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My Build: A Center Console

• CATEGORIES: Biscuit This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

console_finalI made more progress this weekend on the jeep.  Most importantly, I planned and excecuted a design for my center console.

My center console stands between the front seats.  It’s purpose was two-fold:  1, provide a place for me to put power and ignition/kills switches, along with a start button, and, 2, provide a more accessible location for plugging  in my cell phone (which will sit, along with a few other items, in a compact water proof bike bag that I can easily remove).

Now you ask, and reasonably so, why install a start button and switches when you have a perfectly good key switch on the steering column?

Well, that’s a good question.  There’s only one answer. I always wanted a jeep that started with a simple push button.  So, I just had to get that urge out of my system.  Trust that the key solution would have been easier, as my wiring harness was all set up for a GM column.  This meant I had to remove the GM plugs from the harness, decode the wiring, and rewire the critical wires to the correct points in the center column.

With that said, here’s my console:

After considering a variety of designs, I came up with this simple post and console design.

Below are the steps for cutting out the back of the console.  I had an old hood that I have been using for some spare sheet metal.  Below is the paper template on the hood.  Also on the hood is the bent and drilled console.

console_template_2

Next, I cut out the metal using a grinder with a cutting wheel.  Then I used a paint remover on my grinder to remove the paint.

console_template

Next, I need to bend and drill the various pieces so that it would bolt onto the back of the console.

console_bending

Next I need to bend the two ends upward.

console_bending_2

Then, I had to carefully bend the two ends to create the box. Once that was done, I drilled holes for rivets and riveted the ends in place.  Finally, I drilled the holes so the back of the console could be bolted to the front.

console_wiring_complete

With the console box complete, I welded the post onto the base.  Here I’m testing the partially finished product with the wires.

console_testing

Happy with the base, I now had to weld the console onto the base.  Then, came the paint.

console_painted

console_wiring

With the paint dry, I installed the console and wired up the various electronics.

console_wiring

And here’s the final console again

console_image_1

console_final

 

One comment on “My Build: A Center Console

  1. Pingback: My Build: Where to put the CB? | eWillys

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