Overhead console/double din stereo install

[BLE 'BURBAN]

Last year I installed an aftermarket overhead console in my Suburban. But it just didn't seem to fit well. It interfered with the visors and.....Well I just wasn't very happy with the placement of the stereo in it either. The write up on it can be seen here....... Hooker Overhead Console

So I've ripped it out and have begun modifying an Original Equipment Overhead Console to fit my Kenwood Double Din into. I got the bracket and the main body through work (G.M. Dealership)
Mounted the bracket.....
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Then I proceeded to cut up the front of the console......
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Made a frame for the basket and riveted the basket into place on the console.....
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Made up a cardboard template for the cover and the made that out of fleece and fiberglass resin. Let it harden up in the shape I needed then put it on the console and laid 2 layers of fiberglass cloth over it and let it dry. Then came the the bondo. This is where I am at after sanding.... Still need to add a little more filler to get all the little pits filled in and sanded down then it's time to paint it......

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[silvereagle07]

Looks cool, keep us updated. What did the new console come out of?

[ShowSS12]

Damn thats nice but will it be able to support the weight of the double din?

[BLE 'BURBAN]

Originally Posted by silvereagle07

Looks cool, keep us updated. What did the new console come out of?

It's the same model that came in the 89-91 Suburbans. I found out that the main body, Bracket and the 2 cover/lenses were still available from the dealership but the wiring harness with the switches is obsolete. I found the harness in a local wrecking yard the other day.

Originally Posted by ShowSS12

Damn thats nice but will it be able to support the weight of the double din?

Thought about that too. So I decided to try it out before I started doing the fiberglassing. Turned out there was alot of vibration/shaking happening while going down the road so I added 2 "L" brackets at the front of the console on the roof to anchor it a bit better

[Driveway Dreams]

Cool looking setup. I will watch for this one to get finished. Should look nice, judging by it right now.

[BLE 'BURBAN]

Here's a couple of pics showing the one I modified compared to an unmolested one.

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I also had to modify the cover/sliding door at the front of the console. To be able to still use the front compartment, I trimmed the door along the sides and across the front edge of it then glued on some plastic R/C airplane hinges (seen in white) and also installed a push type magnetic latch to keep it closed.


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Future plans for the front compartment include a mount for my IPOD Classic, A USB port for the stereo, and a power outlet for my cell phone charger.

[BLE 'BURBAN]

Finally got it finished and installed. With the exception of the USB port access and the power port for my cell phone charger. The head unit is a KENWOOD DDX-812 that's BLUE TOOTH enabled, IPOD compatible, Navigation upgrade available (KNA-G510 needed) It sets a bit lower and further forward than it did in the old Hooker console I had it in before. Makes it much easier to see the face of it with just a quick glance. I also swapped out the headliner from the perforated vinyl to the cloth velour.

[Driveway Dreams]

I like it! Good work! I am glad you got it to hang. Looks great.

[BLE 'BURBAN]

I also moved my 1/2 din DVD player under my rear window/heater/defroster switches where the O.E.M. 1 1/2 DIN stereo was at.
The bottom pic is of the front storage compartment door in it's opened position after I had to modify it. My IPOD is pictured in the compartment.

[BGRAFX]

I will send you my overhead console from my suburban. Yours kicks A$$

[kikkegek]

Originally Posted by BLE 'BURBAN

I also moved my 1/2 din DVD player under my rear window/heater/defroster switches where the O.E.M. 1 1/2 DIN stereo was at.

got any pics of that rear window heater defroster? I got a switch on the dash too for the rear with a HIGH and LOW setting, but it doesnt seem to do anything.

[BLE 'BURBAN]

Originally Posted by kikkegek

got any pics of that rear window heater defroster? I got a switch on the dash too for the rear with a HIGH and LOW setting, but it doesnt seem to do anything.

Do you have a rear heater mounted to the floor behind the right rear wheel well or defroster lines across the rear glass? Or is there just a rear overhead a/c unit mounted to the roof?

[kikkegek]

Originally Posted by BLE 'BURBAN

Do you have a rear heater mounted to the floor behind the right rear wheel well or defroster lines across the rear glass? Or is there just a rear overhead a/c unit mounted to the roof?

is probably had a rear heater at one point in time, but when I got it the lines to the rear were closed and I had two holes in the floor near the rear wheel well.

I dont have defroster lines on the window.

so the switch is probably not connected to anything anymore in my burb I guess...thanks for the info Ble'burban

[bumslie75]

Where did you get the white gages i want a set

[BLE 'BURBAN]

Originally Posted by bumslie75

Where did you get the white gages i want a set

they're just overlay decals I got from www.whitegauges.net for about $25.00 including shipping.

[kikkegek]

man, really nice!
I wanna do something like that to our Burb too sometime!
this topic is great for inspiration!

[motornut]

cool custom setup

[Prerunner1982]

I like it....

Something about this picture made me laugh.... nothing like your own truck catching a picture of you taking a picture of it.

[justinburnett]

I LOVE your rearview "mirror".

[BLE 'BURBAN]

Thanks,
I can see ahelluva lot more of what's goin' on behind me with that than I ever could with the factory mirror or even my old modified 7 panel mirror that stretched from pillar to pillar.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice console!

[hipasschev94]

that is amazing, you think it would work in a square body crew cab? with all the fetures i want i can only find in doubles and i dont want to hack up the dash and also never really liked the look of a single din in the stock radio spot, also where did you run all your wires through for the stereo?

[BLE 'BURBAN]

Originally Posted by hipasschev94

that is amazing, you think it would work in a square body crew cab? with all the features i want i can only find in doubles and i don't want to hack up the dash and also never really liked the look of a single din in the stock radio spot, also where did you run all your wires through for the stereo?

Well the crew cab does have a double wall ceiling all the way back so I don't see why not.

I ran the power leads down the "A" pillar just behind the interior trim and plugged it into the factory harness under the dash. I also put a quick disconnect over head so I could easily drop and remove the console for whatever reason in the future. My RCA leads to the amps and video were ran down the "B" & "C" pillars as needed. I have 2 more unmolested consoles here (one with no wiring or lights or switches) but no mounts. I can still get the mounts through work though.

[wyattglock]

Originally Posted by BLE 'BURBAN

Well the crew cab does have a double wall ceiling all the way back so I don't see why not.

Thats interesting. I had no idea that the crew cabs had a double wall ceiling. I picked up an overhead console from a 1988 R3500 Camper Special that was getting parted out last summer. I have thought about doing something similar to this.

[Blacklion62]

VERY interesting. I have a console I want to put in, i have an old laptop with dock i was going to mount to the roof..... this might change things..... too bad about the windows.

Thank you for the replies.

TBL