. I too used to use my ashtray hole as my cup holder. Would always get in the way when I shift.

[unicoladron]

a similar material, only more flexible, you can get both at your local fabric store.
i did the same with the glove box and E-brake boot

lol...so do you spend most of your free time at fabric stores or something?

lol...jk..i had my eye on that shifterboot also, AND the ebrake boot. it's an altogether nice little diy interior.

[happy240]

lol I once spent an hour in there, lookin at all the vinyl choices, before i finally realized that black would be best.
I bought 1 yard sq, and was able to do the glove box, shift boot, E-brake boot, and 5 arm rests .

[s13.dark1]

nice!!! now i can put my ash try back in, and hook that up!!!

[P_856]

sweet i gotta try this one day awesome write up +1

[hellion240sx]

thanks for this informative how to!

[S13Boosts]

doing this on the weekend!!!

[CA-mazing]

lol I once spent an hour in there, lookin at all the vinyl choices, before i finally realized that black would be best.
I bought 1 yard sq, and was able to do the glove box, shift boot, E-brake boot, and 5 arm rests .

I'm gonna try to make this not sound too gay...My mom runs her own embroidery business out of our bonus room so I know a little (ok a lot) about fabric. But they just started offering sports fabrics, yes sports fabric. As in you get fabric that feels like a basketball, football, and a baseball. My mom mainly uses the football material. So if you're a hardcore basketball, football, or baseball fan and really wanna show that of in your car, just go a specialty fabric store and see if they can get some in if they don't already have any.

[burnsauto]

spreading the rep love my friend :) very nice write up...we need more write ups like this :bigok:

[sijia10358]

wow! "happy240" you are the best!!! i think every 240sx needs one!! i think this $40 will probably be the best $40 youll ever spend! no more cold drinks in between your thighs and no more shifting and holding the wheel in one hand!! AWESOME! I LOVE YOU MAN! lol

[jrocslider]

really great write up. i can finally get that stupid ac vent cup holder out of my car. +rep

[BattleRoyale]

one of the better cup holder fabs I've seen, very nice

[Skullavera]

Sweet how to. +++++1

[hijack3d]

Haha.. +1 for you. I'd do it but I could just see me forgetting that that exists and spill my drink into the back seat....

[stance]

happy 240 can you post pics of how it looks in the s14 thanks

[MtxWrl]

very good write up!

[CAPTAINNEO]

You guys can also try using those poker table cup holders, which can be easily found.

Or small pringles packages lol
http://www.bwmaonline.com/Pringles%20shrinking%20can.jpg

word. i found a poker site selling cup holders for hella cheap, including shipping. the site also listed the dimensions of each holder (diameter and depth).

[origin_s135]

awesome writeup, good looking out too! + for such clean work!

[S13Leprechaun]

OP.... will you marry me?

[EDacIouSX]

nice adn clean.

[The Chad]

Nice write-up bud!! I did this a while back on my 280ZX and it looked great, but i got sick of having big circles on my right forearm from long road trips, from laying my arm on it for too long.
--On my S14 i just used a 92-ish Maxima Automatic slide out cup-holder that fits in the double DIN slot. Works great...only with a short shifter though, otherwise your smack your drink in 1st, 3rd, and 5th :)

[silviavert]

bad ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BustedS13]

+rep, the ashtray hole is such a shitty cupholder.

[240srdet]

where can you get material such as leather or whatever that fabric you used.

is there a write up on sewing a shift boot?

[undesiredshoe]

where can you get material such as leather or whatever that fabric you used.

is there a write up on sewing a shift boot?

uh, he has already stated where he got the materials and there are multiple writeups on how to make a shift boot. Plus, there a probably thousands of site that will tell you how to sew.:fruit:

[sr20drifter1]

I received mine yesterday. The best interior upgrade for my car. It looks so nice. These things should go like small cakes. Great seller. Very good communication. Always on top of everything.
Thanks!

[DriftinAndy]

I was reading this thread on how good of a write up this was and how we need more like this...i plan on doing a write up on "How to clean your headlights from oxidation(yellow stuff) any one interested in the write up??http://a417.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/113/l_6cdea35d574f1275bf27c1fce0aedf40.jpg

[jackjack]

+rep, the ashtray hole is such a shitty cupholder.


HELL YEAH it is. i love spilling all over the place.

[woodchuck]

I was reading this thread on how good of a write up this was and how we need more like this...i plan on doing a write up on "How to clean your headlights from oxidation(yellow stuff) any one interested in the write up??

i think this link has cleaning tips.

http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=104459&highlight=zenki+headlights


+1 to happy240 for good stuff.

[HyperTek]

DriftinAndy, feel free to contribute your write ups to the diy thread
http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=173773

[happy240]

I received mine yesterday. The best interior upgrade for my car. It looks so nice. These things should go like small cakes. Great seller. Very good communication. Always on top of everything.
Thanks!


Thanx for the good words guys !

I have a few write ups to contribute, just got to get around to making them.

[azndoc]

Just saw this.

Damn great write up and idea.

Too bad I haven't had a armrest for years now.

[DriftinAndy]

Hey thanks for the info on the "CLEAN UP" thread,..i already cleaned the top headlight in the pic....i have an easier way to clean them WITHOUT the whole wet sanding step...

but yea thanks for the thread info

[RUTH'LESSDET]

nice thread is it possible to do it in suede?

[happy240]

nice thread is it possible to do it in suede?

you can do it in any material that you can get to stretch, if it doesnt stretch, then you will have creases, and folds, it wont look right .

[slidewaysmn]

Awesome write up! I always hate using the cup hold because it sucks shifting. I will have to try the one located in the rear of the glovebox!

[S13Leprechaun]

learn to shift with your elbow on your side...


awesome write up! i want one!

[carbonx240]

great write up and idea.i am impress. i definitly will try to do this.

[slidewaysmn]

learn to shift with your elbow on your side...


awesome write up! i want one!

That would be my wrist getting in the way, not my elbow.

[PuffinPuffer]

great writeup bro, keep up the good woooorkkkkkkk, i might be sending you mines in the future, +1!!

[happy240]

Thanx for all the good words guys, I just did an S14 lid too, its ALOT harder to do than the S13 lid, but looks just as good.


http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/4011/1000603kt2.jpg

[sd8ted]

Very clean man, mega props to you bro. Looking forward to the other write-ups you can contribute!

[low and slow]

Posting for the sake of subscribing, and to say this is an awesome thread :bigok:

[Helghast]

This is the best mod in this whole forum.

Lowering your car = Nope.
Engine swap = Nope.
Tuning your car to 500bhp = Nope.

Cup holders = Yep.