Trying to install the lower console after some patching and painting. (It's red.) Wrestled it in with only a modicum of damage to what I had repaired. Sigh. Now bolting and...I've no idea what was held it at the front, up in the footwells. There is a rather large hole to accept...what, a sort of plastic flange that looks nicer than a bolt? Or is the bolt/washer to be tucked down into there?

There are only two attachment points that I've seen, one is a bolt/washer holding down the bracket that is under the rear ash tray, and self-tapping screws on either side of the console in the front footwells. These screws are about an inch long, maybe a tad longer, with a chrome decorative washer (ring) around them. They fit into the holes in the console on either side and are supposed to screw into brackets that protrude out from the transmission tunnel.

In practice, the two front screws are almost never where they should be, and once removed, are a PITA to get them screwed back into their holes, perhaps because the lower console warps over time. For this reason, many people just leave out the front screws. The front of the console can't really move once the middle section (where the radio/cig lighter/hazard switch) is installed. Not ideal, but the attachment of the lower console was always flaky at best.

Sometimes the two holes in the center console seem rather gouged out at the surface, but there is still enough "meat" underneath for the screw/decorative washer to grab onto.

-Bryan

Thanks, Bryan. Also answered my question about the wonky fit at the front. Rear screw is in and the warpage is clear with how the front screw holes do not line up at all. always something.