in my quest to clean up my interior from cludder, time to experiment with something new.
im picking this up
and looking to do this with it
its from a 1st gen explorer.
this is what my current overhead looks like
not including the scanguage2 which looks like this
the GPS unit is probably gonna stay where it is, or move a bit but will remain on the outside probably.
since im gonna have to remove my headliner anyways to install my GPS antenna (drilled into the rooftop)
then ill install this at the same time, and reinforce it while its out, then put it all back inside the car. looking at the distance then ill be able to use the existing overhead from the new overhead to replace the overhead OEM lights already installed.
this is the antenna i have on order
im gonna have to get like a solid black peice of plastic to replace the HVAC controls, cut out the size needed for whatever is going there (the Sat radio or the scanguage) then attach that to the underbelly of the housing, then install it up.
basically, match up installation of items being tossed in, cut, adapt etc.
pull the headliner, install a reinforcement for a sturdy install
predrill holes in headliner to bolt up the console
run wires up to top, tape them up to keep it solid
run wires thru headliner, then put headliner back up
plug everything in, then screw in the console.
just off the top of my head anyways
well any metal that may be needed is gonna be under the headliner so it wont be seen.
i jsut went out to do a visual estimated measure. going by the pic above, using the HVAC as a common size peice (probably the same as the HVAC in my car) it looks like it may just fit ok and not interfere with the visors. i may have to push it back a small amount (as you can see, it rounds to a point in the front) so as it gradually gets larger it may very well clear it ok. depends on how thick it is too. i cant really guestimate how long its gonna be going back yet but it may go past the overhead lights just a tad, so i may have to extend the wires to the ines in the new console to reach to not lose that functionality.
edit
going by the same basic theory, its going to push the overhead lights back about a half an HVAC length from where it is now
that spot above, represents the location of the wire, which is closest to the front of the vehicle. unknown where the wiring clips would be on this one, probably towards the front as well.
also, i have to worry about the slope on the front of the console as it may be different than on the vic, so i may have to shave that to be less of a slope or something like that and it will affect the length estimate i have now a bit too, prob by 2-3 inches shorter than my guesstimate
im picking this up
and looking to do this with it
its from a 1st gen explorer.
this is what my current overhead looks like
not including the scanguage2 which looks like this
the GPS unit is probably gonna stay where it is, or move a bit but will remain on the outside probably.
since im gonna have to remove my headliner anyways to install my GPS antenna (drilled into the rooftop)
then ill install this at the same time, and reinforce it while its out, then put it all back inside the car. looking at the distance then ill be able to use the existing overhead from the new overhead to replace the overhead OEM lights already installed.
this is the antenna i have on order
im gonna have to get like a solid black peice of plastic to replace the HVAC controls, cut out the size needed for whatever is going there (the Sat radio or the scanguage) then attach that to the underbelly of the housing, then install it up.
basically, match up installation of items being tossed in, cut, adapt etc.
pull the headliner, install a reinforcement for a sturdy install
predrill holes in headliner to bolt up the console
run wires up to top, tape them up to keep it solid
run wires thru headliner, then put headliner back up
plug everything in, then screw in the console.
just off the top of my head anyways
well any metal that may be needed is gonna be under the headliner so it wont be seen.
i jsut went out to do a visual estimated measure. going by the pic above, using the HVAC as a common size peice (probably the same as the HVAC in my car) it looks like it may just fit ok and not interfere with the visors. i may have to push it back a small amount (as you can see, it rounds to a point in the front) so as it gradually gets larger it may very well clear it ok. depends on how thick it is too. i cant really guestimate how long its gonna be going back yet but it may go past the overhead lights just a tad, so i may have to extend the wires to the ines in the new console to reach to not lose that functionality.
edit
going by the same basic theory, its going to push the overhead lights back about a half an HVAC length from where it is now
that spot above, represents the location of the wire, which is closest to the front of the vehicle. unknown where the wiring clips would be on this one, probably towards the front as well.
also, i have to worry about the slope on the front of the console as it may be different than on the vic, so i may have to shave that to be less of a slope or something like that and it will affect the length estimate i have now a bit too, prob by 2-3 inches shorter than my guesstimate
By the way, I like your idea a lot... I'm considering my own version of this for my '88 LTC project. Keep us updated!
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