2004 Chevy Tahoe with custom built console. Comments Please!

Rwiller · Post by **Rwiller** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 6:31 pm

Hey, I just finnished this custom job. There are a lots of photos on this link, please be patient. You comments are welcome, good or bad. I took some time to do this, but it was well worth it. You can click on any photo to see it larger. regards

http://www.willer.org/id4.html

GAT A2 SKI · Post by **GAT A2 SKI** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 6:39 pm

that is some seriously nice work.......

Im impressed... a couple of questions though...

how did you wire the programming ports to the RJ45 jacks??? and what are the switches under the scanner for??
and how long total time, obviously without waiting for parts.. total production and installation time??

nice job....

John

XTSBanks · Post by **XTSBanks** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 6:44 pm

Now that is ham sexy.

Very nice install!

dbcomm · Post by **dbcomm** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 6:46 pm

Awesome job. How cut up are your hands from removing the OEM center console. Some SHARP metal in there!

Rwiller · Post by **Rwiller** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 6:47 pm

I re-wired the 15 pin port on the back of the spectra's to bring out the speaker feed and the data. I custom built a RJ45 plug to RIB box cable. This allows me to me to re-program without having to remove the radios. I also brought out to the RJ45's the DB9 from the Kenwood and the scanner. the last port was for the Kenwood mic as you can see. total time.. maybe around 100 hours? that's just a guess.

Rwiller · Post by **Rwiller** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 6:55 pm

oops, the six switches control the little lite, power to all of the power points, a bypass to the charge guard , inverter and some other devices that can't be discussed here.

regards

nick.dejohn · Post by **nick.dejohn** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 6:56 pm

Nice Job!! Quick questions. Im in the same boat as you with the hobby. Did you design the console fron scratch or did you find a template somewhere. The mesurements you came up with look like they are right on the money. I have 2004 Silverado 2500 HD wit the same center console and was thinking of doing th Jotto Desk Console that is made for the new Chevy. But, I like yours alot better. However, I don't have the equipment you have. I just have a CDM1550 in right now. I have 4 togle switches near the air bage key switch for my lights and I have 3 toggles and 2 momentary switches on the side of the larger storage pocket for my siren. If I built a console like that I would then add in my Whelen Siren/Light controller and maybe a new scanner.

Rwiller · Post by **Rwiller** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 7:01 pm

no template, just started with a peice of cardboard. LOTS of cutting! The OEM console is a real &*%$# to remove. There were some hidden treasures inside it too ! ie: the boise stereo amp and a 6 in woofer speaker.

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 7:42 pm

Yup, same experience I had with the 2003 suburban. The damn Bose amp and subwoofer were hiding in that pain in the ass OEM console. I'm sure you were left with a bucket of fasterners like I was.

I really like what you have done. I did consider going totally custom at the time, but ended up doing a mix of off the shelf gamber johnson and jotto desk with a lot of custom stainless steel fabrication.

I just couldn't put a big chunk of wood in my truck, but I must say yours is exceptional.

good job!

Post by Pj » Fri Apr 22, 2005 12:46 am

Wasn't this vehicle for sale not too long ago?

Rwiller · Post by **Rwiller** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:03 am

PJ, ya the red one was and I did sell it. The new black one is NOT for sale. Well, not now at least. thanks for all of the positive comments. Regards

mark577fd · Post by **mark577fd** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:13 am

Great install!!! I may need to copy it for my truck.
Question from me. 1. where did you get the rails for the radio plates? 2. Where did you get your radio mounting plates from?

Rwiller · Post by **Rwiller** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:17 am

The rails and faceplates are all Troy Products. ANd thanks for the positive comments.

nick.dejohn · Post by **nick.dejohn** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:21 am

Another question or two. Where did you get the formica that you used to build the console and how hard was it to work with?

Rwiller · Post by **Rwiller** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:27 am

I ordered the formica from Home Depot ( it a home improvement store in Ca.) Formica, is really a :o to work with. That was my first time. Some of the inside cuts had to be done by hand and were not perfect. Now that I have done that once, I will not touch formica again!

Victor Xray · Post by **Victor Xray** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:13 am

WOW.

I never post my comments for installs... but I have to give you my praise on this one. Definitely one of the best I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing!

davkenrem · Post by **davkenrem** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 6:21 pm

Possibly one of the best ones I've seen. Where did you get the Lighter plugs on the left side and what brand of Laptop mount is that.

erchambers · Post by **erchambers** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 7:16 am

All I can say is WOW! I am in the very early stages of my radio installs, and I will have the following:

1997 Chevy Tahoe
2 Motorola spectra's 1vhf and 1uhf(ham bands)
1 Kenwood TM-D700A(for aprs and other ham bands)
and eventually my laptop for storm chasing!

These pictures really give me light at the end of the tunnel, because i really did not know what kind of console to use, or build.....THANKS!!!

Eric

gws · Post by **gws** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:11 pm

what does the troy faceplates run?

Rwiller · Post by **Rwiller** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 6:49 am

Cost of Troy face plates... I believe that the MRSP is about $40 ea. but depending on your volume you can get them alot less. Mine were less than $30 each new. hope this helps.

jmr3865 · Post by **jmr3865** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:11 pm

gives me hope, right now i have an 84 buick, lights up the ying yang with a cdm1250, broken switchbox and soon to be a pa/airhorn on a tower. I hope to soon yet a 2001 yukon xl, that shall be nice to light up!

NYTechServices · Post by **NYTechServices** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 5:55 pm

But do you actually have a vision on the roof, or are you just using it as a controller? If so, how? Doesn't it want to see the bar and give you errors?

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 7:30 am

Rwiller wrote:Cost of Troy face plates... I believe that the MRSP is about $40 ea. but depending on your volume you can get them alot less. Mine were less than $30 each new. hope this helps.

I have to ask, on the picture of the 99 Red Tahoe on that site it shows the X9000 head sitting at an angle and tilted towards the driver, is that a stock Troy plate, or was that a custom. I really like the look of that versus having the heads lay flat, it would make them easier to read on my current install.

If it is a Troy or other companies product do you remember the part number and price?

Thanks.

kg6bki · Post by **kg6bki** » Mon May 02, 2005 11:13 am

Dude that Truck is Bada**. It good to see you are doing good..now that the swap meet is gone...its kinda crapy...Hope you are doing good and I might catch ya on one of the 440mhz repeaters in your area..

Brian
KG6BKI

n2knc · Post by **n2knc** » Wed May 04, 2005 5:04 pm

looks good!!!

code3media · Post by **code3media** » Fri May 12, 2006 12:43 am

I will be removing the factory console this weekend and replacing it with a Troy console. Problem is that the console has the BOSE sound system and amplifier located inside it.

I borrowed this image from Rwiller

Has anyone removed the amplifier? I do not want to keep the amp installed. Will the remaining speakers in the doors and in the rear continue to work with the amp removed?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Fri May 12, 2006 1:44 pm

Yep I've done it and been exactly in the same spot you are right now with my 03 suburban. I'll repost some pic links so you can see what was done.

I was an extensive project and I still find myself adding stuff to it.

You'll want to remove the amp from the remaining OEM floor plate and then remove the plate itself (it just gets in the way). Also remove the "channel" from the stereo amp wires and discard it.

I re-mounted the amp vertically inside the consoles (I used back to back 17 and 9 inch gamber johnson) so none of the wiring had to be moved or extended.

I moved the sub to the rear cargo area where it was mounted on previous year vehicles.

code3media · Post by **code3media** » Fri May 12, 2006 1:54 pm

Thanks, but the question is can I completely disconnect the amp and not use it? I don't have room for it in my console, and I don't listen to the radio all that much anyways. I just want it out of there, but want to make sure that when I remove it, the remaining speakers in the car will work.

Thanks.
Ryan

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Fri May 12, 2006 2:34 pm

No the amp needs to be there as its parts of the entire Bose system. You can live without the sub woofer.

I'd keep it all together if possible - its a very nice stereo short of the navigation version put in the denali

EVModules · Post by **EVModules** » Wed May 31, 2006 11:24 pm

Thought I'd post some work while we're on the subject...

And a different vehicle... this enclosure at the front served two purposes, to hold the electronics that can be acessed easily on the driver side (panel where the two speakers are mounted) and to serve as a platform for a future docking station for a laptop.

code3media · Post by **code3media** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 9:07 am

Sean,

That's awesome.

Great Idea. I had a similar idea to cut a hole in MDF and attach it to the front opening of the Troy console so that I can get the Bass speaker working again.

Very well done, and thanks for the pics.

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 9:28 am

Got dimensions of the filler panel handy?

Post by **escomm** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 2:51 pm

Yeah dude, that's some mighty fine work you've done there. I especially liked the panel of RJ45 connections to allow for easy programming access to all of the radios!

eboe · Post by **eboe** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:24 pm

Rwiller, that looks great!
EVConcepts, yours looks great too!

apco25 wrote:I just couldn't put a big chunk of wood in my truck, but I must say yours is exceptional.

I used to think the same thing about wood, but seeing what can be done with a wooden console and i think i'm a 'convert'. i'm joining the dark side and going with a wood console too.

wcema928 · Post by **wcema928** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 11:09 am

Where are you a storm chaser at

2004 Chevy Tahoe with custom built console. Comments Please!

2004 Chevy Tahoe with custom built console. Comments Please!

Wow, that is beautiful

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