Making Cup Holders that mount to a bench seat?! Just hold it between your knees.

[VitaMeVas]

Yes.... cup holders. The nitrous infused 426 Hemi gem that screams, "I'M A MAN!!!! But could you hold this for me?"

I've looked through the Forum and searched on different ways to put cupholders in my mopar. Well, here's one more spin. I have a 68 Plymouth Satellite with a split front bench seat. I wanted a cupholder that wouldn't stand out too much, get in the way, and could be removed easily if it turned out stupid. I considered the famous 1990s hump-style plastic Walmart version, but it looks cheap and I didn't want to screw it to the floor. I also want to make a center console someday but am working on some electronics inside the dash first. So here's what I decided on from Amazon.

I choose the metal version because I thought they'd last longer and kinda matched my airplane style seat belt buckles when closed. Yes.....they close up when not in use.

Here's a teaser pic to see if you want to keep scrolling.

Interested? Keep going. Not for you .... move along. But I did try to kill myself with a cheapo Harbor Freight bending metal brake.... so that maybe worth the read.

 

[WileERobby]

Uhhh... we used these back in the day

 

[Paul_G]

Your on to something. That could be worth while investment if you make it and sell them.

 

[YY1]

We take "hold my beer" very seriously around here.


I used rack mount equipment brackets and 3" PVC couplers.

 

[VitaMeVas]

Really?! You're gonna read a thread on cup holders?! Ok then.

First off, I started with a scrap piece of aluminum (1/8" thick I think). I didn't want to paint it or have it rust. I drew out my sketch and 'voila'.

Then I cut it out with a jigsaw and a metal cutting blade. Flap disc'd the rough spots, fine tuned it with a metal file ... and...

Remember kids ... it's important to have a clean working space. So just shove all that other crap over and out of the way. Organization is KEY!!

 

[VitaMeVas]

Now for the metal bending. My uncle gave me a Harbor Freight 30" bench top mount metal brake for simple projects. He mounted the brake to a piece of dark wood that also held the bracing metal piece that you clamp down. I'm sure I've never used it correctly and today was no different. I set up the contraption on my clean working space and clamped it down with a couple of quick release clamps on each side. Then I set my bracket where I wanted my approximate 90 degree bend and clamped down the metal brace with 2 very cheap 3" C-clamps. **side note: these particular c-clamps were made in China from a metal alloy similar to balsa wood... details to follow**

Now, it turns out that 1/8" aluminum is actually very hard to bend in this manner. So I decided to go slow and made small bends a little at a time. However, since I only had 2 quick-release clamps holding it from the sides ... it wanted to pull off the bench with my pulling. So I did what any red blooded American would do. I pulled up my basketball shorts, straightened out my untucked flannel shirt, made sure my flip flops were securely fastened and stood up on the bench. I strategically kept my flip flops on the wooden mount and slowly pushed the metal brake away from me until I got the piece bent to not-quite-90-degrees. Ta-da!

I will admit I didn't have my safety glasses on, but safety be damned!!

Now for a test fit on the bench seat. It just so happens to be out of the car because I'm working on wiring in a Dakota Digital dash cluster right now. I pulled the 3 hog-rings on the center of the bench seat and clamped it in place.

It was getting closer. Here's a side view.

I wanted it bent a little closer to the seat ... so back to the metal brake .... or is it break??

 

[YY1]

Nice improvised brake.

Do the arms adjust/lock for different diameter beverage vessels (or just spring tighter)?

 

[VitaMeVas]

So here's where things got interesting. I didn't want to bend the aluminum in the exact same spot because I've had thicker aluminum snap under that pressure. And since I didn't have my safety net I decided to flip the piece of aluminum around and bend the wider side in a similar manner, but just a 1/2" away from my first bend. I got back up on the bench and used my flip flops to scoot the drill bits, wire fragments, open pocket knives, etc... out of the way. It started to bend correctly just like the first time when BOOM!!! Everything went flying. My first thought was, "Oh my God, I shot my eye out!"
I was still standing on the bench and the brake was still there with me, but the metal brace had flown across the garage because my 3" c-claps had broken. I counted my fingers and toes..... made sure all my joints still moved ....then reassembled the whole mess with my larger c-clamps that were forged from the heat of a dying star. That's where I also got my 'made in china' Mjolnir. Here's my setup for Take #2.

I got right back up on that bench and went at it again. This time the only moaning was coming from me. It bent a bit further and I went back to check the fitment.

It looked pretty close. So I drilled two 1/4" holes for mounts and tightened it all down. I did notice that the 1/4" bolt heads were 'eating' into the aluminum as I tightened them, so I placed a couple 1/4 washers in place later to help that.

After I knew where my bracket was landing, I replaced 2 of the 3 hog rings back on the seat. I left the middle one out so the aluminum bracket wouldn't teeter on it.

Then I shot a pic of approximate measurements in case any else wants to make a bracket similar. The smaller side was 4 1/2" wide and the larger side was 7 3/8". The total length of the aluminum before bending was around 7-8".

 

[VitaMeVas]

Nice improvised brake.

Do the arms adjust/lock for different diameter beverage vessels (or just spring tighter)?

First... read the next thread before asking me for advise. Second... the cup holders have two pieces that make the upper 'C' to hold the drink. There are no springs. It's just metal scraping metal friction for adjustment. At largest, it held my ozark coffee mug and at smallest would do fine for a can or any similar bottled beverage. If you're drinking the 'BIG GULP' ... you make want to make something that mounts to a cross member and maybe check your fasting blood sugars periodically. **no judgement.... just sarcasm** Thanks for the support.

 

[Big Bad Dad]

Nice. But, this works for a can of coke.. or a beer.

 

[VitaMeVas]

Next I found the center of the bracket (off the seat) and figured out how I could mount the cup holders so you wouldn't actually 'see' the bracket. Then I drilled 8 mounting holes and made a trip to the local Ace Hardware. I used machine screws with the beveled (countersink) in 8-32 thread since I had some nylon locking nuts I was planning to use. If you don't use the beveled head screws (and yes the Amazon kit did come with 8 regular screws in about a 6-32 size) I'm not sure that the cup holder would fold up nicely. You can see the stainless steel machine screws I got. They were 5/8" long but 1/2" would've been plenty.

Then I assembled it all loosely, made sure it looked square and tightened it all down with nylon lock nuts. I used the flap disc on my angle grinder to take off the extra length of screw and let it cool down.

Then I covered the back of the nuts in that paint on electrical tape stuff. Just to keep it from digging into my beautiful seat covers. Left it to dry, had supper with my family, avoided any questions about recent death experiences and then mounted it up.

 

[VitaMeVas]

Nice. But, this works for a can of coke.. or a beer.

View attachment 1406489

Very true, but I use an insulated coffee mug. Gorilla tape?! I'm not that rich .... got all my money tied up in a couple cartons of eggs right now.

**for those of you not in January of 2023 ....eggs are expensive right now. Hell... everything's expensive right now**

 

[VitaMeVas]

And the finale! Two front bench semi-adjustable cup holders when closed.

And when holding my ozark coffee cup and a regular bottle of water.

When I sit in the drivers seat it is close to my calf, but that's only if I pull my heels way back. Normally I drive with my knees extended to touch the pedal and I don't think it'll be in the way then. And yes....I'm sure my Amazon cup holders will fall apart and I'll be working out something else later or buying some more. But for now, I'm happy. I'll post again when I get the bench back in the car.

Thanks for your time and any laughs you had at my expense. Now bring on the trolls!!!

 

[Basket case]

guess these went out of style?

 

[toolmanmike]

And the finale! Two front bench semi-adjustable cup holders when closed.
View attachment 1406493

And when holding my ozark coffee cup and a regular bottle of water.
View attachment 1406494

When I sit in the drivers seat it is close to my calf, but that's only if I pull my heels way back. Normally I drive with my knees extended to touch the pedal and I don't think it'll be in the way then. And yes....I'm sure my Amazon cup holders will fall apart and I'll be working out something else later or buying some more. But for now, I'm happy. I'll post again when I get the bench back in the car.

Thanks for your time and any laughs you had at my expense. Now bring on the trolls!!!

Nice!

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Well done... A spill proof place to keep your beer.... After all, a drinking driver is a relaxed driver....

 

[dadsbee]

I guess we are all getting older. It's been a LONG time since I could pull the rum bottle out of the drivers air vent, pour into my 10 oz Pepsi bottle, but the cap back on the rum and return it, put my thumb over the bottle and give it a tip to stir and shift into third at the same time! All while steering with my knee...

 

[hqtrqd68]

This was very entertaining! Thanks for the laughs

 

[BigFlo]

Entertaining read, lol. Got me wondering if this will interfere with 2nd and 4th gears on my bench seat 4 spd!

 

[khryslerkid]

And if you don't have Vita's talent...

Bench Seat Cruiser Console