Anyone ever rebuilt or repaired an ashtray?

[jawn101]

I've got the correct (and, I understand, unavailable) style early ashtray with the ridged sliding door in #2100, but just yesterday broke the tab off inside by accident.

Can I get a late style/Porsche crossover one off eBay and do a guts swap? Anyone done this before?

[Patrick C]

To eliminate confusion, the Porsche ashtray was the early ashtray. As shown:

http://m.ebay.com/itm/PORSCHE-Pre-1985-5-924-944-951-Center-Console-Ashtray-BLACK-OEM-/262209418717?nav=SEARCH

The later ash tray was from a TVR. The current ashtrays available are sourced from Porsche but are different from the early trays.

This is the tray the vendors source now:
http://m.ebay.com/itm/PORSCHE-924S-944-ASHTRAY-ASH-TRAY-OEM-/291655723330?nav=SEARCH

[jawn101]

The one I am talking about can be seen here:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/Bricklin2264/DeLorean%206080/aba96378.jpg

[Chris 16409]

You should be able to get one of the early Porsche ashtrays and transfer the metal bottom to you top. I've disassembled several of these things. It seems like the bottoms are interchangeable.

[jawn101]

Thanks, Chris. I found a good looking one on eBay and will give this a try. It's tough to gauge the condition of the insides from a lot of those listings as the door only opens so far. I figure the worst thing that happens is maybe I can drill out the rivet holding the tab to both trays and just swap that piece over? Time will tell, but I really want to keep the style of cover/door that came in my car so it's worth the effort.

[Patrick C]

The one I am talking about can be seen here:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/Bricklin2264/DeLorean%206080/aba96378.jpg

That's the TVR ash tray that is in most DeLoreans. The top *should* be interchangeable with the Porsche ashtrays you see on eBay. Might be worth sandblasting and repainting with an enamel paint, then putting the top on.

[jawn101]

That's the TVR ash tray that is in most DeLoreans. The top *should* be interchangeable with the Porsche ashtrays you see on eBay. Might be worth sandblasting and repainting with an enamel paint, then putting the top on.

Hmm, not a bad idea to protect the inside. I'll see what kind of condition the tub is in on the replacement when it arrives - my original one was beautiful, I don't think the POs ever put so much as a handful of change in it, much less any smoking materials. Sucks that it broke. I don't know if I have access to any sandblasting cabinets anywhere, but I might know a guy....

[Patrick C]

That's the TVR ash tray that is in most DeLoreans. The top *should* be interchangeable with the Porsche ashtrays you see on eBay. Might be worth sandblasting and repainting with an enamel paint, then putting the top on.

Check out the interior of this 1985 TVR for the ash tray:

http://cdn.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/139199/139199_Interior_Web.jpg

[David T]

The ashtray is pretty useless, especially if you don't smoke. I have seen where owners made use of the spot for garage remotes, switches, etc. Maybe an inductive recharger for your cell phone?

[jawn101]

Check out the interior of this 1985 TVR for the ash tray:

http://cdn.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/139199/139199_Interior_Web.jpg

Awesome pic! I had never heard this and it looks great in there. I got a nice condition Porsche one so that if my innards swap fails, I at least have a decent looking OEM-ish one I can use while I search for another option.

Incidentally, I love the dual door switches on the side of the TVR dashboard. Very familiar cheapskate engineering. :)


The ashtray is pretty useless, especially if you don't smoke. I have seen where owners made use of the spot for garage remotes, switches, etc. Maybe an inductive recharger for your cell phone?

Or if you just want to keep the character of the car... I have an iPod velcroed to the underside of it.

[vwdmc16]

Ive rebuilt mine Jon, I took it totally apart. sandblasted and repainted with SEM black. I trimmed a bit inside too so I could wedge my garage door remote in there, It works great! to be honest ive never liked your car's tray style, the lid felt thinner and cheap. Porsche style is best style.

[jawn101]

That's actually how I broke the tab - getting in there to replace my garage door opener battery. I'll definitely see how the Porsche one looks in place as is before I go ripping into either of them :)

[john 05141]

I removed the top also, inserted a black rubber liner inside.It was used to hold my phone but that does not fit anymore nowadays, so it also houses my remote. Let's face it some extra storage in the Delorean is a welcome extra. I will post a picture later.


Jan

[Bitsyncmaster]

That's the TVR ash tray that is in most DeLoreans. The top *should* be interchangeable with the Porsche ashtrays you see on eBay. Might be worth sandblasting and repainting with an enamel paint, then putting the top on.

Funny the TVR was bought up. I had never heard of these cars until someone that sells parts contacted me to use my RPM relay.

[jawn101]

Got my replacement Porsche ashtray today from the eBay seller. It's actually way cleaner than it was in the images - I think it's NOS, which is great (especially for 40% of what DMCH charges). The design of the sliding door is much nicer than the TVR one, you guys are right. I have to drop it in the console and see if the change in look bothers me any but I don't think it will. Might just keep it as-is.