A way to lock the oem center console?

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alia176

alia176

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I was curious if anyone has a cool way to lock the top lid and the middle section of the factory oem center console? I am aware of the Tuffy security console options but would like to find a way to lock the oem console. Just looking for ideas!

Thanks.
 
i haven't found a way to reliably lock the OEM console, it could be done with a hasp type mechanism that is out of the way but it would not be secure as it is plastic. I am actually working the issue of manufacturing a replacement console for the OEM one that if things go well will try to stay as close to the OEM shape and dimensions but is built out of 16 Gauge steel with a DOJ lock mechanism. I have the initial renderings done, now just working on the fabrication prints with measurements. As well as sourcing some of the components.
 
It's nice to have resources you have. Would love to see what you come up with.
 
Our 80's VX trim got the factory console/cooler (it came with a small evaporator hooked to the A/C) so we had to custom manufacture for our customers a steel box with a lock which were bolted under the driver seat, to safe keep small valuables in case the owner went to places with valet parking.

It was not so easy to access but did it's purpose well.
 
Perhaps I should be looking into the under seat box as well. I think there may be room under the driver seat. Don't need anything fancy. Still, it'd be nice to figure out a way to lock the center console. Maybe a steel strap that comes over the top, over the latches? This can lock the lid and make the latches unaccessible. Just wondering out loud...
 
Walmart sells small fire boxes (about the size of a small shoe box) witha hinged lid and key lock. They're not expensive, and I bet you could bolt that to the floor pretty easily.
 
well i'm not sure what resources your referring to, but i have a background in mechanical engineering, an almost obsessive attention to detail, good fabrication skills from building hotrods and really dig cruisers. If all goes well i'll try and upload the sketches of what the unit will look like as the renderings are far too big to upload.
 
Might be easier to see if you can fabricate a bracket to make one of these work: Console, Tuffy
They make one in charcoal that may be a close color match.
 
wierdbeard said:
well i'm not sure what resources your referring to, but i have a background in mechanical engineering, an almost obsessive attention to detail, good fabrication skills from building hotrods and really dig cruisers. If all goes well i'll try and upload the sketches of what the unit will look like as the renderings are far too big to upload.
Click to expand...

I'd like to see that. I was going to go with a Tuffy 8" "Deluxe" unit but I want to incorporate an arm for a laptop mount into it, and the Tuffy takes up too much room for that. Please post your concepts!
 
I had thought about the tuffy box as well, but my concerns were that for one, i wanted something that was un-obtrusive, if I were to glance in a window and see a tuffy box it would tell me something of importance is in there, which somewhat defeats the purpose. Also there are some things lost when you go to a plain locking box. there are several small gun vaults that will fit under the seat but they are difficult to access. If all you need is a lock box, you could take a standard ammo box weld one side to secure the hinge, notch the bottom to allow a hasp through, which is mounted to the floor somewhere. then the box is locked to the floor as well as the lid is lockable, we do it all the time in our Humvee's.
 
wierdbeard said:
I had thought about the tuffy box as well, but my concerns were that for one, i wanted something that was un-obtrusive, if I were to glance in a window and see a tuffy box it would tell me something of importance is in there, which somewhat defeats the purpose. Also there are some things lost when you go to a plain locking box. there are several small gun vaults that will fit under the seat but they are difficult to access. If all you need is a lock box, you could take a standard ammo box weld one side to secure the hinge, notch the bottom to allow a hasp through, which is mounted to the floor somewhere. then the box is locked to the floor as well as the lid is lockable, we do it all the time in our Humvee's.
Click to expand...

There's not as much accessible space under the frotn seats as you'd think. That front "hump" makes access from the front of the seat pretty limited, and the side isn't much better (and requires getting out of the vehicle). And of course there's the huge heater under the passenger seat. I barely fit an amp under the driver's seat. The upside is the thief would have to remove the seat to get the amp out - it's too thick to fit though any of the gaps.
 
wierdbeard said:
well i'm not sure what resources your referring to, but i have a background in mechanical engineering, an almost obsessive attention to detail, good fabrication skills from building hotrods and really dig cruisers. If all goes well i'll try and upload the sketches of what the unit will look like as the renderings are far too big to upload.
Click to expand...

I need to get my SolidsFlow working so I can check out your project.!
 
IronYuppy said:
I'd like to see that. I was going to go with a Tuffy 8" "Deluxe" unit but I want to incorporate an arm for a laptop mount into it, and the Tuffy takes up too much room for that. Please post your concepts!
Click to expand...

I agree, Tuffy console sticks out way into the rear footwell area. If you eliminate the cup holders then it may work but won't be elegant. Search revealed some pics that didn't trip my trigger, so to speak.

I would also love to have a flip over arm rest of some sort but not sure if the oem center console can handle the additional lever arm. Anyway, just wanted to get the imagination rolling and perhaps some Acad or SF drawings! Where's FirsToy with his superior doodling technique?
 
IronYuppy said:
. I barely fit an amp under the driver's seat. The upside is the thief would have to remove the seat to get the amp out - it's too thick to fit though any of the gaps.
Click to expand...

I would not recomend to any of my customers to install any amp under the driver seat, it it's too low and if by any chance water get inside up to this level (which by the way the Cruiser is well capable to handle) it will damage the amp.
 
robmir said:
I would not recomend to any of my customers to install any amp under the driver seat, it it's too low and if by any chance water get inside up to this level (which by the way the Cruiser is well capable to handle) it will damage the amp.
Click to expand...

I agree, but for the time-being I have the amp "boxed" in a Tupperware tray. The interior would need to flood 5" to damage the amp. And if my interior floods 5" I have bigger problems than a wet amp!

I will eventually relocate it to the rear cargo area just below the windows, but for now it's going to stay where it is.
 
nice solution and a possible arm rest...I like it!

wonder if it could fit elsewhere....
 
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