I will post my build pics later...

This is what i did (Deleted the lower vents and wrapped the lower center in leather. On the top i made my own radio plate with smooth step downs to brake it up the rough look and to keep it looking factory. I completely removed the HAVC controls and put the radio in place of the HAVC controls, but that's not all i mounted the radio completely flush with the step down plate, made a space big enough to a accommodate a CD's and also added a 12volt power source left of the holder)

 

Nice job, I'm working on my center console also. I look forward to your build pics.

 

That looks awesome, and I like the idea of wrapping it with leather. May have to borrow that idea

If I was going to do something like fabricate a new center console, I'd probably eliminate the ashtray completely and in its place I'd build a small covred panel with USB, aux and other power source connectors. I'd also try to fit a cup holder somehow behind the power window switches.

So did you really eliminate the HVAC controls completely? How come you didn't go for a radio/video/navigation system screen right there.

Do people still buy/use CDs? JK

 

Yes, i have no heat or AC in my car so whats the point of running HAVC controls? lol... This CD player works good enough for what i need, i all ready have navigation on my phone and i can hook up and steam music from my phone thru the CD player... I'm sure people still buy CD's i just used a CD as reference for building a storage space. In my 4thgen i liked how i had a space to fit a phone and the lighter on the side so i kind of incorporated that idea into mine... When people where still "buying CD's" i would always have to pop the shifter back to get them into to the player and iv always wanted a flush mounted radio and in the HAVC control location... I kicked around the idea of having a compact sliding cup holder in the center and either that or one in the same spot you are talking about its easy enough to do but if you drive a stick good luck! in the 4thgen im glade they put a sliding cup holder to the side, the one in the center is FRtarted on a stick car... but i may just incorporate some cup holders in the door panels which i always felt was another bad idea from the get go because people forget them and then when they shut your door your carpet and door panel looks like a fountain drink...

 

Here is the build pics

I started with a regular radio pod to make things simple but had to mod the sides...

 

I had cut these off the dash

 

I had to trim some of the radio pod

 

Clearance between the radio and dash

 

 

Reinforced the sides

 

 

I ground down the factory rivets as i much as i could before they would lose there grip, then i used etching primer after i ground them down before i wrapped the lower center... The reason i ground them down was they were extremely visible thru the leather

 

what paint did you use for the radio bezel?

 

Great photos of the console project.

Thanks for taking the time to post!

 

I used duplicolor undercoating and a semi black paint on top of it

 

I like the trick with the rivets...thanks for posting, it has been helpful.

 

That looks great. The single DIN radio looks at home in that console, as opposed to the stock consoles with one.

How did you get the leather to adhere to the console? I have a "spare" Firebird center console that I've been thinking of wrapping for a while now.

 

That came out nice. It looks stock if someone didn't know what was done to it.

 

Thanks for the complements guys...

I used 3m 77 adhesive

 

Very good job man, thanks for posting!

 

thanks

 

Thanks for posting this, This was a really helpfull thread. For some reason the aftermarket radio installation kits are made so ugly, the way they "bubble" out, and I gutted all my hvac so I no longer need the controls. Hope you don't mind some of us out here stealin' your ideas!!

 

Nice job on the console. I've done a few modifications on mine but nothing like this. I like the idea of moving the stereo farther up.

 

You did a great job!

Thanks for posting up the pictures. Now I have another project idea!!

 

Great job.

 

Nice job on the interior.

 

looks real good man-good work.

 

looks good man

 

Nice clean install! However since you made that custom faceplate why didn't you fab it up to single din specs? Rather then showing the 1.5din cutout on the outside of the single din cutout?

 

Suttle and clean. Good work

 

nice job! I made a small modification to my center console as well. I was digging under my dash one day and found a key cylinder with a key and some wires coming out of it, i later found out it was the original PASS-key system. so obviously someone changed the steering columns in the car, so without the pass key in the car won't start even with the other key in the column. so for a little more convenience, using regular speaker wire i wired the PASS-key up to my center console in the compartment under the lid, kind of as a home-made cut off switch. i think its actually a really cool idea. I'll get pics up later to show you guys.

 

Looks great fueled soul.

In my last incarnation, I moved the AC outlet to the ashtray (with a few switches) and used the lighter as a turn **** for my bass control

 

nice work! but what is that button between window buttons? i got mirrorbutton there! and i surely still buy cds!!!!

 

It's the hatch pop button.

 

some projects i built if anyone wants to see... I installed a full touch screen dvd player and moved the a/c heater controls to the bottom. Also shaved the knight rider console so i can use my parking brake. Thought they were good enough to share is all..

 

 

These are pictures while i was test fitting everything.. I need to take pictures of it after all was finished... i came out trick.

 

hErE ARE some pIctures of the ouTside of the caR when I fiNished it..

I love to drive my car

 

Fueledsoul, where did you get the leather?

 

http://www.joann.com