My original thread about my install (no pics)
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...on-please.html

The mounting bolts were my last problems, but now resolved!! Solution was really, REALLY simple. I feel really stupid, too! The brackets had never even been tapped for ANY size mounting screw. I can only assume that the mounting screws are self-tapping, but since my brackets were brand new and had never been installed... I had to find out the hard way.

Anyway, to bolt the unit in, I had to completely remove the front piece, and it was a real booger, too! I thought I was going to break it trying to get the little spring clips back out of the plastic brackets. You can see that the mounting bolt holes are beneath where the cup holders are located, but at the same time they are also behind the inner console's cavity wall so you can't get at them unless you remove the frontice piece.

While it was apart, I took off the chromed plastic ring around the cup holder, which I REALLY did not like being shiny, and sprayed it with the Krylon Fusion matte black paint... still drying right now. I wiped the chromed surface down with alsohol as a prep, and debated using acetone to sort of etch it, but stayed with the alcohol. If the paint does not stick, I'll go the acetone or brake fluid route so I can get a good bond.

Here are a few pics of the pieces apart and the cup ring drying. I'll post more pics once I get the side panels painted to match and get the cup ring re-installed.

 

Nice, I thought about spraying that chrome ring as well......but decided just to do the install. I may pull the front cover back off and remove it to spray it.

 

Great to hear that you finally got it mounted Pete and it is looking great from the looks of it.

 

If you do, removing the chrome piece is almost as much of a pain as the entire front piece, which is why I went ahead and did the painting. Good part is that you can reinstall teh front piece and then snap in the cup holder ring later.

 

Hey Pete. Glad you got it figured out. Looks good, I think I will have to start doing the cosmetic mods now.

 

Yep, I saw that before I put the front cover back on.....looked like a PITA and I was waiting to go plowing so I said screw it.
That and I was/am worried about chipping the paint as I throw things in my cup holders

 

I've thought about the chipped paint thing, too, but I've seen this Fusion paint stand up to quite a lot. We mad ea bunch of 1/2" PVC mini-marshmallow shooters for a family Christmas get-together, and the paint never chipped at all one mine that I painted with the same paint. Granted, I did not toss the shooter around, but I did have to manage through some rolling falls while taking on a few of my pesky sons who lept peltering me from behind.