akman360
11-27-2008, 04:03 AM
Yesterday I decided to install an overhead console in my 94 ext. cab silverado, kind of following the instructions on http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/general-discussion/tech-articles2/88731-overhead-console-install-instructions.html
It went mostly well, but I thought i'd add a few things that could have helped me when doing it.
I picked my console up from a local junkyard for $20, plus $7 for new foam to cover it. My interior is red, and the console was grey. To get the old fabric off, I had to drill the plastic rivets holding the covered part to the black plastic. Next, to get the foam off, just start pulling on an inside edge, and it should peel off.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0087Medium.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0088Medium.jpg
Don't worry about getting the plastic really clean, the new foam should cover that up. To attach the new foam, I used a high temp hot glue gun and a paint stir stick. I put hot glue on the paint stir stick, and then spread it onto the plastic to get an even coat. This worked fine and it went on smooth. It takes patience to get it just right though.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0090Medium.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0091Medium.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0093Medium.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0094Medium.jpg
Next comes the hard part, the installation in the truck. On my console, I had to cut off the mounting brackets that the 2003 suburban that it was out of used. To take off the plastic, I used a cut off wheel on my grinder; this seemed to work fine. For more info on removing the mounting plastic, look at this link. http://www.lwm.cc/oh/
This guide doesn't really say to much about where to put the screws, but in my truck there was a ridge about six inches before the dome light. THIS is where you want to send your screws to anchor the console. Cut the headliner BEFORE you drill (I didn't and went through the roof), it'll save you a lot of time guessing where that support beam is.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0104.jpg
The blue circle is where I drilled through the roof, make sure to cut the headliner before you drill.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0106Medium.jpg
After you've drilled holes for the back, cut a hole at the front. You will find the same situation as the back, and once again, cut before drilling to find the frame.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0105Medium.jpg
After you have drilled your mounting holes, mount it. Hook up the map light wires (I wired mine to open with the doors, take out the dome light and you'll find the wires to solder to). Next, anchor it to the roof. I used 1" drywall screws, but make sure they aren't too long before you drill. I also attached mine by hand with a screwdriver to make sure they didn't puncture the roof.
And once this was done, I had a cool, useful console.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0113Large-1.jpg
It went mostly well, but I thought i'd add a few things that could have helped me when doing it.
I picked my console up from a local junkyard for $20, plus $7 for new foam to cover it. My interior is red, and the console was grey. To get the old fabric off, I had to drill the plastic rivets holding the covered part to the black plastic. Next, to get the foam off, just start pulling on an inside edge, and it should peel off.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0087Medium.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0088Medium.jpg
Don't worry about getting the plastic really clean, the new foam should cover that up. To attach the new foam, I used a high temp hot glue gun and a paint stir stick. I put hot glue on the paint stir stick, and then spread it onto the plastic to get an even coat. This worked fine and it went on smooth. It takes patience to get it just right though.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0090Medium.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0091Medium.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0093Medium.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0094Medium.jpg
Next comes the hard part, the installation in the truck. On my console, I had to cut off the mounting brackets that the 2003 suburban that it was out of used. To take off the plastic, I used a cut off wheel on my grinder; this seemed to work fine. For more info on removing the mounting plastic, look at this link. http://www.lwm.cc/oh/
This guide doesn't really say to much about where to put the screws, but in my truck there was a ridge about six inches before the dome light. THIS is where you want to send your screws to anchor the console. Cut the headliner BEFORE you drill (I didn't and went through the roof), it'll save you a lot of time guessing where that support beam is.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0104.jpg
The blue circle is where I drilled through the roof, make sure to cut the headliner before you drill.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0106Medium.jpg
After you've drilled holes for the back, cut a hole at the front. You will find the same situation as the back, and once again, cut before drilling to find the frame.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0105Medium.jpg
After you have drilled your mounting holes, mount it. Hook up the map light wires (I wired mine to open with the doors, take out the dome light and you'll find the wires to solder to). Next, anchor it to the roof. I used 1" drywall screws, but make sure they aren't too long before you drill. I also attached mine by hand with a screwdriver to make sure they didn't puncture the roof.
And once this was done, I had a cool, useful console.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j258/Ajokela/DSCF0113Large-1.jpg