Custom Console Build 3Sixty.3/VU Meters/Double Din 1989 Jimmy

[Type RF]

For the past couple months I have been building myself this center console...

It starts with the Kenwood DDX719 headunit, D'Amore Engineering Large VU Meters, and the Rockford 3Sixty.3. This truck originally could only fit a single din radio or flip out monitor in the dash. I needed something bigger and better. Here's is my build log during the process of building this console. I missed alot of pictures in the beginning but I started with a square piece of 3/4 mdf and screwed it to the factory console bolt holes on the floor and cut two side panels to fit the profile of the console I wanted. I used dowels and pieces of mdf to space the two console sides apart the distance I needed and to position the equipment.

The Double Din opening is made from a Toyota Tundra dash kit.

The VU meters had to have an enclosure built around them which is a simple abs plastic box with a acrylic cover.

One knob is the 3sixty.3 volume and sub-volume. The second knob is boost volume and boost frequency adjustment custom fitted to a 3sixty.3 housing. The leds are in a fixed position on it.

Link to original post on my Jimmy before this console.

http://www.stevemead...s-89-gmc-jimmy/

Here is a shot of the console I had before with the 3sixty.2 and bass knobs in it. To the right of those are two stinger volt meters (which are going away soon)

Fitting everything where it needs to be,

Building a removable top panel after everything is positioned.

Rings and windows over the top of everything.

Frequency and boost knob custom fit to a 3sixty.3 knob housing

Fitting the console in the truck

That's a wooden template of the SMD VM-1. The ring around that opening is the outer ring from a cadillac escalade clock. It's almost a perfect fit for the VM-1

Hours and hours of glueing and removing sticks and shapes to make this removable skeleton. Almost all of the small pieces were built using a router table and templates.

Everything in position to start fiberglassing the shell

After stretching the shell with grill cloth.

Test fitting the console lid

Painted with fiberglass resin

Covered the front with filler and reinforced the backside with short strand fiberglass

Here are the sides of the console with windows cut for access to the 4wd shifter. In this step I am filling the gap between the wooden console and the metal dash with short strand fiberglass.

...more to come as I sort through all these build pics.

[HunterJohnson]

wow great job, what'd you use to cut all the intricate details

[Omega5002]

Wow, looking great so far

[Type RF]

wow great job, what'd you use to cut all the intricate details

Almost every piece was cut out with this router table and a 1/4 spiral bit.

[8ight]

Wow, impressive. I love a well-done glass job and this seems like something I will soon love...

[HypnotizedMind 91666]

Following this topic for sure, looks cool

[Type RF]

I sanded the top of the console all the way to 200 grit and primered it to make sure I caught any flaws before I upholstered it.

Building the main brace at the far back of the console

In the end wires will need to run in here for the console lid.

Using the factory console hinge

Finished mount for the console lid.

14 pieces of MDF routered out and glued together to form the console lid.

Routering out a location for custom buttons in the console lid. There was really no right way to do this but it turned out good.

Switch panel location done.

The groove in the bottom is about 1/4 deep to tuck the upholstery in

Here's the console lid before fiberglass resining it and smoothing.

I fiberglass resined this for strength since alot of weight will be put on this over time and impacts from opening and closing are rough.

[Ray]

Pure awesomeness.

Love the router work.

And gangster for free-balling the lid like that.

[Aaron Tuck TBA]

WOW amazing craftsmanship!!

[AI James]

looks really nice to me as well.