Upholstering consoles - Nov 30, 2009

I had anticipated doing the consoles very late in the process but discovered that to insure better fitment of all the panels and pieces, I needed to proceed with the consoles at this juncture. Originally I had planned on putting most of my switches and controls up in the overhead console. But after constructing the actual face for the console and mounting everything, I didn’t like the layout or the look that well. So I altered my plan and decided to move everything except the CD player and speakers out of the overhead console and put everything in a center (transmission tunnel) console. This console will sit over the forward part of the existing transmission tunnel. And since I want the tunnel to be removable, I must design the console so that it can be taken off the top of the tunnel and moved to the side in order to remove the trans. tunnel.

Photo # 1 - I begin by making a box from 3/8" press board. I cut the bottom of the box to match the shape of the top of the trans tunnel, which is bit irregular. This center console will house the light switch, wiper switch, wiper delay control, electric window switches, cruise controls, and three toggle switches for various electrical items. That is a lot to fit into a rather small area so I spent a good deal of time planning and laying out these various items.

Photo # 2 - Once I was satisfied with the layout of the various controls and switches, I cut the required holes in a face plate made of Masonite.

Photo # 3 - At the back top of the console, against the firewall, there will be a chase to hide all the electrical wiring which runs between the console controls and the under side of the dash area. To make this chase I used a 4" long piece of 2x6 and then hollowed it out using a dado blade in my table saw.