custom center console

[Drisco Z71]

well, i think i'm going to build a custom center console for my 97 so i made on out of cardboard to see how it would look. I like the design and im pretty sure i could fit maybe like a 7" screen it the top( any suggestions?). it will have 2 cupholders behind the cb and im not sure what else after that. anyone else have any suggestions of what else to include in it?

enough blabbering, here is the cardboard mock-up pics!
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t295/Driscoll_08/05-13-07_1805.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t295/Driscoll_08/05-13-07_1806.jpg
sorry there kind of dark.

[scrat_82]

that looks great and should be very nice. i would say add scanner with trunking to track the local police and fire calls if you are into that sort of thing. i put the cb, scanner and siren with light control in my 03 expedition.

[firerescue_one]

i have a console i built for my 88 chevy with arm rest and cup holders i'll sell for $85 plus shipping i try to get pic tonight it got tan carpet and brown arn rest. I had my radio and fire radio in the front part that comes down from the dash.

[Drisco Z71]

no thanks, im making my own. i finished up the cardboad mock-up and i am overall very happy with it. It is a bit shorter in the back to give the passengers in the back a little bit more head room. hopefully i can get some wood tomorrow. i was thinking 1/2 or 3/4 mdf, does this sound about right?

ill have a pic up in a min.

[nebraskaz71]

i'd keep the cardboarda thats pimp yo ;)

[Drisco Z71]

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t295/Driscoll_08/05-14-07_1836.jpg
Nebraska Z71- im rockin the cardboad tomorrow to see how i like it, and if theres anything i need to change.

[Old77]

That will look pretty cool! I'm thinking about doing something similar in my 95 as far as a custom center console! I figure it can't be any more expensive than a new center console from LMC and should turn out WAY cooler! :) I've never really worked with wood before, though, so it should be interesting;) My design will probably be similar to yours, though, with the exception of the CB:)

[thekl0wn]

From the mock-ups I've done in my truck, about the only thing different I'm going to do is go ahead and raise it where the fold-down armrests are, to follow that curve, but I'm also mounting a sub in my console, so I'm needing the airspace. Also, behind where you have the cup holes located, you may want a depressed area to hold crap.

[Dale Gribble]

dang wish i had an automatic sometimes. you got all that space to work with. i gotta worry bout leaving space for 2nd 4th and reverse

[vpogv]

Only thing I can think of is the placement of the screen at that angle. You will get a lot of glare during the daytime hours. Other than that I think it is a good shape.

[thekl0wn]

Only thing I can think of is the placement of the screen at that angle. You will get a lot of glare during the daytime hours. Other than that I think it is a good shape.

:word:

And I can't remember if it's a RC or EC, but another dilemma that I'm in is whether or not to go all the way to the back wall. I really, really want to, because I think it would tie everything in very well, but I also shoot a lot, and usually roll with a few shotguns behind the seat, so it'd hinder that. :dunno: I think I'm gonna get a tonneau this summer, and build some form of a safe to use to transport to solve this.

[Old77]

:word:

And I can't remember if it's a RC or EC, but another dilemma that I'm in is whether or not to go all the way to the back wall. I really, really want to, because I think it would tie everything in very well, but I also shoot a lot, and usually roll with a few shotguns behind the seat, so it'd hinder that. :dunno: I think I'm gonna get a tonneau this summer, and build some form of a safe to use to transport to solve this.

Either that or at the bottom corner that is against the back wall you build a notch in it so the guns would still fit against the back wall but to the common observer they'd never see the notch with the seats in their normal driving position and it'd look like the console goes clear back to the back wall.

[ExplodingTaco]

I am going to start building one for mine when I move (next month). however I am going to use mine for a carputer and a LCD screen that is fully retractable into the console so no one will know I have any electronics in the vehicle at first glance. My truck has been broken into 3 times in the last year so I am going to make it as hard as possible to get it lifted this time. And it should be crazy cool.

I saw this pic in this forum, maybe will give you some ideas. Not my truck:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/ByOs/My%20Burban/IMAG0149.jpg

[TurboJugend]

consoles like that are showpeices.. and you cant even use them to full functionality.. not to mention if someone looks in and sees a custom console like that, ohhh what does they guy have in there?

your best bet is to get a stock console and work with that. otherwise say goodbye to your stuff.

and like klown said, definitly raise the console up where the armrest is, because a) it looks goofy if you make it that way, and b) when your armrest is up its nice to put your arm on the console. Trust me

[Drisco Z71]

got the wood today, 1/2" mdf. cut out the sides and one of the top pieces. I'm very happy with it so far. i am also planning on putting a big storage bin twards the back with sone sort of a lid with an indented area, kind of the like NBS bench seat consoles.

i dont exactly live in a high crime area (middle of no-where) and i have left it unlocked, without tinted widows, and my cd player in plain sight and its never been broken into. Hell i cant even think of anyone right now that has had their stuff stolen before...

[g0dl355]

got the wood today, 1/2" mdf. cut out the sides and one of the top pieces. I'm very happy with it so far. i am also planning on putting a big storage bin twards the back with sone sort of a lid with an indented area, kind of the like NBS bench seat consoles.

i dont exactly live in a high crime area (middle of no-where) and i have left it unlocked, without tinted widows, and my cd player in plain sight and its never been broken into. Hell i cant even think of anyone right now that has had their stuff stolen before...

You can never be too careful
and 1/2"? damn thats gonna be solid :biggrin:

[Drisco Z71]

no you cant. i said i have, but any time i'm in town it gets locked, plus i have 20% tint now as well. It was either 1/2 or 3/4 and half seemed like the best choice.

today i got the top and sides glued together, and i also cut out the hole for my cb. decided not to angle it so it is flush mounted in.

[g0dl355]

sounds good
I ripped out my console today to find more wiring fun that one of the previous owners thought was a good idea.
Can you reach it when you are leaning back in the seat?
Thats one of the factors thats going into my design so I can operate my cd player without having to reach forward if I'm leaned back.
Love to see pics when you get that far.

[Drisco Z71]

sounds good
I ripped out my console today to find more wiring fun that one of the previous owners thought was a good idea.
Can you reach it when you are leaning back in the seat?
Thats one of the factors thats going into my design so I can operate my cd player without having to reach forward if I'm leaned back.
Love to see pics when you get that far.
i can always reach my stereo with the seat all the way back (i'm 6'2):dunno:

[Drisco Z71]

any one know a good place to get some speakerbox carpet for this thing?

[Diesel_boy]

Prices here are pretty good.
http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm?webpage_id=3&CATID=48&ObjectGroup_ID=826

BTW that console doesnt get in the way of your cupholder or anything?

[Old77]

I'd think it more get in the way of his auxillary plug ins and ash tray more than this cup holder.

[Drisco Z71]

no, it doesnt get in the way of the cupholders, but its darn close. ive never used the ashtray in my life so thats no biggey. and i am still working on the aux plug-ins.
i put a secret draweer in the back built into the panel so i can hide stuff in there. I need to replace the front brake pads so the console may be delayed a litle.

[STF]

That loooks good man hook it up

[Drisco Z71]

***UPDATE***
got around to taking some pics of the progress so far. all it really needs now is some carpet!
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t295/Driscoll_08/P1010034.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t295/Driscoll_08/P1010035.jpg
the secret compartment^
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t295/Driscoll_08/P1010036.jpg

[Old77]

need a place for cup holder too!:) Looks good man

[Tinkerer]

It looks good.

Does your CB have an external speaker? If not, it seems like it would be a little hard to hear the internal speaker if it is buried inside the console?

--Tinkerer

[Bradford]

Looks nice good idea on the storage drawer.

[Marcos]

Lookin good...

[Drisco Z71]

It looks good.

Does your CB have an external speaker? If not, it seems like it would be a little hard to hear the internal speaker if it is buried inside the console?

--Tinkerer
thats what i was thinking but its really not that bad, i was suprised.

and yes i still need the cupholders and i need one more piece cut. i was thinking for the cupholders maybe some 3" pvc pipe or something of the like. its raining today so i think i will go work on it since theres not much else to do.

[g0dl355]

you made a drawer lol

STASH POCKET!
I like it, I need to measure and start building mine, I can't decide if I want a cb AND my pa300 or one or the other.

[Drisco Z71]

got some more work done today, my plumber neighbor who were good friends with hooked me up with some 3 1/2" pvc and end caps for the cupholders. All i need is the carpet now but anyway heres the pics.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t295/Driscoll_08/05-29-07_1813.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t295/Driscoll_08/05-29-07_1814.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t295/Driscoll_08/05-29-07_1819.jpg

[BassBaller5]

thats some great work man. i love the drawer idea

[Tinkerer]

Drisco - you do good work. Do you have previous woodworking experience?

[Drisco Z71]

thanks for the complements guys. the only woodworking ive done is 3 years of high school shop class which was more like screw around and act like your building something. I think it turned out good considering i made all the cuts with an old sabre saw.

I heard that there is a certain paint that mimics the oem interior finish. has anyone ever used this before?

[thekl0wn]

SEM paint will give you a similar texture. You might also look into vinyl at your local fabric store.

[Old77]

Vinyl would probably work the best and wouldn't look out of place. I'd think it'd be hard to paint wood and make it look right. I know that I painted a wood console people would tell me, "Nice wood console!" :) and that's not really what you want:)

[Bradford]

If you go thru the same process with the wood as you would a body it will turn out nice.

Sanding/bondo/sanding/bondo/primer/paint/clear and it will sparkle.

Thats how min eis getting finished. With a couple of vynle arm rest and some airbrush work on the top before the clear.

[thekl0wn]

Yes, painting wood can turn out incredible, but it also depends on the treatment of the rest of the interior. Just finishing the center console with a sparkly paint job, and leaving everything else OEM would just look tacky, IMO. Leaving the rest OEM, I would treat it with vinyl, and possibly have an accent piece or two on the console painted, and choose a piece or two from the dash to smooth and paint same as the painted accent piece(s) on the console.

[Bradford]

Yes, painting wood can turn out incredible, but it also depends on the treatment of the rest of the interior. Just finishing the center console with a sparkly paint job, and leaving everything else OEM would just look tacky, IMO. Leaving the rest OEM, I would treat it with vinyl, and possibly have an accent piece or two on the console painted, and choose a piece or two from the dash to smooth and paint same as the painted accent piece(s) on the console.

That is very true. I was mainly just stating that it can be done and can come out damn nice.

[TigerEyz3]

Nice work Drisco Z71!!! :thumbup:
How are you planning to mount it to the truck? Would you mind sending the dimensions to me (I'd like to build one). Are you going to put anything in the angled area that meets the dash?

[slammed97]

looking good, kinda looks like mine, except i made mine outta fiberglass, what are u doing with the part above the c.b. where it slants up?

[spaulson]

That cb is tight...yeah I've been meaning to build a console but haven't got around to it. I built a sub box, and that took me about a month of on and off building. My dad's the second coming of Bob Vila so he should be helpful. Thanks for the inspiration, I think I'll post the progress on mine as I go. Oh, by the way...How much is that vinyl stuff? How does it attach to the box? I've done woodworking, but not upholstery stuff.

[Drisco Z71]

i was thinking maybe a 7" monitor is i can find one really cheap or else i will just put another storage compartment there. i

will try to get dimensions later

[Timmee]

Looks good. Just one question, though: Will you be rounding the corners, or leaving them at 90*?

[Drisco Z71]

i will probably round em off a little sanding them. i would router them but i don't have one.

[TigerEyz3]

How did you mount your CB? From the pics I can't tell if you've got internal mounting points or not. Also, how did you mount the box to the floor - assuming it's mounted.

[Drisco Z71]

well the hole for the cb was tight enough for now but i will put soemthing on the bottom soon. i still need to figure out how im going to mount it as well.

[dubthang]

dont spray paint directly onto the mdf. itll swell, get furry, and youll be pissed at yourself for doing it. if you want to paint it, bondo or glass it first. you can even you a wood sealer as well. what ever you do, youll have to sand it plenty after. carpet is super easy if you know what you are doing.

you can use brads and a brad hammer, or a staple gun to carpet it. cut the carpet oversized, and tack it in place (on the inside of the console) on one side first then pull it wicked tight over the top of the console over to the other side and tack it again. never permenantly brad in an entire side before you get it all covered in case you have to make adjustments. make a small hole and relief cuts in your cup holders to push the carpet through, and then brad the hell out of it on the sides. done.

hope this helps a little. i am a furniture builder if you are curious as to how i know this. -seth

[Drisco Z71]

dont spray paint directly onto the mdf. itll swell, get furry, and youll be pissed at yourself for doing it. if you want to paint it, bondo or glass it first. you can even you a wood sealer as well. what ever you do, youll have to sand it plenty after. carpet is super easy if you know what you are doing.

you can use brads and a brad hammer, or a staple gun to carpet it. cut the carpet oversized, and tack it in place (on the inside of the console) on one side first then pull it wicked tight over the top of the console over to the other side and tack it again. never permenantly brad in an entire side before you get it all covered in case you have to make adjustments. make a small hole and relief cuts in your cup holders to push the carpet through, and then brad the hell out of it on the sides. done.

hope this helps a little. i am a furniture builder if you are curious as to how i know this. -seth
thanks for the info, thats will be very helpful when i get some carpet.

[Old77]

dont spray paint directly onto the mdf. itll swell, get furry, and youll be pissed at yourself for doing it. if you want to paint it, bondo or glass it first. you can even you a wood sealer as well. what ever you do, youll have to sand it plenty after. carpet is super easy if you know what you are doing.

you can use brads and a brad hammer, or a staple gun to carpet it. cut the carpet oversized, and tack it in place (on the inside of the console) on one side first then pull it wicked tight over the top of the console over to the other side and tack it again. never permenantly brad in an entire side before you get it all covered in case you have to make adjustments. make a small hole and relief cuts in your cup holders to push the carpet through, and then brad the hell out of it on the sides. done.

hope this helps a little. i am a furniture builder if you are curious as to how i know this. -seth

awesome post!!! I'm getting ready to start designing a center console for my 95 and this will definitely come in handy!!! It'll be my first carpet job!! :)

[dubthang]

thanks for the compliments on the post. building anything shouldnt be a scary undertaking. that being said, remember think thrice, measure twice, cut once. while i havent built a console myself, i could probably walk anybody through it, or help with tricky situations, material choice, etc. feel free to pm me or post up questions on here. -seth

[20"silverado]

Are you putting a sub in there?

[blazenlo95]

dont spray paint directly onto the mdf.
:word: When I made my sub box I brushed on a couple layers of fiberglass resin and then a whole lot of sanding.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/blazenlo/Picture_005.jpg

[Drisco Z71]

Are you putting a sub in there?
nope!

[DirtyGmc]

i primed and painted my CB box and center console's inside bin/pocket and neither of them swelled and got fuzzy. The only problem was It absorbed the first couple light coats of primer. Ive had my custom console in there for almost a year and no swelling...

But Drisco, that console looks badass. Im lovin it. I should have made mine go up to the console like that, and put my CB in it like you did. Maybe another winter project if anyone wants to buy mine.

[dubthang]

i primed and painted my CB box and center console's inside bin/pocket and neither of them swelled and got fuzzy. The only problem was It absorbed the first couple light coats of primer. Ive had my custom console in there for almost a year and no swelling...


i bet it did get a little fuzzy but you didnt notice it because you shot it first with primer. primer doesnt create the smoothest of surfaces. it also matters what kind of mdf you used. long story short, paints are made with different types of bases (water, laquer, etc). certain ones will react worse than others. by priming it, you sealed the mdf. that is why it hasnt swelled on you. i live in nh where the humidity is awful. so i always take that into consideration when i build something. congrats on your non-swelling console though. you obviously did a good job. -seth

[DirtyGmc]

i bet it did get a little fuzzy but you didnt notice it because you shot it first with primer. primer doesnt create the smoothest of surfaces. it also matters what kind of mdf you used. long story short, paints are made with different types of bases (water, laquer, etc). certain ones will react worse than others. by priming it, you sealed the mdf.
Thats what im thinking happened. I just used regular krylon primer on it. Ill admit, i was kind of suspicious myself when i was spraying it. The first time i figured the inside box only took 15 minutes to make and if the paint were to react with it i can always make another one real quick.

I guess you can say, test it on a scrap piece before committing.

[Drisco Z71]

heres the dimensions for those interested. these are just general measurements to give you an idea of the size. also, mine does not cover up the back mounting bracket for the old console because i wanted the extra legroom in the back. it would need to be 4-6" longer to cover that up. all numbers are in inches.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t295/Driscoll_08/consoledimensions.jpg

[danny7481]

Drisco, do you have any pic of your console finished and installed, if you have gotton done that is. very nice BTW, does the part behind the cupholders open up? and what are you putting in front of the cupholders?

[stoneyZ71]

drisco, i'm goin with everyone else on this one that is a very classy console i been lookin around for bucket seats for my '93 ecsb and was just gonna buy a stock console but now that i've seen this if you don't mind i might steal your idea. might change up the back a lil bit tho think i'd like to make the storage compartment a lil bit smaller and see if i'd be able to fit either 1 speaker (not sub already got 2 12's under rear seat) right at the bottom or fab it up so i can fit 2 speakers angling outward but then again like most projects i have no idea what it will look like till i'm done. i'm definitely gonna give it a shot won't be for about a month tho gotta go out to vegas in 2weeks for hockey tourney. i'll post some pics soon as i start it up and see what you guys think.

[FastBlak]

so whats the status on this console? It looks sweet so far. What are you gonna end up covering it with? looks awesome