Ok...two questions.

A) amplifier behind the seat on a regular cab, how have you guys gone about mounting it? I was thinking of just sliding a peice of MDF behind the back carpet and screwing it into that.

B) I'm going to build a custom console of sort, in a couple of stages. I've searched high and low and 5 boneyards looking for an Exploder with bucket seats and a console and found zero. So I'm going to make my own.

My method:
1) remove both seats, put the passenger seat where the driver seat is for now, since the bolt locations seem to be the same on the tracks, that way if I need to run out for something I have somewhere to sit.
2) cut the middle seat out of the driver's seat (bench) and remove the console. Sew the driver's seat shut so it looks stock.
3) build console top, from just below the ash-tray to the rear of the truck. Build sides to mount correctly.
4) cut hole for shifter. Install new boot and shifter.
5) build storage area into the rear. In addition, it'll have an air duct with a 12V fan aiming towards the amp.
6) the gauges at the bottom of my dash will be installed at the front of the console. I've acquired a switch panel from a written off Cessna Skyhawk, complete with individual circuit breakers. That will be below the shifter and will have all my various lights, circuits, etc. installed into it.
7) finally, two 12V power ports will be individually fused and installed inside of it. I will also put a small light in the storage area linked to the gauges' lighting to light it up at night.

Any other suggestions you guys got? Just trying to type everything out and get a few opinions. Thanks.

 

if your not over working your amp you dont really need a fan. i always tell people to get bigger amps and turn them DOWN. than your fine. mine is running at 50% in the jump seat and never turns off. even when its 100 out

Matt

 

Mine's nowhere near being overworked, using less than 40% of it's maximum wattage, so I'll just pass on that idea I guess. Thanks for that Matt.

 

I have to agree, getting a bigger amp may be cheaper and easier than getting a small one.

Check out the Kenwood KAC-7203. it has a built in fan. you could get it at http://www.crutchfield.com/S-BWcGkmh...0&I=113KAC7203.

I'm currently running a Rockford Fosgate Power T600-4 for the components and a Rockford Fosgate Power T600-2 for the subs. i dont think i've ever touched any more than 70% of it's total power, and they have never shut off. If i'm driving i wont take it much past 30% of it total, it's just annoying.

I'm running those off of a Kenwood KDC-MPC5032, into Boston Acoustics Pro50 component systems, and two Rockford Fosgate PL2-110.

Insurance money can go a long way... when you do all the work yourself.

 

sounds like a heck of a plan man. I hate the bench seats In my 95 Ranger. Make sure to take some pictures. Let me no when the seat is at least done i would like to see how that comes out. GOOD LUCK

 

yea, i was tossing around the idea in my ranger as well... my seats are almost ruined from spills and i like the consoles in explorer's

Matt

 

Apparently so does everyone else around here...I've called left and right and looked on eBay...nobody seems to have Exploders with the console.

I've got a friend with a 97 Exploder...V8, leather interior, front buckets with centre console. The 302's on it's last leg...got 220 thousandish on it, I'm helping her to find a new car right now, then I'm going to pick up the Explorer from her. The 302 parts will be a nice bonus, though I have a 302 block already, I need the accessories and really like the serpentine setup, as will the transmission, and the center console, but it's pretty worn out.

Either way...I'm thinking I'll get to it this weekend. I've got the Central Texas FTE gathering on Saturday...so expect it Saturday night or Sunday.

I'm fairly sure I'm going to leave the driver and passenger seats swapped and put some sort of access panel in the console to reach the handles to lean them forward, as the passenger has better cusion for my butt.

Ahh...things to figure out by this weekend...

 

Update:

Got both seats out, cleaned the inside of the truck out. Swapped seat tracks from driver to passenger side. Removed center seat foam. Went to remove the bracket...out of cutting wheels. Will do tonight.

The passenger seat is SO much more comfortable than the driver seat was. The truck was a work truck before I bought it and had never had many passengers in it, so the passenger seat feels practically brand new. A nice little upgrade.

After cutting the bracket for the middle seat (after looking at it...no one should be sitting there anyways), I'm going to sew it back up, then I'll get some pictures up of it so far by tonight.

 

Exploder Sports are where to look for short center consoles.

I got mine out of a '92.

 

I happened to ride in the passenger's seat of my truck a while back; I couldn't believe how much higher off the floor I was.

Mine was never a work truck, but it was a commuter vehicle for a fair-sized fella for 200k, and I don't carry passengers too often, either.

Only problem I see with swapping the seats left to right is that the recline handles would be on the wrong side- maybe that's not such an issue with a single-cab though, since there isn't room to lean the seat back, and not much storage space to be trying to access.

 

Man, with all those watts in that little volume, it must be like riding with headphones on!!

 

Well...today was...interesting.

I removed the console (who thread-locked that thing on?), then cut out the middle seat foam, cut the bracket out, smoothed it all up, then re-installed the seats on the opposite sides (passenger stayed in driver's spot and vice versa).

Well...after getting the driver's seat in on the passenger side...I realized something. The driver's seat won't swap to the passenger side and be able to be pushed very far back...they're different designs. The passenger seat leans back more than the driver's seat.

So...I had to pull both seats, AGAIN, and remove and swap the brackets. Put the seats back where they went and hooked everything back up, then got a couple of seat covers and put them over the seats.

Looks quite good, IMO, and doesn't look anything other than stock except for the center seatbelt being there (that's my next project).

Tiggie, I'm looking for one of the longer ones that runs flush with the dash, I like the shorter consoles of the Sport, but am much more fond of the filling full-size ones.

Here's a picture of the current progress, with the exception of the seat covers.

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n.../noconsole.jpg

Thanks for all the help. Now...to find a console.

 

Looking good Zach.

To help your driver seat, go by a JoAnn's or Hancock's fabric store. Get a piece of foam to put in your seat for added firmness and height. Works like a charm....

I might be able to help on the console also. Keep looking for one, but give me a few days and let me see if I can find all the pieces to the one I have in my basement (a spare I bought to use in my old Ranger). If I still have all the pieces, you can have it for whatever shipping is from me to you...

What else are you going to have in the back besides the amp - any subs?

 

Very cool David, thank you much! Is it a full-length?

I guess my signature is a bit out of date. Behind the passenger seat is a 10" Pioneer shallow-mount sub. The amp is behind the driver's seat, currently just bolted to a peice of 1/4" wood until I can find a permanent solution. I keep staring at it like it'll mount itself eventually...I just can't find the best way.

 

Yes, it is a full length. So far, I have found the bottom section and most of the inner console pieces. I also have the rear radio and A/C controls. What I am missing is the lid and top pieces. I'll keep looking...

I am also looking for some pics of a box I had in my old 89 Ranger. It was basically 2 10's sealed on each side with the center for the amp. The amp was recessed in the center area.

Does the single cabs still have the brace in the center of the back?