Overhead console Problem

[fastpakr]

Thanks for the follow up. This mod is definitely a go for me now.

 

[PlumCrazy]

I have a reg as well, Is yours an XLT or XL? I have a 94 XL regular cab for a parts truck, and it looks like the headliner is a little bit different than my XLT. I also noticed that the metal support bar above my head liner is bolted in my XLT and riveted in my XL.

 

[PlumCrazy]

And yes I am going to paint the console gray to match.lol

 

[locovaca]

Take off your headliner and then do the fit. The console definitely pushes in the head liner and makes an outline in it. It's made to be a snug fit.

 

[locovaca]

Here are some pics with my console off, to show you how it pushes on the headliner to "mold" to it. As I recall from the Explorer I snagged this from it had similar marks on it.

 

[PlumCrazy]

OK so here is what I found out today:

1. Exlpoders with a factory sun roof have a larger console so the window motor will fit under it.

2. Exlpoders with a factory sun roof don't have a place for a garage door opener.

3. Exlpoders with a factory sun roof do not use a seperate bracket mount the console. It is screwed and clipped directly to the roof supports.

4. All Exploder consoles use the same maplight and digital read out.

5. There is a lense that clips in the console that makes the read out green or blue, I beleive they can be swapped.

6. I got a Gray console from an Exploder with no sunroof.

7. It fits perfect in my truck, and I wont have to paint it.

8. I didnt use the bracket. I just cut holes for the clips and then screwed the back directly to the roof support.

I guess I can take my fiberglass stuff back

Here are some pictures

 

[fastpakr]

I'm a bit confused by your pictures. In your previous set, the on that didn't fit was the one with a flat button at the back end (like the one on the right in the most recent set). However, that looks like the one that you have mounted now?

Either way, once all this is sorted out it's great information that we'll end up needing to save for the future.

 

[PlumCrazy]

The one I ended up using is like the one I started with (only gray instead of tan). The reason it didn't fit in the first set of pics was because I was trying to use the bracket from the Exploder. When I tried it with out the bracket it worked out great.

I got the idea to try it with out the bracket when I saw that the Exploders with a sunroof didnt use one.

And just to clear it all up the console on the left it from an Exploder with a sunroof, the one on the right is from an Exploder that did NOT have a sunroof.
I never used the larger console on the left for anything except to show the diffence in size.

WOW, this got confusing I hope I cleared it all up now. (or made it worse.lol.)

 

[fastpakr]

Great, that narrows things down a lot:

Explorer console must come from a vehicle with no sunroof.
Bracket doesn't always have to be used... Anyone know when it does/doesn't need to be installed?

 

[locovaca]

I used the bracket in mine (as you can see by the pics). I would think it'd be harder to mount without a bracket due to the angle of the screws that would go into the sheet metal, but whatever floats your boat. If you're unsure, I'd do some test fits with the headliner off and see what works better. I spent a good 4 hours doing the physical installation of taking off the headliner, seeing what made it fit best, etc.

 

[PlumCrazy]

I never had to take my headliner down. It only took about 5 minutes to mount it after I found out I could do it with out the bracket.

 

[locovaca]

I never had to take my headliner down. It only took about 5 minutes to mount it after I found out I could do it with out the bracket.

How did you run your wires then? Even if you don't take it down to cut out the headliner and install a bracket (if you choose), you still have to get all that wiring over to the A pillar and down.

 

[oldjohnny]

Plumcrazy, is your truck an XL?

Was it supposed to be a work truck? Maybe that will explain the differences in the headliner.
Mine has a hump as well that follows back to the dome light. It looks just like locovaca's.


EDIT: SORRYY GUYS, I didn't see ya'll figured it out, but here's a pic anyways. Good to hear you got it to mount correctly.

 

[PlumCrazy]

locovaca, I was able to just tuck them up along the front edge. I just pulled down on the liner a little and pushed them back behind the bump. I did have to take the piller plastic off.

oldjohnny, The truck I put the console in is an XLT, but I have a parts truck that is an XL. It turns out they both have the same headliner anyway.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Oldjohnny, I have an extra green lense for the digital readout on the console. If you would rather have green readout I could send it to you.

-plumcrazy