Center Console Build

[Hazmat Ranger]

US Composites - get all my supplies there - different weight CSM and Woven as well as CF and Kevlar

 

[Xploda]

Holy cow buy this shit in yards that's what I'm talking about. Ive always bought the small 1x1 sheet for local repairs or w/e and tiny ass bottles of resin...That place offers some good deals from the looks of it. Sweet thanks for the info I could hook my bro up with some shit if I got a whole roll lol. hmmm now wonder what would be best for doin the console? I want this shit to be sturdy as hell and look nice. I got tons of exp workin with just plane stuff but none with diff types of mats and resins this is new.

 

[Hazmat Ranger]

Holy cow buy this shit in yards that's what I'm talking about. Ive always bought the small 1x1 sheet for local repairs or w/e and tiny ass bottles of resin...That place offers some good deals from the looks of it. Sweet thanks for the info I could hook my bro up with some shit if I got a whole roll lol. hmmm now wonder what would be best for doin the console? I want this shit to be sturdy as hell and look nice. I got tons of exp workin with just plane stuff but none with diff types of mats and resins this is new.

Go to Fiberglass Forums - I have both my projects posted there - awesome projects also. I used 1.5 oz CSM and some light woven material in my console. USC has some really heavy CSM that is good for fast build up and strength, but does cost more. If you have never used the better resins, get ready to be blown away. B-440 is the shit man - awesome to work with.

Good Luck and let us see your project as you go . . .

 

[IRKillroy]

your project ended up sweet man. I'm planning on doing a console... but my speakers will be separate from the console... I want to be able to change it when I feel like it.

I'm only planning on an 8" sub... I got a standard cab.

so, can you tell me, how hard would it be to get my dash done so I can wrap it in leather??? I'm only thinking to keep it as stock as possible and I'm not sure how I can get a mold of the dash so I don't have a huge over sized dash... I don't want to destroy what I have to figure it out either.

thanks for any advice man.

 

[Hazmat Ranger]

Thanks for the comments and let us see what you do with your console - always good to see other styles . . .

I have an extra dash for my Ranger - check around the JY's, PNP or forum classifieds for something. I paid $20 for it and when I am ready I will begin mods to it.

I do not think you would need to make a mold of it, that would only give you a "shell" and no supporting structure. The stock dash can be wrapped by simply roughing the surface really good for adhesion, use a quality adhesive used for auto upholstery and lay,stretch, cuss, pull, yank, and press the leather in place. There is a bit more to it than that, but an extra dash would let you work on it and not take your truck out of service. Good luck with that and post up some pics as you do it or have it done - sounds cool.

 

[IRKillroy]

... that's a good idea! I'm headed to the JY today for those mirror internal brackets for the break-away mirrors... can't seem to find some nice non-rusted ones for cheap.

I'll price out a dash when I'm there.

where's a good place to get quality leather???

 

[Hazmat Ranger]

Leather???

Try some upholstery shops, fabric stores, places that make leather clothing - not the red light district or look in the yellow pages or on line for leather suppliers. Just make sure you tell them it is for auto installation and what you are doing, not all leathers are the same in regards to their use.

 

[Hazmat Ranger]

VIDEO/SOUND!!!

Ok I do not have a video camera so this was taken with digital camera that takes video - oh I guess that is a digital video camera - YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN - ROFL.

Anyway a short clip playing Bass Mechaniks - sound quality sucks from the cam - but you get a general idea

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[IRKillroy]

your camera?? couldn't pick the sound up... though I can only imagine how loud that was.

 

[Hazmat Ranger]

Yeah it is a 12 megapixel Kodak and does good video, but the bass was too much for the mic in the camera - that is why the sound quality in the vid is bad. But I do not have a digital video camera that would probably take better audio. I have a video camera but no video capture on my computer to go from the cam to comp.

 

[83bagged]

lmfao hey Hazmat do you get you matting anywhere in bulk? I have alot of projects that are gonna need alot. I was thinking of removing the back bench and putting in b2 buckets in the back maybe a center console for the back too? I dunno I gotta mock in the seats to see how it would look.

i used to buy mat from uscomposites also. but here lately i have been buying off ebay, you can get long pieces of whatever ounce you want, like i bought a strip that was 12" wide and 50 yards.... maybe check it out

idk how you do your resin, but if you dab it, then go to harbor freight and buy your chip brushes... really cheap

 

[Hazmat Ranger]

Thanks 83bagged I checked out a few items and some are good prices but others are more expensive than USC. I found some microspheres and milled fiber - ooooohhhhhh - I may have to get some for some upcoming projects.

 

[Xploda]

Hey Hazmat what resin and mat do you recommend and I kinda want the more strong mat or what not since its gonna take a beating. I'll prollly just insert a 7-9" lcd to back of mine and when I do the bench to buckets I'll make the center console back there take the sub prolly. I wana lay out the buckets in the back to see how much space ill have with bII buckets. Maybe full size seats will fit. I dunno I think the back is elevated some I forget haven't drove or worked on the truck in a week Ill look later. Priced out my snorkel prolly around 20$ for everything. yay Love spending monies

 

[Hazmat Ranger]

Hey Hazmat what resin and mat do you recommend and I kinda want the more strong mat or what not since its gonna take a beating.

Xploda:

1.5 oz CSM or woven is fine but you have to put down a bunch o layers to get the proper thickness for strength. However you can go with a heavier material - 4 or 6 oz and get a quicker build, but they require more resin and cost a bit more. For a sub-enclosure you would want 6-8 layers or more of the lighter materials and less with heavier stuff.
I personally LOVE USC B-440 for resin. I buy it a gallon at a time and can do a lot with that. But there are probably some other resins that are just as good. My personal feelings are to NOT use Bondo brand resin - it will work but you will need more of it and it is thick and goopy when working with it. B-440 is light maple syrup consistency and wets out the material easily helping to get a thorough resin to mat ratio.

 

[83bagged]

B-440 is the only resin! its well worth it, and go buy some rage gold body filler while you at it, youll thank yourself later!