Custom (Open Source) Overhead Console Design

[glinskonian]

Hey All,

I've been working on a design for a custom overhead console, inspired by the consoles that came on the JDM 80s that hold the aux fuel gauge and altimeter.
I recently bought a GMRS radio and wanted a home for it (this one), but it needed to be somewhere easily accessible, and figured the overhead console would be the perfect place for it.

My design is using the 2 existing bolts that hold the original dome light cover in place, and as long as you don't plan on putting something heavy up there, that will be more than enough to secure everything. If you do put something heavier in there, there are 2 additional holes on the roof towards the front (or back of the console) that can be used, but my design doesn't have those holes so they will need to be measured and added. I am using this on a 1994, but I'm pretty sure it will work on any year 80 Land Cruiser.
If you decide to put the same radio I have in there, its a perfect fit and the only modification you need to make to the print is drilling the 4 holes that hold the radio display mount in place.

Link to the design: (80 Series) Toyota Land Cruiser Overhead Console by godfatherofpancakes | Download free STL model | Printables.com - https://www.printables.com/model/1043611-80-series-toyota-land-cruiser-overhead-console

I've included the STL file so if you want to use the original print you can easily load it into a slicing software. The CAD files are there too which you can use to modify the console and re-design it to your needs.
Finally, the CAD files have all the different objects that make up the console, so you have full control over how you want to mix and match the console to fit anything up there. The most important objects in the file are the mounting plate that line up with the 2 holes, which is also used to hold the dome light/switches panel in place and the cover that goes over them, as well as the base console body.

I hope someone finds this useful, and let me know if you have any ideas on how it could be improved.

Pics:

 

[Darkstar909]

Thank you for sharing! Unfortunately its too large for the print bed of my Ender 3 Maybe its time for an upgrade.

 

[glinskonian]

So your print bed can do a 220mm print size from a quick search, so you could trim the "light insert" body in the CAD file a little (measures 224mm currently), and trim the width of the the "Console V2 Blank" body and you would be good to go and still have tons of room to hold stuff up there. You just need to know a little CAD.

 

[bdog75]

I have a kg1000g in my '94 I mounted the radio behind the left kick panel under the dash. I found that it gets fairly hot in that location. I also can not hear the darn thing very well either. I need to mount an external speaker preferably on the B pillar. I would like to know where you choose/chose to locate the radio. Cheers!

 

[bdog75]

I thought that was just to mount the remote face but it looks like the radio might hide inside?

 

[glinskonian]

I have a kg1000g in my '94 I mounted the radio behind the left kick panel under the dash. I found that it gets fairly hot in that location. I also can not hear the darn thing very well either. I need to mount an external speaker preferably on the B pillar. I would like to know where you choose/chose to locate the radio. Cheers!

There's a speaker built into the PTT microphone, wouldn't that be enough? That's what I plan to use, and because the mic will be mounted on the overhead console, it's pretty close to my ear so shouldn't be an issue.

For where to put the actual radio body, I plan to delete the rear heater under the passenger seat and mount it there. I do need to think through routing the wires though, I have a bunch of aftermarket speakers and don't want the radio to interfere whit those if the wires are close.

 

[glinskonian]

I thought that was just to mount the remote face but it looks like the radio might hide inside?

I'm only mounting the remote face yes. You could maybe fit the whole thing, but you would likely need to make the side walls of the console taller to fit it. I haven't measured the radio so not sure if the length of it would be an issue.

 

[glinskonian]

Here's a pic of it mounted up with the radio (haven't wired anything up yet. I also kept running out of filament lol).

 

[glinskonian]

Here's a pic of it mounted up with the radio (haven't wired anything up yet. I also kept running out of filament lol).View attachment 3752742t of filament lol):

Here's a pic of it mounted up with the radio (haven't wired anything up yet. I also kept running out of filament lol).View attachment 3752742

The dangling wire is kind of annoying but the mic can be easily removed, I will only have the mic attached when I'm on the trails.

 

[bdog75]

I have poor hearing mostly in my left ear (my wife is pretty sure its both). The unit seems fine in the driveway but while on the trail with the stereo on its useless to me. I have handhelds iv been using which are much louder imo. I have not ordered a remote speaker. I also have a nmo mount in the center of the roof aprox 6" behind the moon roof. Its a bit tricky to run the coax but can be done. you will need to glue the coax to the roof so it does not hang down and interfear with the sliding moon roof feature. I belive I had to loosen the bolts that hang the moonroof slightly to freely pull the coax through. I also use my rig in the snow quite a bit so a rear heater delete will not work for me. I have an amp. under the driver seat.

 

[glinskonian]

Also worth noting that the radio display can be removed from the console without having to remove the console itself. You just push the little tab of the mount that holds it in there and it will slide off.

 

[glinskonian]

I have poor hearing mostly in my left ear (my wife is pretty sure its both). The unit seems fine in the driveway but while on the trail with the stereo on its useless to me. I have handhelds iv been using which are much louder imo. I have not ordered a remote speaker. I also have a nmo mount in the center of the roof aprox 6" behind the moon roof. Its a bit tricky to run the coax but can be done. you will need to glue the coax to the roof so it does not hang down and interfear with the sliding moon roof feature. I belive I had to loosen the bolts that hang the moonroof slightly to freely pull the coax through. I also use my rig in the snow quite a bit so a rear heater delete will not work for me. I have an amp. under the driver seat.

Because I'm separating the display from the radio body I only need to run a ethernet cable, so it can just be snaked through the headliner/a-pillar to hook up to the display. But there is tons of space in my console design to fit an auxiliary speaker.

Solve Function sells an NMO mount that screws on to the factory antenna mount which I'll be using: NMO mount replaces antenna - https://solvefunction.com/shop/ols/products/nmo-mount-replaces-antenna

 

[bdog75]

That mount is nice. but what would I do with that nice 3/4" hole I drilled into my roof? lol
the mount would also most likely pay for itself as I usually forget to lower the antenna once a year at somewhere around 75$ for the mast.

 

[bdog75]

looks like the all grey version as a new location for the mic?

 

[glinskonian]

looks like the all grey version as a new location for the mic?

That was the old design where the mic mount was built into the console, but it was too close to the roof and so I couldn't clip the mic on. The updated design moves it to the side and is held on with 2 screws.

 

[Marvelicious]

Appreciate you sharing. I was thinking about something similar for a screen mount up there for gps, etc. This'll make the starting point a lot easier.

 

[glinskonian]

Appreciate you sharing. I was thinking about something similar for a screen mount up there for gps, etc. This'll make the starting point a lot easier.

I was actually going to do the same thing, and I even made another console that’s much wider and taller to fit both, but I would have had to print it in 2 pieces and I didn’t want to fuss with that. But the good news is it will still fit between the visors (at least with my Rosen visors)

It’s not in my files but I will add it and you can check it out and see if it will work for you.

 

[Marvelicious]

My thought at the moment is actually to use the base portion of the design and just add a couple of inserts for RAM style ball mounts and maybe a USB port or two. Still kicking ideas around though. Adaptable and easy to adjust is the idea.

 

[Elbee]

Do you still have the cad file?