(updated 1/05/08)

If your elbows hurt from the hard "rubbermaid" console lids we have on our Vettes, why not pad it?

I bought one of the new leather console lids from Gene Culley, and although it is a lot nicer than the one that came on my Z06,

it still lacked padding.  

Here's what my console lid now looks like after I've added some foam under it:

Here's the foam I cut to fit:

It's about 3/8" thick and fairly dense (an old backpacking sleeping pad).

About 1/2" thick is about all that can be used, because the leather size is limited.

You will need an air upholstery stapler and a box of 1/4" long staples

I bought this one on ebay for about $30.  It shoots standard 3/8" wide upholstery staples and works just fine.

The staples can't be any longer than 1/4" because of the thickness of the plastic console lid frame.

To remove the console lid, all you need is a T15 Torx driver:

Remove the four Torx screws and take the lid to your workbench.

Remove the seven T15 Torx screws shown in the photo to remove the inner lid.

You will then see the leather cover stapled to the plastic frame with a LOT of upholstery staples.

Remove them with a screwdriver and the leather cover will lift off of the frame.

The cover is only glued in the area of the indentation for the emergency brake handle - 

I chose to leave that area glued.

Cut the foam pad to the shape of the console lid, then stretch the leather cover over the foam.

Keep it tight as you staple the cover to the frame.

There is enough material to stretch the cover over about a 1/2" of foam.

You might have a few staples showing if you don't stretch it enough, but once you get the inner lid back on, it will look OK.

The completed lid will not only look better, it will really make a difference in comfort:

The foam in the background is my first try at fitting it to the lid.

I cut it a bit too small the first time.

The padded console is a big improvement over the OEM elbow bruiser.