My new 98 Ford F150 Console Part 2

[Fury853]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5290789217/" title="DSCF3277 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5290789217_848403acb9.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3277" /></a>

This show the cut outs on the panels for the radios and toggle switches that is mounted in the console.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5290790071/" title="DSCF3283 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5290790071_53649ed458.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3283" /></a>

Shown here is the wood putty as it was drying.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5290790503/" title="DSCF3287 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5246/5290790503_b68dc5f944.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3287" /></a>

After the wood putty dried I had to sand it down to make it smooth for the paint. Next thing I did was painted the console.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5290790951/" title="DSCF3292 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5290790951_b3940d0160.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3292" /></a>

The paint looked really bad so I didn’t take any pictures of that. Once I decided to have the console spayed with bed liner I had to remove all the paint. So to do this I had to invest in a heavy duty belt sander and use forty grit sand paper.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5291440146/" title="DSCF3299 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5081/5291440146_09d18e8be6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3299" /></a>

The spray on looked great!!! Im very happy with the out come if it.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5291440622/" title="DSCF3302 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5291440622_0329695ef5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3302" /></a>

To give this console a better look I plasced door foam at the front of the console to make it look goot at the dash.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5290838261/" title="DSCF3306 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5203/5290838261_f5d5494f7e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3306" /></a>

Inside the console I mounted a peace of wood to hold my gounding bar and my fuse buss's. All the power to my console is ran from the battery to these buss's and all the to power for the radios and light is ran from the buss's. This makes me feel alot more safe about all my radios!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5291441756/" title="DSCF3309 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5291441756_2ec621117e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3309" /></a>

This is all the radios that I started out in this console.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5291442294/" title="DSCF3310 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5291442294_36a5c44c88.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3310" /></a>

On both side of the console I place these lights. So that I see the floor if I drop something at night time.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5291442840/" title="DSCF3311 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5089/5291442840_238ce2e076.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3311" /></a>

I also placed a map light on this console to I can see the radios a little better at night if I need to.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5291443366/" title="DSCF3313 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5087/5291443366_2b74d0e011.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3313" /></a>

When I took my console to get spraid the guy spraid it inside and out. Once I noted that he had done that I didnt think it needed the carpet panels in the storage space anymore. So I just carpeted the forward panel and the buttom panel.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5291443824/" title="DSCF3318 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5202/5291443824_78361072f6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3318" /></a>

The back of the console looked like it was missing something. So I place the mounted for my mag light on there and a glove dispenser so I have my own supply.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5291444826/" title="DSCF3320 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5247/5291444826_d72b16d9d1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3320" /></a>

Last thing I had to do make was my toggle panel. I just took a peace of alumanum for cut/drilled out everything and wired it right up.

Once everything was mounted in my truck. I only ran those radios for a short time before changing to mostly Kenwoods like I wanted. This console is great! It looks good and is very durable. When I clean the inside of my truck I spray the console with Arm-r-all to keep it nice and shiny. With the cost of everything my total cost was around $80. The only reason it cost that much was for the spray on bed liner that was about $50. But I was well worth it!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5290931125/" title="DSCF3351 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5285/5290931125_8a5ab173d0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3351" /></a>

This is the console with my new radios. (From top to bottum Kenwood Tk-760, Tk-880,Tk980, Uniden Pro358w). Im want to add a Ram mount for my eTrex Legend PGS unit on the right side. I was also thinking about a Ram mount for my Tom Tom but I think i would be better off with if one the dash so I dont have to take my eyes as far off the road! Anyone know where I can get a good deal on Ram Mount?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5291534906/" title="DSCF3354 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5002/5291534906_79c48f63c6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3354" /></a>

This shows my toggle panel. This has my aux switchs for misc things on the truck. Then my emergancy lights controller and my DC power ports

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5291534906/" title="DSCF3354 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5002/5291534906_79c48f63c6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3354" /></a>

This is the storage part of the console. Im hoping to place mobile rapid chargers for my kenwood portables once I find a good deal on the kits and chargers for that. Any ideas anyone?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5291533470/" title="DSCF3346 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5291533470_6f4e20e5a6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3346" /></a>

I placed some of my mics here on the side. The look and work great right here. The only thing I dont like about this is the cords look a little bunched up to me.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/5290933637/" title="DSCF3358 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5290933637_630de1e009.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3358" /></a>

Well this is my conole from start to finish! Please comment and let me know what yout think!

Thanks for taking the time to look!

 

[n4yek]

Nice build....drool running down the cheek

 

[whiterabbit_medic]

if i only had the room

That is an awesome console I’ve seen professional installs that couldn’t match this!
Thanks for posting great step by step!
Whiterabbit_medic

 

[whitesox4life]

What kind of wood did you use for the shell? Also, what thickness aluminum did you use for the switch panel? I am in the process of making a 2nd attempt at a console for my 99 Taurus and love this one.

 

[Mtnrider]

Nice job....But i would put them plastic covers over the extra lighter sockets......you would be amazed at what can cause a short in them.......

 

[BoxAlarm187]

Very, very nice work! Have you noticed any problem with the sun reflecting off that switch panel?

 

[Skypilot007]

That's nice. I miss having a large vehicle.

 

[pennfire38]

Looks really good, much nicer than the old one you had. Been wanting to build a console of my own for my 99 silverado...this is a good inspiration. I think this week I'll give it a shot.

 

[Fury853]

Ok so I used 5/8 MDF board. Its the same stuff that they make subwoofer boxes out of. It alot smoother for good finish. With oak or pine you still have the gran that you have to work with.

The aluminum does reflect the sun! But with it being as low in the truck as it is it doesnt affect me any. You can always paint the panel black, gray or pink if you really want to! I used the thinnest aluminum I could get at true value. Because its easier to work with and cheaper.

With the DC power ports I wanted to put covers on them But I couldnt find any! Does anyone know where I could find any?

 

[pennfire38]

I was thinking of using textured black rustoleum to paint mine, what does anyone think about that?

 

[Fury853]

If you can get it on there good and even it could work. But with the bed liner stuff it just didnt set up right. The bad part about that rustoleum is its very then! and its very hard to cover stuff!

 

[b7spectra]

Love the diary of the install. Only thing I would do is find a way to stop the mic cables from getting all tangled up!

I did notice that the radio's in picture 8 are different than what is in the final product?

 

[Ky396t]

awesome setup took alot of time and thought to come up with that, looks factory and shows u take detail very seriously. really wish i could do something like that. You should be proud again great job!!!!!!!!

 

[Fury853]

The radios you see in the finel are Kenwood TK 760 VHF TK880 UHF TK 980 800mhz, and a uniden pro538w Im hoping to get a TK 780 to replace the TK 760 so it matches the the 880 and 980. I use all these radios for the fire dept and also on the ham radio band!

 

[LowbandGuy]

That console has to be the nicest DIY console project I have seen on the RR Forum. Looks great!

 

[b7spectra]

But, but, but, no scanner?

 

[oregontreehugger]

Great install you did, that's some awesome custom fab work!

 

[kevinbob]

wow thats pretty cool .... I WANT ONE !!!!!!!

 

[SCPD]

Why can't I have one of those? I don't have any cars without a stick shift, and never have, so I will not be making a console as useful and good looking as one you've built. Living in mountain snow country makes automatics less desirable so I'm not sure if I can figure out how to do what you've done here. Very nice job!

 

[mikewayde]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9550/5.0.0.983 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/179)

Very nice