Interior Mod: Custom Cupholder
 

Trying to juggle a beverage while driving my 80 manual flareside sucked. Since I needed to replace my seat anyway, I decided to add a custom cupholder to it. It was super easy to do and it works awesomely.

Here's how:

First get a seat from the junkyard with a flipdown armrest (curious dog optional):
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2584/...32ce73f7_o.jpg

Get a little coping saw, or some cutters or something that will cut ABS plastic and some sandpaper:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2520/...a871e86e_o.jpg

Pick up a simple cupholder. This one was $3 at walmart.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/...2274abcc_o.jpg

Cut off how ever much of the cupholder tray thing you dont want. If you have room and/or want to, you could keep the whole thing. I just wanted the cupholder.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2640/...45e4f1a9_o.jpg

If you care about the open hole you'll have at the back (I did), get a small sheet of ABS plastic ($1 from Tap Plastics), trace the height of the hole, and cut a rectangular backer piece.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/...2559c936_o.jpg

Glue the piece of sheet to the back of the cupholder with ABS cement (got this at home depot).
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3469/...dc710b8b_o.jpg

Add a little bondo and sand it down to make a smooth transition from your cupholder piece to your patch piece.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/...2b888428_o.jpg

Paint the whole thing. I like this paint for textured plastic.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/...abd3512e_o.jpg

Flip down your arm rest, place the cupholder where you want it and trace around it with chalk.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2470/...98810307_o.jpg

Draw another line about 1/2" or so inside the tracing. This will be your cut line and will help make a snug fit for the cupholder inside the foam. Cut the fabric into flaps. KEEP THE FLAPS as you will glue them inside the hole to make a more finished look. Do not cut the flaps off.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3533/...f917f6e0_o.jpg

Flip the fabric flaps back and dig out the foam. (In my pic, the left and right flaps are too short to fold out of the way so i had to dig under them. Not hard though.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3493/...c8550b3f_o.jpg

When the foam is clear from the hole, use spray adhesive to glue the fabric flaps inside to the walls of the cut foam.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3539/...08a9ab38_o.jpg

When the glue dries, push the new cupolder into the foam. You can glue it in there if you like but I found that the fit was snug enough that i didnt need to.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3506/...338bda0d_o.jpg

That's it! It flips up and hides away when not in use. Super handy!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2577/...28fb1bff_o.jpg

Great work em! Trucks looking great.

Great work. I have the same type of bench, where the armrest goes into the seat back. I hate it!!

thanks guys! yeah i figured i might as well try to make that seat and armrest really useful. It's already been worth the effort. :)

Great write up, points for you.

genius!! i had the prob in my old mitsu pick up

cool, guys, thanks! i hope it's a useful solution to some folks. it makes me happy every time i get in my truck and have someplace to put my coke or coffee. :)

Nice mod! Very clean. Looks a lot nicer than using some clip-on contraption.

I have a question. It looks to me like the arm rest will no longer go all the way back up is that true??

hey <b>redneck</b> that must just be a trick of the light in the photo. The arm rest totally flips up flat to its original position.