‘59-‘60 ashtray door alignment

[David Greenburg]

I was out on a little New Yea’s Eve cruise this afternoon and reminded of one of those little, but annoying things that has bothered me for some time.  I’ve spent a lot of time staring at ‘59 and ‘60 dashboards over the years, and have noticed that on many, including the ones I’ve owned, the driver’s ashtray door is misaligned (see pic).  Has anyone else noticed this, and more importantly, been able to address it?   

[59-in-pieces]

David,
Since you have been a bit less charitable to me in some of your prior comments, have you tried taking the mechanism apart to see just what makes it work - and there are a bunch of stuff - technical term - that cause that small door to function properly. LOL who'da thunk.

I don't want to go all OCD on you, but there are a number of springs, pivots, screws, bushings, and mounting clips.

Tell me, do the lights work in your ash receivers - if they don't, that drives me nuts when it happens and I don't even smoke - well not quite true when it comes to GR8 Cuban cigars.

Have fun,
Steve B.

[David Greenburg]

Steve:

Not sure what you mean by less charitable, unless you are confusing a warped sense of humor with a lack of charity.  I know there's a bunch of stuff in there, although I haven't taken it apart yet.  But before I went in and lost or broke something, I was hoping that someone more OCD than myself (I wont name names) might have already been down that road.  My ash receiver lights do work, as they nicely highlight the crusty interior of the ashtray when I'm trying to charge my phone. (No, I have not detailed my ashtrays).     

[59-in-pieces]

David,
It's a new year - here are some pics that might help that focus on the key areas.
Any one or combination of items could be causing the misalignment - but easy to fix - unless the springs are bent or weak or the grommets or rubber stops are gonzo or rotted - then replacement or tweak surgery or fabrication.

Have fun - from the OCD guy (he who's name may not be spoken),
Steve B.

[Bobby B]

Steve:
My ash receiver lights do work, as they nicely highlight the crusty interior of the ashtray when I'm trying to charge my phone. (No, I have not detailed my ashtrays).   

Because I never smoked, I've taken all the ashtray inserts out of every car and had them re-plated. Cheap to do, and adds a nice clean touch regarding detail.
                            Bobby

[David Greenburg]

Thanks, Steve. I just knew you’d have pictures! 

That’s a neat idea, Bobby. Probably costs next to nothing if you’re getting other things plated

[Bobby B]

That’s a neat idea, Bobby. Probably costs next to nothing if you’re getting other things plated

Correct, a few dollars. It's just a galvanized coating.
                                              Bobby

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Bobby,
I think those ash trays are flash chromed SS. Does anyone even do galvanize anymore?? Isn't that an EPA no-no??
Bob

[Bobby B]

Bobby,
I think those ash trays are flash chromed SS. Does anyone even do galvanize anymore?? Isn't that an EPA no-no??
Bob

Bob,
Hi. My plater does all my Nuts, Bolts, and Misc. parts.  Zinc/Phospate, Silver, Nickel, Copper, Manganese, Cad, Black Oxide, etc. There are some advantages to Living in the Non-Tree Hugging Rust Belt. I think you guys are stuck in Spray Chrome Hell on the Left Coast .......
                                                 Bobby

[59-in-pieces]

Bobby,
How true you are about the west coast - specifically Calif.
The State of fruits and nuts and quickly going Socialistic - making it harder to maintain our classic beauties..
Would move but too old and too slow - it sucks.

David,
Forgot - see old above - here is a pic of the pointed rubber bumpers that help square up the ash receiver doors - 2 each per door, the other 2 are for the glove box door.

Have fun,
Steve B.

[David Greenburg]

Steve:

I guess we can go all OCD on this.  My car has small flat cylindrical bumpers for the ashtray instead of the truncated conical style in your picture that do look much like the glovebox bumpers. However, the bumpers are not the source of my alignment problem. 

[David Greenburg]

I forgot to attach a pic of the bumpers.

[gkhashem]

This is how mine look on a car that had 39975 miles on purchase 

I have heard from some CLC who know more than I do about these, even the fancy restored cars do not look right.

[59-in-pieces]

David,
I don't know nuth'n bout birth'n no babies or rubber bumpers on 60's.
Maybe they are different from a 59 - the examples I used are relative to a 59, not its younger small finned brother.
Maybe the larger bumper is over compensating for some thing - like smaller fins - I d'know - just a 60's thing.

Just for giggles - are there 2 bumpers for each door, and are they all the same for both ash receiver doors.

Have fun,
Steve B.

[gkhashem]

Steve I have to disagree about your bumpers that you show.

Mine are flat like David's, my car is pretty original. Built in June 1959 though.

They maybe changed them but my 1959 has 2 bumper on each door and are FLAT!!!

Note image 1 and you can see back side of one of them

[Cadman-iac]

I don't know how yours attach to the dash, but I had that same problem with my 56. Most of the problem was just in how it was positioned before the screws were tightened.
Funny thing about the ashtrays on the 56's, I have 3 of the  dash  assemblies, and 2 of them have dual rubber bumpers for each ashtray at the top, the 3rd dash one has just one bumper per ashtray. It doesn't have the holes for the second bumpers.

[59-in-pieces]

David, George, Richard,

Without any intent to brag - I have 3 59 Eldo Biarritz cars with 2 dash shells (up in the garage rafters) - 4 with air and 1 without air (if that would have made a difference) - but all had the pointy type bumpers in both holes or one left in one hole at the time I bought them, and/or before restoring.

Now you are going to make me do research, and perhaps as suggested by George it's a production timing issue.
Who knew such a small thing would be changed and go so long without notice, not this guy.
You shake my confidence, but we should find out what's up with this (ignorance surely may be bliss).
Anybody have more input.

Have fun,
Steve B.

[gkhashem]

I have an idea, Jon Shapiro has an original 1958.

Maybe Jon can look at his 1958, if they look like yours Steve then a production change was the answer.

In fact, I reread your post Steve and decided to also look at the glove box. Those are rounded! Now no one cannot be 100% certain unless they are the original owner, but I would bet a $1,000,000 this car is the real deal not touched for the most part.

The odometer a week or so after purchase in 9/2014

[gkhashem]

Steve please do not jump off a building, but I think you may have your confidence shaken. 

Jon just sent me some photos of his 1958 Sedan Deville ashtray and glove box.

They look like mine and David's 1960.

So I have to say, unless its an Eldorado thing the bumpers are flat in the ashtray and round on the glove box, but probably not since David has an Eldorado Seville.

[Jon S]

Yup - my ash tray bumpers are flat and the glove box ones have rounded heads. Never replaced since new: