my custom console

[strokerdave]

Hi all! It's a lazy rainy day so I thought I'd do a write-up on the custom console that I made for my 2000 xlt Ranger. I got rid of my worn out torn 60/40 seats and got some Mustang seats in their place. So needed a console armrest.

First I removed the console lid/box assembly



Made a template for the section to go under the dash, pretty much follows the same lines as the Ford console. It goes from the dash to just past the small hump in the floor.



Made a box to set the old armrest in



Added the front section. I used 3/4" mdf for the wood



Covered the console in black vinyl



I used a piece of aluminum to cover the top of the console and used these connectors to attach it. Originally I was going to recess the top about 3/4" but thought that sitting flush would look better.



This is how it came out. I found some aluminum cups that are a little over 3" wide, painted them black, and used them for the cup holders. Also added a mp3/gps holder. Eventually I'll add a switch for backup lights that I'm putting on my new rack



From the other side. I had originally planned on painting the aluminum grey to match the grey/black interior but liked the aluminum in it's natural state much better. I'm also going to have the seats recovered with a black cloth (like the top of the armrest) and a grey vinyl.



Enjoy. Appreciate any suggestions or comments.

 

[MotoDC33]

Nicely done! I plan on doing something like this as soon as I find some bucket seats. I was going to cover it in cloth but that vinyl looks more factory to me.

 

[chris_brown09]

Good looking build, how is the mdf to work with?

 

[RandyinCCTX]

Definately looks sharp!....But,I'm surprised you didn't re-cover the lid in the same black vinyl.

 

[strokerdave]

Good looking build, how is the mdf to work with?

Really easy. Almost too easy, you have to take extra care to make sure you don't split it when drilling in screws, I always pre-drill the holes. Also take care when handling, if it gets dropped on an edge there's a good chance of it splitting. Other than that I really like it. It's perfectly flat and you can get it in sheets up to 4' by 8'.

 

[strokerdave]

Definately looks sharp!....But,I'm surprised you didn't re-cover the lid in the same black vinyl.

If I had of known that I was going to be doing this I probably would have. I covered the lid some time ago and had to repair the plastic to make it work, to take the fabric off now would more than likely destroy it. I'm having the seats recovered and the fabric will be on the center section of the seats with grey vinyl surround. I'll post up pictures when they're done.

 

[tyler.lee132]

Hey what year mustang did your seats come out of?

 

[strokerdave]

Hey what year mustang did your seats come out of?

Sorry, I don't really know. I bought them from a fellow that had gotten them already out of the car. They did come out of a convertible.

 

[simpler=better]

How comfortable are the mustang seats? Do they mess with your leg support or headroom at all?

 

[ElectraRider]

looks nice, but my wife is a electronic junky would have been an excellent spot for some extra power points, excellent job by the way.

 

[strokerdave]

How comfortable are the mustang seats? Do they mess with your leg support or headroom at all?

Sorry it took so long to reply. I really like them. They have more thigh support than the factory seats and I'd say the head room is about the same.

looks nice, but my wife is a electronic junky would have been an excellent spot for some extra power points, excellent job by the way.

Thanks! Actually I do plan on adding at least one more power outlet. I have to add switches for auxiliary lights also so don't want to make it too crowded.