Thread: Custom Center Console

Ok, here's the template/side piece that I cut to sit flush against the dash and heater box and what not. It was a pain in the *** to do, and it looks too big, so I'lll probably scrap it. I suppose I could mount some speakers to the sides or I could cut holes and flush mouth the fronts of the HD radio reciever and sirius reciever or whatever, but I'm just gonna keep it simple for now, or i'll never get away from this damn console.

I LOVE it!!! leave it just the way it is...maybe swap the textures or colors or something to make it match more but otherwise leave it just like that. I would not put speakers there unless you wanted to do a down-firing woofer or something...I would flush-mount something there and maybe "glow" it up a little, I don' t know. Or, you could put some pop-out panels on both sides and make storage compartments. I say, let it go and use it!

You are saying you like the flush mount right?

To me, I though it just looked plain, but maybe it would look too bad if it was covered in vinyl or painted to match. There's also going to be some extra space between the monitor and the dash, so I'd have to add some wood there and maybe something to fill that space, like cigarette lighter adapters or something similar becuase if I go flush like that, then I cover the cigaretter lighters in the dash. I'm glad there's at least some positive feedback well actually my gf prefers this too. I just get this feeling my feet will feel closterophobic LOL

I know it's ultimately my choice and what "I" like, but If anyone else if viewing, what do you think?

Thinking about it some more I got another idea. I could always use the current center console (one that doesn't reach the dash) and cover in white vinyl or paint white, then make side panels comes from the back end of the console runs along the side and extends to the dash and wrap that in gray vinyl or paint gray. and attach it with some sort of push pins or velcro or screw it into the side from the inside so I can alway take if off to access the back of the LCD and radio wiring easier. Going with that idea, I could also cut away a substantial portion of the side of the current center console to save weight and access wiring and the computer components easier. Plus, it will give it a two-tone look and will match my white/gray seats. I'm liking this.....

what you could do, just an idea, if you are worried about it being to bulky, use what you made out of the MDF to mold a console out of pure fiberglass, leave the wood for your audio rack to add support, but as far as the screen mount and sides just use fiberglass, 3 or 4 layers should do nicely, cover the whole thing in masking tape and fiberglass over it then remove the MDF after its nice and solid...

I like the first one you had..... I do not like the one that closes that gap at all. I think you should use that space for maybe 2 cup holders and a tray to hold loose change and what not.

I at some point tried to build a console that was one big long piece and I also hated that it closed the gap. Eventually I decided to go with 2 seperate units. One in the front (original console, gutted to hold all the little electronics) and one in the back (second console which holds the PC).

Just for piece of mind and curiousity I went ahead and spent yet more time on my center console. I closed the gaps some more to see how the unit would look all around. it's pretty rough and will need some sanding and more molding, but here's the picture. Good thing is, I still have the old side panels for the smaller housing, so I can change it back.

This baby is getting pretty heavy, so if I do decide to go this route, i'm gonna have to find some way to lose wieght. I like david's idea of using the MDF as a mold and somehow doing a fiberglass shell. If course i'll need keep some areas with mdf to mouth the rack rails. Or just cut away large parts of the wood so make it a frame.

Its getting heavy because your using the thickest MDF they sell! Use thinner sheets and simply use reinforcement beams to make it solid. As you can see I used thin MDF. As long as it is reinforced along the right areas, it should be just as strong. Mine doesnt wiggle or jiggle and is like half the weight. Mind you it is still heavy, but not as heavy as using the thickness your using.

I'm using 1/2" MDF. Yesterday I went out and bought some 2'x4' sheets of 1/4" MDF and traced the sides of my center console to them. I didn't cut it out yet, but now I at least have a copy of the side piece. The reason? I'm going ahead and just throwing fiberglass on my console as-is and if I mess it up or it is too heavy, I have a template drawn on those 1/4 sheets. Here's the start of it, wrapped the lower section with speaker grill cloth and started adding resin.