center console mods - 3d printer ideas

[schardein]

I was cleaning the shop and found this old experiment.  I'm sure most of us are familiar with the aftermarket cup holders that attach to the console over the parking brake handle cavity (on XJs).  I took one, and started cutting/grinding with the intent to fit it where the shifter boot (manual trans) or shifter bezel (auto trans) goes.  Pictures show as far as I got, next step would require grinding/cutting the edges of the console piece.  I think it would actually work and look pretty good when done, although there would be a gap at the front and back, below the level of the console.

 

My thought was to retain my auto trans column shifter, but add the center console, cover up the shifter hole, and have some cup holders.  Same Idea would work with a mini console.

 

I believe, somewhere here in CC, there is a thread about a blank cover, an OEM piece that goes in the that location.  Rare part... or maybe it was a hallucination.

 

Then I thought, a person with 3d printer skills could probably make a blank cover.  Add a version with a large cup holder.

 

Probably wouldn't be much demand, but probably not a big project either.

 

 

[Pete M]

I'm always a fan of bringing cupholders to the vehicles built before cups were invented.   

[coheed]

I'd be super interested in one. I'm planning on swapping to an auto with a column shifter at some point and would like a cup holder.

[Jtslick89]

Would love cupholder(s) in the center console area, great idea!

[thecodemonk]

Designing things for 3D printing is a bit of a pain...since you have the pieces all laid out, it might be easier to carve something out of wood to get your initial dimensions to make sure there's enough room for what you want to do.  

 

From that, you could probably get dimensions to someone with a larger 3D printer to get it made our of something other than wood if you wanted (sounds like you mostly just want something brick shaped with circle cutouts for cup?)

[JustEmptyEveryPocket]

52 minutes ago, thecodemonk said:

carve something out of wood

A couple of hole saws, a big forstner bit and some time. Maybe a power carver. Would be easy to get a wooden blank to fit perfectly and do exactly what you need.