I'm interested in installing an overhead console from an Explorer into my Reg cab 96. Any tip on this? Ebay has TONS of these, none with any wiring, of course. How do these install into our year trucks? Do I have to custom make the brackets or? Since I cannot find any with the wiring, how do I address this? FWIW, I'm looking to install the kind that has temp & compass in it. Someone has had to have done this before~~TIA
Roger

 

I want to say some bronco's might have had them... I swear I've seen it on ads on craigslist, so maybe look for one of those, might be a bit more straight compatible..
Your probably going to have to run the wiring yourself in the headliner or the trim panel above the windshield. but it'd look good i think

 

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/4...bronco-048.jpg
theres a bronco mounting spot for an overhead console,
and if you look at tommyR's pictures on the same website, then compare the overhead console with a explorer one they look like their are pretty much the same if not the same.. so I say go for it!
I might have to follow

 

i always thought of this, ide like to do this aswell

 

Got thinkin about this more... from what I can tell comparing the ford explorer tops and the bronco ones on ebay.. they are the same except that the bronco goes slightly further back and has what looks like a sunglass holder maybe?
BUT, one of the ads, had this:
Ford Explorer Overhead Console Installation
basically step by step instructions..AS WELL AS WIRING COLOR CODES only issue I see is if you did not have the mounting holes he talks about, but that is easily fixable.. dependin on whether you can drill into it or not. OR install some studs to fasten it up there

 

i used to have an explorer and i had to rewire the overhead console, i would suggest if you wanna make it look good and work well to find one w wiring (possibly find an explorer at a pick 'n' pull) and i would suggest you know how to work with fiberglass to make it look good and flow with the roof

 

I've transferred the guts of an Explorer into another console and wired it into my '67 Mustang. Works fine other than I skipped the speed sendor input which basically means it can't/won't correct for wind chill. I didn't bother with OEM wire harness but I did clip the "pigtails" and scrounged the temp sensor off a junkyard Explorer.
I had in mind transplanting one into my old '87 Bronco, since I know some later Broncos had them. Never got around to it. My son inherited the Bronco and later killed it so I'm kind of glad I didn't waste my time.
I just acquired a '95 XLT F150 and that blank spot on the headliner has already started to give me the urge.
In case anybody wonder what the heck I was doing to the old Mustang, here's a pic I took when it was all done except securing the switch panel. So happens the left fender of my old Bronco (RIP), is visible on the other side of the car.

Console came from a swapmeet, possibly an S10 Blazer? It's a two piece, I recovered the base with some extra OEM type headliner material. I think on my truck I'll be less ambitious and just try and duplicate the '95-6 Bronco style with Explorer parts. I've noticed some Explorers have quite different overhead pod assemblies because they also have OEM sunroofs. Pretty sure nobody would want one of those versions to try.