Overhead console

[86swb]

How hard is it to install a overhead console say out of a newer Chevy truck and put on our trucks? I am thinking about putting one in mine and did not want to bid on one if it would not work. Has anyone done this?

[84 PUMPKIN]

I have.
Sent you a PM

[confucius_Sez]

can, like uh, you send me a PM about that....i'd been thinking of the same thing....(like to put on a list friggin long of things to do)

[ARAMP1]

Me Too!!!

[N2TRUX]

Post pics so everyone can see how it's done...

[86swb]

When I get one and do "try" to install it I will take pictures. 84 PUMKIN sent me pictures of the one he has in his truck and if my memory (sp) serves me correct don't you have one in your truck? Tony told me there are two layers over head with insulation in between but you have to be careful not to drill in too far for the screws or you could go through the roof and that "would not be a good thing".

[piecesparts]

The shape of the inner roof is different on the 73-87 trucks compared to the 88 and later. I had to make a filler piece to take away the gap where the cab rolls down to the windshield. After I made the filler, I then upholstered the console to match the interior.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by 86swb

When I get one and do "try" to install it I will take pictures. 84 PUMKIN sent me pictures of the one he has in his truck and if my memory (sp) serves me correct don't you have one in your truck? .....

Who me? Nope not an overhead. I have an "underseat" console in mine....

[86swb]

Tony (84 PUMPKIN) wanted me to post a picture of his overhead console.

[Slonaker]

What does the console give you? It looks like there are map lights. What does the rest of it do? I have never seen once before, so I don't know anything about them.

Slonaker

[87 STEPPER]

A few weeks ago i was at the junk yard and found an o/h console like this and i went to a 80's something cab to test fit it and it looked doable except the map lights were hitting the roof and it would have to be cut out in order to make it work so i scraped the idea cuz i just didnt want to hack up my cabs roof.

So is this where you added the filler plates?

Do you have pic's of the console base after you added the fillers and befor you recovered it?

Slonaker.....This o/h console is from 90's modle Sub's,Tahoes, Denali's,Escalade's,Yukon's, and Silverado's.

The console has 3 compartments to keep things in the rear one will hold several CD'S, the middle one will hold a pair of sunglasses, the front one is for a remote garage door opener.

There are several differant versions of this console some have front and rear air/heat if it came from a sub or hoe with the rear air/heat some have home link where the sunglasses would go.

[bigblock73]

It would be cool if someone took a late 80's/early 90's O/H console out of a suburban, cut it down, and put it in their truck. The big gain here is that it would fit great and is actually a 73-87 part. It would take a little bit of work, but not impossible. Here are a couple pics of one I removed from a 89 Burb.

[Slonaker]

I swear I saw someone here a few years ago who had cut one down...

Slonaker

[gn4u2c]

That was me !!! whoever bought my red/tan 84 has it !! It was cut at the seam between the reading lamps/ back cut the other end off an fiberglassed it on. Painted it with hammer finish then with the tan trin paint. looked 100% stock. I also had a cadillac electrochromematic rear view mirror with the temp/compass in it. That was way more of a *****h than the console.

[wedgemon]

OK, I put a cheesy import overhead light & pocket in my truck and being 6' 4" when I get in I almost always bang my head on it. Though I love the look of the later console, I'd probably remove it with my nogging. HAH!
Picture my fat head banging on that!

- Dave

[84 PUMPKIN]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

It would be cool if someone took a late 80's/early 90's O/H console out of a suburban, cut it down, and put it in their truck. The big gain here is that it would fit great and is actually a 73-87 part. It would take a little bit of work, but not impossible. Here are a couple pics of one I removed from a 89 Burb.

I've done that one too.
They are nice consoles but it really depends on the "look" you're after. The Burb console looks fine in a truck with a stock interior. I did one about 5 years ago in my Dad's bone stock 86 C10 and it looked like it came from the factory that way. That same console in my '84 C10 would look out of place. The '98 Tahoe console looks 10 times better with my factory bucket seats/console, Corvette steering wheel, Q-logic kick panels, Alpine head unit, etc., etc., etc.

Both consoles require a Dremel tool (or other cutting device) so there's no BIG difference. It's just a matter of which one you like best. I sawed the Burb console in half and glassed it back together after removing a small section. Finished it off with some gray paint and it looked fine. The Tahoe console is rounded on the sides so you have to take that out. If you look at the photo that 86swb posted you can see that the sides are the same width from front to back after surgery with the Dremel tool. The back side of the console has some clips and brackets that will need to be trimmed too. I also removed my stock interior light and moved it to the console.

Both installs are easier done with the headliner board out of the truck.
Both take the better part of a day to finish (or 2 days if you're slow like me).
Both look really good if you take your time and fit everything properly.

[WakBordr7387]

Just this past summer I put an overhead console in my 86' SWB. I took the console out of a lincoln navigator. It fits almost perfect in our trucks. You just have to notch the trim on the front and back to fit.
I screwed the back of it to a peice of tin that is attached to the back of the headliner. And I used the trim from the truck to support the wieght. So far its been up since August and hasn't fallen yet.
Looks awesome to!
Heres what it looked like before I put it in the truck.

I took out the computer and switches, and just painted a little plate to take the place of the computer. And then just wired up some new switches which will eventually be for a line lock and electric exhaust cutouts. I also had to double up on some 1/4" foam to get the console to fit right.
And all this cost me less than 50 bucks!
I can't find a picutre off when I put it in the truck, as my computer died awhile back and its to damn cold to go outside and take a new one.

[86swb]

Anybody else have pictures of their overhead console that they put in their '73-'87?

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by piecesparts

The shape of the inner roof is different on the 73-87 trucks compared to the 88 and later. I had to make a filler piece to take away the gap where the cab rolls down to the windshield. After I made the filler, I then upholstered the console to match the interior.

Sounds nice.
Do you have any pics? Is how you handled the filler piece be different than the way 84Pumpkin handled it?

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by 84 PUMPKIN

I've done that one too.
...
The Tahoe console is rounded on the sides so you have to take that out. If you look at the photo that 86swb posted you can see that the sides are the same width from front to back after surgery with the Dremel tool. The back side of the console has some clips and brackets that will need to be trimmed too. I also removed my stock interior light and moved it to the console.

Both installs are easier done with the headliner board out of the truck.
Both take the better part of a day to finish (or 2 days if you're slow like me).
Both look really good if you take your time and fit everything properly.

That Tahoe console you modded looks nice. Great job.
Got any more pics?