New truck, and Custom Console

[ClassicTractorProfessor 5,314]

Picked up this little 2000 Chevy half ton for a steal from our impound auction at work. Never have been a fan of V6 half ton trucks, but I figured it would make a good little beater farm truck and something to drive back and forth to work. I also do some storm spotting during severe weather season, but hate taking out good trucks out and getting them beat up, so it should work good for that too. 
 

I am also an avid radio operator, both on CB and Amateur Radio, as well as looking to get a GMRS license in the near future. One of the downfalls of this little single cab pickup was not having the room to mount all my radio equipment in an organized and convenient manner. I looked at the Jotto consoles, but when I saw the price I quickly ruled out that option. So I decided to build my own. It’s not perfect, but for building it with a circular saw and a hammer I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. Still need to get the mounting brackets for the radios figured out, as well as all the wiring and antenna mounts. 

[ClassicTractorProfessor 5,314]

Oops, forgot the picture of the truck

[Maxwell-8 4,277]

looks nice, maybe you should get some selfsticking fabric

[ebinmaine 67,627]

Nice work Bryce. 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,600]

Looks good!

 

[The Tuul Crib 7,336]

I would cover it with plastic laminate.

like maybe a woodgrain finish.

[cschannuth 3,816]

I’ve use that cheap role carpeting you can buy at the discount stores over the top of a thin layer of foam stapled underneath. If you stretch it tight it looks nice and gives you a good nonslip surface for the armrest portion. A holesaw with some cupholder inserts will give you a spot to keep your favorite beverage also. Looks great.

Edited February 28, 2021 by cschannuth

[Pullstart 62,912]

Nice truck Bryce!  @WVHillbilly520H had/has a similar platform too.

[WVHillbilly520H 10,373]

Yeah mine (2006) has a shifter in the console area, with "LS" trim seats but a rubber floor mat (weird combo for the year). But I got this stuffed behind the seats, my radio...

[ClassicTractorProfessor 5,314]

Thanks everyone. It is still very much a work in progress. The little tray just forward of the lid will eventually have a custom plate made to go over it with holes for cupholders. The big open space in the front will then house all the radio equipment, as well as a switch panel with a master switch to control the whole system, and then individual switches for my light bar, work lights, and power inverter which will be mounted on the RH side and allow me to plug in my laptop for radar while out storm spotting. The switch panel I plan on using also has a built in 12V outlet, two USB charging ports, and a digital voltmeter to keep an eye on the whole system. Will also be ordering a complete fuse panel, which will be mounted under the cupholders just inside of the rear box, which will distribute power to everything inside, and will allow me to change fuses if needed without actually removing the individual radio from the console. Ordering one piece at a time as the budget allows, so it may be a while before we see a completely finished product. Plan on getting away from mag mount antennas, and mounting them all on the roof with NMO mounts. I've been running a cheap chinese dual band radio for a while now, will probably keep it for a UHF rig, but planning on upgrading my VHF rig to a good Icom, as most of our repeaters here are all on 2 meters. 

 

Not sure what I am planning for finish yet, I did splurge and buy the good AC plywood, so I may just sand it down really good and give it a good finish, really like the wood look as it kind of adds to the otherwise boring dark interior of the truck

[peter lena 8,634]

HANDYPROFESSOR, in addition to your interior work , a great opportunity while its opened up is to soak confined areas with chain and cable lubricating spray , soaking inside doors and the upper inside the wheels , inside the tailgate , watch the rust ooze out. then I over coat that with 680 wt  heavy open gear spray , recently sold my car with almost 200k on it , not a speck of rust . at every maintenance  service , I would touch up anything that needed  a lubricant spray down . keep it oily, stop rot , pete 

[WVHillbilly520H 10,373]

@HandyProfessor, BTW those old iron 4.3 V6 (aka 350 with 2 cylinders removed) are a decent engine, rather dependable mechanically, not a power house by any means, between my father and myself we have owned 4 from a 1987 2wd 3spd on the tree, 1988 & 2002 both 4x4 5spd long beds and my 2006 5spd, 18-22 mpg depends on driving style, never had an automatic version, I sure since its inception around 1985 there are still many inservice today, in 2014 they went to the ECOTEC-3 all aluminum version of the 4.3L based more toward the LS platform. Here's and underhood shot of mine.

[ClassicTractorProfessor 5,314]

Got the top plate rough cut out and a couple of the radios mounted just to see how they were gonna fit.